Buffalo's Dion Dawkins Selected As Week 10 NFLPA Community MVP
BUFFALO’S DION DAWKINS SELECTED AS WEEK 10 NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dion Dawkins has been named the Week 10 NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Community MVP for treating three different classes of students to all-expenses paid educational outings through his “Shnow Day” field trip program.
After fielding over 450 applications from Western New York classrooms, more than 50 students and counting have benefited from the initiative launched this season by the Buffalo Bills offensive lineman and his Dion’s Dreamers foundation. Between September and October, a fourth-grade class from Hyde Park Elementary School went to the Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve; an eighth-grade group from Dunkirk Elementary School toured the Bills’ Highmark Stadium; and for the most recent trip, a kindergarten group from Charter School for Applied Technologies (CSAT) visited the Aquarium of Niagara with Dawkins. The fourth and final “Shnow Day” will be held in December, when a sixth-grade class from Harvey Austin Elementary School will attend the Buffalo Battleground arcade park.
“Winning in the community isn’t about winning and losing; everyone who’s on this list is a winner,” Dawkins said. “Once you take a step into the community, becoming available to help and putting your energy towards making something better, the win is created.”
“We are all winners, and I’m honored to stand by my dawgs in the community to continue to make the cities surrounding our homes and our football teams better.”
On October 29, 18 students from CSAT arrived in style at the local aquarium, thanks to a limousine ride provided by Dawkins. The kids then headed to the Shnowed-out event room, where they received hats, shirts and swag bags before being greeted by their jovial host.
Alongside Dawkins, the group immersed themselves in marine education, meeting and learning about spotted turtles; demonstrating their painting skills; and participating in a mini-training session for sea lions. The "Shnow Day" ended with a pizza party and a visit to the ice cream truck for sweet treats before heading back to school with a small, handcrafted canvas.
"The kids had a crazy time," Dawkins said. "Over the years, the community of Buffalo has graduated into something way bigger than just the word 'community.' And in my life, they've graduated to real family."
Since being drafted in 2017 by the Bills, Dawkins has been a consistent source of support for his Buffalo family through the Dion’s Dreamers nonprofit, which provides mentorship, support and guidance to individuals facing mental, financial and physical challenges. The jolly giant of a lineman does it all with a smile, leading with this heart while infusing his “Shnowman” personality, born from his childhood days shoveling snow and serving others in New Jersey.
This year alone, he has contributed $2,500 worth of non-perishables to the Buffalo Bills Huddle for Hunger drive, donated $14,500 of new sports gear to Rahway High School and personally connected with at-risk students at BPS #131, The Academy School, which is a last-chance alternative school that Dawkins “adopted” in 2023.
Later this month, Dawkins will once again support Ms. Triggs Thanksgiving event on the East Side of Buffalo to serve hot meals to people in need. Last year, he helped feed 9,000 people through the program by helping deliver meals to housing complexes, community centers and more.
In recognition of Dawkins being named NFLPA Community MVP for Week 10, the NFL Players Association will donate $10,000 to his nonprofit of choice. Along with the other Community MVPs from this season, he will also be eligible for the Alan Page Community Award, which is the NFLPA’s highest player honor and includes an additional $100,000 donation.
As part of a new supporting partnership with GoFundMe, fans can now also make a donation directly to the NFLPA Community MVP’s selected nonprofit here. All donations are tax-deductible and will go directly to the player's selected nonprofit.
Now in its 12th season, the NFLPA’s award-winning Community MVP campaign is part of the union’s continued efforts to support the year-round civic outreach and engagement of its player members. Community MVPs are selected by a committee of NFLPA staff that reviews the weekly nominees, which are submitted by players, agents, marketing representatives and NFL team staff. For more information about NFLPA Community MVP program, visit here.
2025-26 NFLPA Community MVP Winners:
Week 1: Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
Week 2: Osa Odighizuwa, Dallas Cowboys
Week 3: Jeremy Chinn, Las Vegas Raiders
Week 4: Trent Sherfield, Denver Broncos
Week 5: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Week 6: Justin Reid, New Orleans Saints
Week 7: Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 8: Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Week 9: Nakobe Dean, Philadelphia Eagles
Weel 10: Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills
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About the NFL Players Association:
The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is the union for professional football players in the NFL and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of protecting the health, safety and financial future of its more than 2,000 player members, who are the backbone of North America’s most popular and highest revenue-generating sport. Through a wide offering of programs, resources and engagement opportunities, the NFLPA provides world-class service to players throughout their career lifecycle and builds solidarity to advocate on their behalf in the areas of healthcare, revenue, compensation and working conditions. The current CBA will govern the sport through the 2030 season. Learn more at nflpa.com.