Buffalo's Ray Davis Named Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP
Buffalo’s Ray Davis Named Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ray Davis has been named the Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP after teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in Buffalo to host a memorable event for mentors and mentees at Highmark Stadium.
The Buffalo Bills running back welcomed a group of 14 “Bigs” and “Littles” to experience a VIP stadium tour, enjoy a pizza party and participate in a Q&A session where Davis shared his journey from foster care to the NFL. Through this event, he encouraged the young attendees to follow their dreams, highlighting how impactful mentorship has been in his own life.
“Being selected as the Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP not only lets me know that I can impact those around me, but that others are more aware of what can be done within their own communities,” Davis said.
Growing up in San Francisco, Davis cycled in and out of foster care, and at the age of 12, he was homeless. During that period, he joined the local Big Brothers Big Sisters and paired up with a “Big” mentor named Patrick. The experience provided the stability and support that Davis needed to reach his potential, building a bond that remains strong to this day.
As a national advocate for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Davis was named a Game Changer by the organization for his dedication to creating awareness, access and opportunities through mentorship. This past summer, he took the stage at the 2024 Essence Festival to speak on the importance of mentorship, sharing his story with a national audience and inspiring countless others.
“A big goal of mine has been to give back the same way others have given back to me in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization,” the rookie running back said.
Since entering the NFL after starring at the University of Kentucky, Davis has made it a point to use his new platform to support at-risk children, particularly those in foster care. In recent months, Davis has turned his focus to youth advocacy groups in Western New York and San Francisco, and he is working on expanding his community efforts by finding more ways to become more directly involved in these areas.
Davis is only the fourth rookie to earn NFLPA Community MVP honors in the program’s 11-year history and the second rookie recognized this season.
In recognition of Davis being named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 9, the NFLPA will donate $10,000 to his foundation or charity of choice. In turn, Ward will take part in a special visit to a local school, children’s hospital, or community center. Along with the other 2024-25 Community MVPs, 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.
For its 11th season, the Community MVP program is teaming up with two supporting partners: Young Minds Inspired (YMI) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA). As the nation's leading provider of free educational outreach programs, YMI will bring this year’s NFLPA Community MVPs to classrooms across the country through lesson plans about community service, inspired by the players' philanthropic work. BBBSA is also inviting this season’s Community MVPs to partner with its 230+ agencies across the country, providing these athletes with more opportunities to engage with youth through its volunteer-supported mentoring network.
The Community MVP campaign is part of the NFLPA's continued efforts to support the year-round civic outreach and engagement of its player members. To learn more about the program, visit the NFLPA Community MVP website.
2024-25 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 1: Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: K.J. Osborn, New England Patriots
Week 3: Jordan Hicks, Cleveland Browns
Week 4: Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5: Nate Wiggins, Baltimore Ravens
Week 6: Ernest Jones IV, Tennessee Titans
Week 7: Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Week 8: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Week 9: Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
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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 NFL season. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.