FOR USE AS DESIRED

            NFL                 10/26/01

NFL TUESDAYS:

PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR DAYS OFF

 

Halloween comes only once a year, but NFL players’ commitment to their communities is a yearlong effort.  Around the league this Tuesday, players will help kick off Halloween by trading in their helmets and pads for goblins and ghouls.

 

On Tuesday, October 30, New York Giants DE Michael Strahan, LB Jessie Armstead, QB Jason Garret, RB Tiki Barber, FB Greg Comella, T Lomas Brown, S Shaun Williams, S Sam Garnes and CB Jason Sehorn will spend the day with children from the Ronald McDonald House of New York City and attend their Pumpkins and Pizza Party.

 

The Glazer Foundation, along with the Buccaneers players and staff, will celebrate Halloween with 1,000 children from various Tampa Bay community charities at Lowry Park Zoo.  K MARTIN GRAMATICA will visit patients at the Shriners Hospital for Children while kids at the Children’s Home will carve pumpkins with the likes of JAMIE DUNCAN, JOHN HOWELL, and AARON STECKER.

 

Members of the Detroit Lions—including QB CHARLIE BATCH and LINDSAY MORNHINWEG, wife of coach MARTY—will attend the Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo to distribute candy to trick-or-treaters.  In Miami, QB JAY FIEDLER and DE JASON TAYLOR of the Dolphins will join residents at the Broward Partnership for the Homeless to paint pumpkins.   

 

In the 2001 season, the NFL will highlight these day-off community endeavors with a program entitled “NFL Tuesdays.”  The program is designed to raise awareness, both locally and nationally, about the day-off charitable work of NFL players and coaches.

 

“For years, NFL players and coaches have been working extensively in their communities on their day off,” says NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.  “While many of us use our two-day weekend to relax, countless NFL players and coaches use their one day off during the season to give back to their communities.  It’s time players received more credit for that.”

 

Every week, the NFL will gather information from its clubs about player and coach activities scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday.  The information then will be distributed to media and fans.

 

Following are some of the activities players and coaches will be participating in this October 30:

 

Team

Player

Brief Description of Activity

Arizona Cardinals

Michael Pittman

Pittman and his family will visit the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for Desert Samaritan Hospital.

Arizona Cardinals

Head Coach Dave McGinnis

Coach McGinnis was selected as “Staples Coach of the Week” and will present a check for $5000 to Noah Webster Basic School in Mesa as part of the award. 

Atlanta Falcons

Shawn Jefferson & Chris Hudson

Participating in Red Ribbon Week at Riverside Middle School.

Atlanta Falcons

Shawn Mills &

Ron Moore

Participating in Red Ribbon Week at Smokerise Elementary to speak on drug prevention and the importance of staying in school.

Bills

Kenyatta Wright

Attending the Buffalo Bills Jr. Press Conference in the first of a series of six events designed to encourage kids in the field of journalism.  Kenyatta will answer questions in a mock press conference setting and then students will complete writing assignments based on his answers and background information.

Carolina Panthers

Chris Hetherington, Kory Minor, Jim Turner, & Mike Rucker

Participating the Football 101 for women to benefit the Carolina Panthers Charities.

Chicago Bears

D’Wayne Bates

Visiting Herbert public school to speak to students.

Chicago Bears

Kaseem Sinceno

Visiting Gresham Public School to speak to students.

Chicago Bears

Todd McMillon

Speaking to teens about organ donation and the Youth for Life program at Hoffman Estates High School.

Cleveland Browns

Jamel White

Visiting young athletes in the Solon Pee Wee Football League to spend the evening speaking to the aspiring football players.

Cleveland Browns

Anthony Henry

Quincy Morgan

Participating in the Giant Eagle Jr. Training Table Program and Reiter Dairy School Fitness Program, a fun and exciting program created to enlighten and educate students about the benefits of fitness and healthy lifestyles.  Browns Players interact with students throughout a 90-minute pep rally and assembly with Q&A, demonstrations and discussions. 

