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United Way of Southwest Alabama / Uncategorized  / United Way to Support Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

United Way to Support Walter Payton Man of the Year Award

United Way is a new supporter of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. United Way will join with the NFL and Nationwide to support the charities of choice of all 32 team award winners and Character Playbook in each team winner’s market. In total, nearly $4.5 million will be donated to Character Playbook and each nominee’s charity of choice.

Super Bowl Announcement

Of the 32 nominees from each team, three of the nominees will be selected as finalists for the award in January. The winner will be announced in Houston at NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on February 4, the night before Super Bowl LI, from 8-10 p.m. (ET and PT) on FOX.

Donations to Character Playbook and Each Player’s Charity of Choice

 

This year, in addition to a donation to a charity of his choice, each nominee will also receive a donation in his name to implement the NFL and United Way’s Character Playbook in his club’s market. Character Playbook, launched in April at the NFL Draft, is a national education initiative focused on youth character development and healthy relationships. This interactive digital program uses evidence-based strategies to educate students on how to cultivate and maintain healthy relationships during their critical middle school years with a focus on positive character development and social-emotional learning.

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As a result of the enhanced contributions, a total of $1 million will be donated in the name of the 2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, with $500,000 going to a charity of his choice and $500,000 supporting the expansion of Character Playbook in his club’s market.

The two finalists will each receive a $125,000 donation to the charity of their choice and a $125,000 donation in their names to expand Character Playbook and the additional 29 team winners will receive a $50,000 donation to their charity of choice and an additional $50,000 donation in their name to implement Character Playbook in their club market. Donations will be courtesy of the NFL Foundation, Nationwide and United Way Worldwide.

The award is named for Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton, who died in 1999.