Andrew Whitworth Named 2019 Alan Page Community Award Winner
L.A. Rams offensive lineman earns NFLPA’s highest honor for his outreach efforts
ANDREW WHITWORTH NAMED 2019 ALAN PAGE COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER
L.A. Rams offensive lineman earns NFLPA’s highest honor for his outreach efforts
ATLANTA – The NFL Players Association announced Andrew Whitworth as the recipient of the 2019 Alan Page Community Award at its annual Super Bowl press conference on Thursday. In recognition, the NFLPA will donate $100,000 to The Big Whit 77 Foundation.
“Football has brought so much joy to my life and family, so it is our honor to embrace the community and share those blessings,” the Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman said. “It is truly humbling to be recognized by the NFLPA and my peers with this kind donation, and we look forward to empowering those that are in need around us. Thank you for providing this opportunity to use football to bring people together.”
Previously known as the Byron Whizzer White Award before being re-established this past fall, the Alan Page Community Award is the NFLPA’s highest honor. The award annually recognizes one player who demonstrates a profound dedication to positively impacting his team’s city and communities across the country in the spirit of the Pro Football Hall of Famer and social pioneer for whom the honor is named.
Following the November mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California, Whitworth donated his Week 10 game check (approximately $60,000) to the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Conejo Valley Victims Fund in helping the families of the 12 people who lost their lives.
In that same month, Whitworth helped raise money for those impacted by the wildfires that had torn through California. The All-Pro lineman auctioned off his game jersey to benefit the American Red Cross Southern California Wildfire Relief fund. Whitworth’s efforts, despite him and his own family also being displaced by the raging fires, once again demonstrated his passion for helping others.
During the 2017 season, his first with the Rams, Whitworth purchased 600 bikes and helmets for Grape Street Elementary School students around the holiday season. He also supported 2017 NFLPA Community MVP Chris Long and his First Quarter Literacy program by matching Long’s donation of $20,000 to provide 10,000 books to Los Angeles kids.
Additionally, Whitworth and his wife, Melissa, have impacted youth and families in their home state of Louisiana through various campaigns within the Big Whit 77 Foundation. Whit’s Warriors provides financial assistance to high school seniors in Ouachita and Lincoln parishes. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than 200 students with over $400,000 in scholarships and school supplies since its inception.
The foundation’s two other programs are Open Arms, which offers financial aid to families in the process of adoption, and Wish List, which partners University of Louisiana Monroe and Louisiana Tech athletes with local families for fellowship and fun during the holidays.
Whitworth was chosen as this year’s winner from among five finalists following an electronic ballot vote that was open to all of his NFL peers from across the league. The finalists – Whitworth, Geno Atkins (Cincinnati Bengals), Kelvin Beachum (New York Jets), Von Miller (Denver Broncos) and Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers) – were selected by an external committee of judges across labor, media, sport and charity from among the 18 Community MVPs awarded during the 2018 regular season.
Learn more about the Alan Page Community Award.
Previous Alan Page Community Award Winners*:
- 2018 Chris Long, Philadelphia Eagles
- 2017 Malcolm Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles
- 2016 Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers
- 2015 Chad Greenway, Minnesota Vikings
- 2014 Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers
- 2013 Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2012 Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
- 2011 Tony Richardson, New York Jets
- 2010 Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders
- 2009 Brian Dawkins, Philadelphia Eagles
- 2008 Warrick Dunn, Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Atlanta Falcons
- 2007 John Lynch, Denver Broncos
- 2006 Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans
- 2005 Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
- 2004 Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 2003 Troy Vincent, Philadelphia Eagles
- 2002 Mark Brunell, Jacksonville Jaguars
- 2001 Michael McCrary, Baltimore Ravens
- 2000 Doug Pelfrey, Cincinnati Bengals
- 1999 Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings
- 1998 Hardy Nickerson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 1997 Chris Zorich, Chicago Bears
- 1996 Bill Brooks, Buffalo Bills
- 1995 Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs
- 1994 Mark Kelso, Buffalo Bills
- 1993 Nick Lowery, Kansas City Chiefs
- 1992 Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
- 1991 Mike Kenn, Atlanta Falcons
- 1990 Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland Browns
- 1989 Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears
- 1988 Deron Cherry, Kansas City Chiefs
- 1987 George Martin, New York Giants
- 1986 Nat Moore, Miami Dolphins
- 1985 Reggie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals
- 1984 Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Chargers
- 1983 Doug Dieken, Cleveland Browns
- 1982 Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1981 Ken Houston, Washington Redskins
- 1980 Gene Upshaw, Los Angeles Raiders
- 1979 Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys
- 1978 Archie Manning, New Orleans Saints
- 1977 Lyle Alzado, Denver Broncos
- 1976 Jim Hart, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1975 Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1974 Floyd Little, Denver Broncos
- 1973 Andy Russell, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1972 Ray May, Baltimore Colts
- 1971 Kermit Alexander, Los Angeles Rams
- 1970 Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears
- 1969 Ed Meador, Los Angeles Rams
- 1968 Willie Davis, Green Bay Packers
- 1967 Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers
*Team listed indicates which team player was on at the time he was awarded
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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.