BUFFALO’S HARRISON PHILLIPS NAMED WEEK  5  NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP 

BUFFALO’S HARRISON PHILLIPS NAMED WEEK  5  NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Harrison Phillips has been named Week 5 NFLPA Community MVP after hosting a drive-in movie event for more than 200 families with children who have special needs and developmental differences.

“I am extremely honored to be named the Week 5 Community MVP,” Phillips said. “It validates the idea of paying it forward and giving back, which are huge values of mine.” 

Along with renting out the entire drive-in movie area, the Buffalo Bills defensive tackle gave each family a play pack filled with sports equipment, hosted a socially distanced contest of “Simon Says” and invited the local police and fire departments to do special presentations. Although Phillips could not attend in person, he joined the audience for 30 minutes via Zoom on the big screen to provide words of encouragement before the film began, marking his eighth event with Buffalo’s special needs community since being drafted by the Bills in 2018.

Through his non-profit The Playmakers, Phillips works to promote social inclusion and kindness while helping disadvantaged children with developmental differences and special needs. With a focus on academics, core values and health & fitness, the Stanford alum has hosted numerous events for hundreds of kids, including an annual football camp, toy drives, Christmas parties and kickball tournaments.

I'm so thankful for our wonderful volunteers that help me and, of course, the amazing kids I get to work with,” Phillips said.

The Bills defender has also worked with the Veterans Hospital of Buffalo and Western New York Heroes, a non-profit that helps serve the needs of veterans in western New York; visited local hospitals, including the patients at the Oishei Children’s Hospital (OCH); served as a regional spokesperson for the Special Olympics; and, donated 650 meals to frontline workers at Buffalo General Medical Center and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year.

In honor of Phillips being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to The Playmakers. Also, our supporting partner Pledge It has set up a crowdfunding campaign to benefit The Playmakers. Supporters can pledge contributions to the Playmakers based on if the Bills win, or they can make a flat donation at the following website:

Make A Pledge

Phillips, along with the other 2020 Community MVPs, will become eligible for this year’s Alan Page Community 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 hometowns and team cities. Each week during the regular season, the NFLPA will celebrate one player who has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to his community. Please visit our website to learn more about the program.   

2020 NFLPA Community MVP winners: 
Week 0: Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans
Week 1: Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: Rodney McLeod, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3: Landon Collins, Washington Football Team
Week 4: Oren Burks, Green Bay Packers  
 

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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 the 2030 season. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.