Green Bay's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Named Week 5 NFLPA Community MVP
Packers defender launched Ha Ha’s HERO Foundation as part of expanded efforts to help at-risk youth
For Immediate Release
October 13, 2017
GREEN BAY’S HA HA CLINTON-DIX NAMED WEEK 5 NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP
Packers defender launched Ha Ha’s HERO Foundation as part of expanded efforts to help at-risk youth
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has been named Week 5 NFLPA Community MVP after raising thousands of dollars to provide resources for economically disadvantaged kids and schools in Wisconsin.
“Being named NFLPA Community MVP is an amazing honor,” Clinton-Dix said. “It is one thing to be successful on the field, but to be recognized for something off-field is a completely different and inspiring feeling. Leaving a legacy beyond just playing football has become extremely important to me.”
In drawing upon his own childhood experience in Florida, the Packers safety knows the potential pitfalls of growing up in a low-income environment. To combat those dangers among the kids and schools in his team city, Clinton-Dix launched Ha Ha’s HERO Foundation, which states a mission of providing “economically challenged students with a voice of motivation, empowerment and encouragement.” HERO stands for “Hope, Education, Resources and Opportunity.”
The foundation’s first event took place on Monday with its inaugural fundraiser in Sheboygan, Wisc., where 10 of his Packers teammates helped raise awareness and money for the charity and its headquarters. Clinton-Dix pledged $20,000 of his own money to get the HERO headquarters off the ground, while others contributed toward the foundation’s initial goal of providing $10,000 of books, technology tools and other resources for several at-risk elementary and high schools in Wisconsin.
“I’m excited to have Ha Ha’s HERO Foundation up and running,” the All-Pro defender said, “and I hope I can be a hero to disadvantaged youth, not just in Wisconsin, but across the country.”
Clinton-Dix plans to do this by encouraging kids to read more, celebrating their academic achievements and providing them role models from various occupations and backgrounds. In turn, the Pro Bowler hopes that the youth of Green Bay, where about 1 in 4 children live in poverty, will be equipped to make positive decisions that will help them avoid at-risk behavior.
In honor of Clinton-Dix being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his foundation or charity of choice along with an in-kind donation to him on behalf of our supporting partner Delta Private Jets. Clinton-Dix, along with the other 2017 Community MVPs, will also become eligible for this year’s Byron Whizzer White Award, which is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.
The NFLPA Community MVP program recognizes NFL players who are making a positive impact in their local communities. Each week during the regular season, the NFLPA will celebrate one NFL player* who has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to his community. Please visit our website to read more about the program as well as the current and past winners.
*To be eligible for the Community MVP award, a player must be a dues-paying member of the NFLPA and either on a current NFL roster or actively seeking employment as a free agent.
2017 Community MVPs:
Week 0: J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)
Week 1: Colin Kaepernick
Week 2: Chris Long (Philadelphia Eagles)
Week 3: Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles)
Week 4: Max Garcia (Denver Broncos)
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About the NFL Players Association:
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players, and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through 2020. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.