Cleveland Browns

Courtney Brown,

Roger Chanoine,

Ryan Kuehl,

Kevin Johnson,

Jeremy McKinney,

Arnold Miller,

Roman Oben,

Tyrone Rogers,

Tarek Saleh &

Jamel White

Visiting a children’s hospital and treating each child to a Halloween pumpkin, treats and a Browns Cheering You On card.  During the visit, each child will have the opportunity to speak and take photographs with the Cleveland Browns Players.  The photographs are placed in a keepsake frame for each child to treasure this special visit. 

 

Dallas Cowboys

Ebenezer Ekuban & George Teague

Participating in the Cowboys NFL 201 Workshop for Women.  Proceeds from the workshop benefit The Salvation Army New York City Tragedy Fund.

Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Rookies

Visiting the Boys & Girls Club after school program in Oak Cliff to distribute Halloween candy and participate in after school activities with the children.

Detroit Lions

Terry Fair, Bryant Westbrook

Recording a PSA with Fox 2 to ask fans to support the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Coat Drive.

Detroit Lions

Charlie Batch, Jeff Backus, David Sloan, Luther Elliss, Jason Hanson, John Jett, Scott Kowalkowski, Ron Rice, Eric Beverly, Stephen Boyd, Allen Aldridge, Barrett Green, Ty Detmer, Chris Claiborne, Robert Porcher, James Stewart, & Bryant Westbrook

More than 20 Lions' players will be attending the 2001 Courage House dinner to benefit HAVEN, a shelter for victims of domestic violence.  Charlie Batch will receive this year's Ed Block Courage Award.  Since it's beginning, the event has helped to raise almost $750,000.

Detroit Lions

Cory Schlesinger, Scott Kowalkowski, Clint Kriewaldt, Brenden Stai, Lindsay Mornhinweg John Jett, team mascot Roary

Attending the Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo where players will help pass out candy to the kids.

Green Bay Packers

Henry Burris

Taping message for End of Year Awards for Pop Warner.

Green Bay Packers

Ahman Green

Recording a PSA for Lung Association on Asthma.

Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre

Attending the Challenge Dinner-Fundraiser for Boys & Girls Club.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Zach Wiegert

Speaking to Jacksonville QB Club for Father & Son Night

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Fernando Bryant

Speaking at Ft. Caroline Elementary School’s awards assembly.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Marcus Stroud

Visiting an employee social at Logistics Services International.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gary Walker, Damon Jones, Zach Wiegert, & Maurice Williams

Attending Jaguars Orlando Fan Fest.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Team event       

Attending Children’s Carnival of Fun costume party at the Museum of Science & History.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Joseph Tuipala

Visiting the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier at Mayport Naval Station.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Aaron Beasley

Attending a food drive collection at Publix Supermarket.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Mark Brunell

Visiting with three Dreams Come True children.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Rookie Club

The Kansas City Chiefs Rookie Club—including Billy Baber, Monty Beisel, Derrick Blaylock, Avion Cason, Eric Downing, Shaunard Harts, Dave Klemic, Marvin Minnis and Terdell Sands—will visit Garfield Elementary School.

Kansas City Chiefs

Will Shields

Will Shields will be joined by several teammates at Loch Lloyd Country Club for his annual golf tourney to benefit his Will to Succeed Foundation.

Miami Dolphins

Sam Madison,

Zach Thomas,

Olindo Mare,

Jason Taylor,

Oronde Gadsden,

and several other players

Sam Madison is hosting a costume party for adults at the Landings in Ft. Lauderdale to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County.  The event will feature Dolphins players, food, fun and fright.

Miami Dolphins

Jay Fiedler &

Jason Taylor

Joining residents at the Broward Partnership for the Homeless to paint pumpkins for Halloween.

Minnesota Vikings

Chris Hovan & Jim Kleinsasser

Visiting the Jack Cornelius Boys and Girls Club to give a presentation on the importance of nutrition and physical education.

