Nationwide's charitable work on display in the NFL's top honor

Every team in the National Football League (NFL) competes each year with the end goal of winning the Super Bowl and hoisting the Lombardi trophy in the air. It’s the ultimate team accomplishment. Players, coaching staff, and those associated with the winning franchise will be part of a limited group of individuals to have a Super Bowl ring on their finger.

But the NFL has an even more exclusive honor, one that is awarded to only one individual a year. The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long was named the 2018 Walter Payton NFL Man of Year Award presented by Nationwide at NFL Honors on Feb. 2, 2019. The defensive end established the Chris Long Foundation in 2015 to fulfill three main philanthropic causes: clean water, military appreciation and youth education.

Nationwide has recognized the impact players are able to make on and off the field. Their sponsorship of the award began in 2014, and they’ve contributed more than $1 million to the foundations represented by the team nominees.

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Nationwide is on their side

The winner of the award each year receives $250,000 donated to United Way in his name to expand Character Playbook across the country and up to $250,000 donated to the winner’s charity of choice. All other 31 nominees will receive a $50,000 donation in their name to expand Character Playbook and up to $50,000 donated to their charity of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation, Nationwide and United Way Worldwide.

Since 2014, Nationwide has contributed funds and resources to each of the 32 team nominee’s foundations. Jennifer MacKenzie, senior vice president of marketing at Nationwide, says “some of the foundations we’ve worked closely with include Peyton Manning‘s Peyback Foundation, The Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation, The Anquan Boldin Foundation, Eli Manning’s Tackle Kids Cancer Foundation, Larry Fitzgerald’s First Down Fund, and Greg Olsen’s The HEARTest Yard Foundation.”

“Our goal is to provide a national platform for the winner and all of the nominees to share the stories of the work they’re doing in their communities and to further their philanthropic efforts,” says MacKenzie. “A lot of impactful work is being done across the league and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide, is on way to amplify these inspiring stories.”

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