Call It a Four-Peat!
For the fourth consecutive year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have named wide receiver Vincent Jackson their nominee for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide. Every year, each of the 32 NFL teams selects one nominee for the prestigious award which recognizes a current player for his commitment to the community and philanthropic impact. The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, established in 1970 and renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back, is among the league’s most prestigious honors. Among the 32 nominees, three men will be selected as finalists, and 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.
As the Buccaneers’ team nominee, Jackson will receive a $50,000 donation to the Jackson In Action 83 Foundation and an additional $50,000 donation in his name to implement the NFL’s Character Playbook initiative in the Tampa Bay 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. Donations will be courtesy of the NFL Foundation, Nationwide, and United Way Worldwide.
In addition to the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Nationwide is hosting the second annual Charity Challenge that runs from December 12 through January 8. Each team nominee has a unique hashtag and fans are encouraged to tweet using specific player hashtags. The player hashtag that generates the most mentions throughout the challenge will win a $25,000 donation from Nationwide to the charity of his choice. Buccaneers fans are encouraged to use the unique hashtag #JacksonWPMOYChallenge on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Sharing and retweeting the hashtag counts towards the challenge as well, but liking a post or tweet that includes the hashtag does not. Get those thumbs ready, and please help us win an additional $25,000 to support our programs for military children and families!