Minnesota Vikings

Don Morgan, Kenny Wright & Mo Waddell

Surprising students at Odyssey Charter School to talk about nutrition and moderation on candy.

Minnesota Vikings

Everett Lindsay

Serving as the keynote speaker at the Rocori Youth Football Banquet.

New York Giants

DeWayne Patmon, Will Peterson, Ross Kolodziej, Lance Lagree, Owen Pochman, Anthony Green, Jesse Palmer, Marcellus Rivers, Rich Seubert

Attending the Tomorrows Children’s Fund Fourth Annual Rookie Halloween Party.

New York Giants

Michael Strahan, Jessie Armstead, Jason Garret, Tiki Barber, Greg Comella, Lomas Brown, Shaun Williams, Sam Garnes, Jason Sehorn

Attending the Ronald McDonald House of NYC Pumpkins and Pizza Party.

New York Giants

Cedric Scott

Attending luncheon to benefit Albany Youth Programs.

New York Jets

Chad Morton

Participating in a STARBRIGHT Videoconference with the New Orleans Saints at NY Children's Hospital/New York Presbyterian.  After the videoconference, the players will distribute Halloween treats and books to children throughout the hospital.

Oakland Raiders

Eric Allen, Jonnie Harris & Jerry Rice

Attending the Halloween Heroes charity party at FAO Schwarz.

San Diego Chargers

 Team Event

Hosting the annual Halloween Party for abused children and children living in a safe house. Event includes games, storytelling, trick-or-treating and players in costume.

San Diego Chargers

John Parella

Raylee Johnson

Attending the 12th annual Kids’ NewsDay benefiting Children’s Hospital.  Players will be selling special edition of the Union Tribune to benefit Children’s Hospital.

San Francisco 49ers

J.J. Stokes & Jonas Lewis

Conducting a Halloween assembly with the San Jose Police Department to teach 500 elementary school children safe trick-or-treating practices.

Seattle Seahawks

Trent Dilfer

Shooting promotional spot for “All Pro Dads.”

Seattle Seahawks

Isaiah Kacyvenski

Cutting a radio spot for the Special Olympics.

Seattle Seahawks

Koren Robinson

Signing autographs at Seahawks EndZone Store

Seattle Seahawks

John Hilliard

Speaking to student athletes at Rainier Beach High School on goal setting, hard work and staying focused.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

James Cannida, Cosey Coleman, DeMarcus Curry, Jamie Duncan, David Gibson, Joe Hamilton, John Howell, Pete Pierson, Aaron Stecker, Todd Washington & Todd Yoder

Helping the children who live at the Children’s Home choose and carve pumpkins and decorate trick-or-treat bags.  At the Halloween party, there will also be a face painting and temporary tattoo station, as well as a contest for the best pumpkin and trick-or-treat bag design.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Martin Gramatica

Judging Halloween themed windows at the Shriners Hospital for Children on the University of South Florida campus.  The patients paint their windows in their room to fit the surrounding holiday season. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Donnie Abraham

Donnie and his wife, Tunisia, will help young judges determine the award finalists during a pizza party at the Tampa Children’s Hospital for  “Kids Are Heroes,” a program that recognizes Bay area kids who have demonstrated heroic and unselfish acts.

Tennessee Titans

Buccaneer Staff and Students Advisory Board (SAB) Members

The Glazer Family Foundation is providing a safe Halloween for 1,000 children from nine local charities at the Lowry Park Zoo.  Every child will be given a candy bag and have the opportunity to play games, ride rides and compete in the costume contest.

Washington Redskins

Chris Samuels, Jerry DeLoach, Tony Banks, Sam Shade, Walter Rasby, Kevin Lockett & Kenard Lang

Redskin players, United Way officials and County Executive Wayne Curry will visit the Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club to dedicate a new game room.  The new game room, library and nursery will enable structured activities and provide a safe place for children to play.  The ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony will be followed by games and fun with the Redskins players and kids from the Palmer Park Boys and Girls Club.