NFL UPDATE -- OCTOBER 9, 2014
EAGLES STADIUM SEATS ARE PAINTED PINK FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Philadelphia Eagles players Beau Allen and Mark Sanchez recently joined Eagles Cheerleaders, team mascot SWOOP and families from The Center for Grieving Children and Bringing Hope Home in painting seats in Lincoln Financial Field pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Since 2005, the Philadelphia Eagles Tackling Breast Cancer initiative has worked to raise funds and encourage women age 40 and older, to get their annual mammogram screening.
REDSKINS RECOGNIZE LOCAL BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
The Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation recently joined forces with the American Cancer Society to kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the 7th annual All-Star Survivors Celebration.
The All-Star Survivors Celebration, founded by Tanya Snyder, wife of Redskins owner Dan Snyder, was an evening of pampering, support and celebration for 31 area women currently battling breast cancer. During the event, the breast cancer survivors, or "All-Stars," received new jeans donated by Gap Inc., as well as new wigs, scarves and a Redskins gift bag. All-Stars were treated to dinner, makeup consultations, massages and a behind the scenes tour of Redskins Park from Redskins players, including Robert Griffin III, Adam Hayward, Nick Sundberg, Niles Paul, Darrel Young, Colt McCoy, Tyler Polumbus, Shawn Lauvao, Tress Way and Kai Forbath. Redskins' alumnus and creator of the event, Chris Cooley, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor, helped emcee the evening.
TITANS DONATE $200,000 TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GROUPS
The Tennessee Titans helped kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month by donating $100,000 each to the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Titans president and chief executive officer Tommy Smith and his wife, Susie Smith, presented the checks at a luncheon last week at LP Field. The Titans will also host a domestic violence awareness event during their October 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"The Titans can be crucial to our work in in this area because they already have the most important ingredient — an audience," said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. "And not just any audience, but an audience of men and boys who consider the players as icons of manhood. There is great potential in this partnership. If we work closely together, we will become a national model."
RUSSELL WILSON STARTS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson recently announced the "Pass the Peace" campaign to raise awareness and funds for victims of domestic violence.
During his weekly press conference, Wilson outlined his vision for the campaign associated with his Why Not You Foundation and challenged others to donate to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
"I want us to 'Pass the Peace' to support victims of domestic violence," said Wilson. "The idea behind Pass the Peace is simple: It's a promise. I'm sharing my love for you. I want to take care of you. I am here for you."
For more information, visit http://whynotyoufoundation.com/
PATRIOTS WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION GIVES BACK
The New England Patriots Women's Association (PWA) made a visit to Julie's Family Learning Program in Boston as part of the Celebrate Volunteerism initiative's weekly focus on education.
The group consisted of wives from the Patriots staff, coaches and players. They spent their morning learning about the nonprofit organization and participating in their morning programs.
Prior to the event, members of the PWA collected books and toys and delivered them to Julie's Family Learning Program. Upon their arrival, the women read the book Let's Go Patriots! to the children and their mothers, spoke about the importance of education and participated in football themed arts and crafts projects.
DOLPHINS VISIT BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Miami Dolphins players, Cortland Finnegan, Jason Fox, Brandian Ross and Michael Thomas joined Dolphins Cheerleaders, mascot T.D., and Miami Dolphins Women's Organization members on a visit to Baptist Children's Hospital, where they spent time with patients and distributed gifts to kids.
"It's a big pleasure to have the Dolphins here. These kids are sick, they are in pain, and they are suffering. This is just something that is very important and meaningful to them and to their parents," said Baptist Children's Hospital Assistant Patient Care Manager for Pediatrics Carolina Parra. "We have a little boy who has been here for about 10 days and his eyes just lit up wide. It was just a happy smile. Its laughter and smiles -- you could just tell you made their day. That's all they're going to talk about for the rest of the week."
BUCCANEERS HELP CHILDREN LEARN HEALTHY EATING HABITS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers players Michael Johnson, Brandon Myers, Bobby Rainey, Kadeem Edwards, and Kevin Pamphile joined Buccaneers cheerleaders, team mascot Captain Fear, UnitedHealthcare volunteers, and local teachers and students to install five learning gardens at Potter Elementary School to promote the importance of healthy eating habits.
The learning gardens, planted throughout the school's campus, will provide students the opportunity to plant and nurture a garden, while learning about the importance of adding vegetables to a young person's diet.
"It's definitely important for them to learn things like that at an early age so they can start taking care of themselves now and know the importance of that so it becomes a good habit as they grow older," said Johnson.
-- NFL Communications
