NFL Players Association Announces 2024-25 Charitable Partners

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) announced the six non-profit organizations that will serve as its official charitable partners for 2024-25: GOODProjects, Laureus Sport for Good, Men’s Health Network, Silence the Shame, Team River Runner and The VERB Kind.

The NFLPA Charitable Partner program recognizes organizations making a positive impact in their local communities that benefit our player membership and staff. Through this initiative, reflected in our six pillars, the NFLPA has had the privilege of working with select children, mental health, men’s health, military, women’s health and social justice organizations to further their cause and increase the number of lives impacted around the world.

Each partner will receive a $25,000 grant from the NFLPA to help fund programs that positively impact the mission of their organization and align with the union’s core values.

“The NFL Players Association is deeply committed to giving back to the communities that support us by partnering with a variety of charitable organizations. These organizations not only provide vital resources to those in need, but also embody the NFLPA’s core values that our player membership strives for on and off the field,” NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell said. “We are honored and excited to serve as partners in their work ensuring that our legacy extends beyond the game.”

In December 2023, the NFLPA opened its application process to any charitable organization that focused on one of the aforementioned pillars and had been in existence for at least five years. Following a lengthy review of each applicant’s proposal, which outlined how the grant would help them and their beneficiaries, the following organizations were selected:

• GOODProjects is on a mission to empower the youth and their families to live fulfilling lives free from poverty, while helping them thrive in their own communities by eliminating roadblocks so that families can define success for themselves.
• Laureus Sport for Good works to improve the lives of women and girls by uniting communities through the power of sport. By investing in youth development programs around the country, they hope to enhance physical and mental health through the promotion of equity, empowerment and safety.
• Men’s Health Network is a national non-profit whose mission is to reach men, boys and their families where they live, work, play and pray with health awareness and disease prevention messages and tools including screening programs, educational materials and advocacy opportunities.
• Silence the Shame is on a mission to empower and educate communities on mental health while striving to erase the stigma on mental wellness through community conversations, wellness trainings, compelling content and outreach programs.
• Team River Runner works to provide all veterans and their families with an opportunity to find health, healing, community purpose and new challenges through adventure and adaptive paddle sports.
• The VERB Kind is an education, research and policy organization dedicated to equity and promoting healthy racial identity development in youth. It supports organizations, families and educators in taking action to disrupt racism in kids.

For the duration of the partnership through May 31, 2025, each non-profit will have the opportunity to work with active and former players through the NFLPA’s numerous volunteer opportunities, request autographed items and attend special events throughout the year.

For more information about the NFLPA’s Community Partnership program or if your organization is interested in applying, please visit our website.

###

About the NFL Players Association:
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through the 2030 season. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.

Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:

Nominate an athlete or team: HERE

**********************************************

Pancakes or Waffles!  We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE

Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE

Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE

WIAA 8-Player Football Championship Preview: Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas and Owen-Withee

Protect Your Heart Health This Deer Hunting Season

Free Slow Moving Vehicle Signs Now Available for Wisconsin Farmers Through AgrAbility of Wisconsin

Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]