Cleveland's Denzel Ward Named Week 7 NFLPA Community MVP
CLEVELAND'S DENZEL WARD NAMED WEEK 7 NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP
WASHINGTON D.C. -- Denzel Ward has been named the Week 7 NFLPA Community MVP after donating $150,000 through his Make Them Know Your Name (MTKYN) Foundation to place 100 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) around Cleveland.
“My family and I set up the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation to honor my late father, and we are blessed to continue to honor his legacy by helping make the city of Cleveland a safer place when it comes to heart-related incidents and Sudden Cardiac Arrest,” the Cleveland Browns cornerback said.
The donation will provide AEDs to local non-profits, schools, community organizations, small businesses and houses of worship, ensuring that the devices are available when and where they are needed most. During the official launch announcement at the Browns facility on October 14, Ward’s foundation also hosted a CPR demonstration and training session to help local community members become CPR-certified.
Ward created the MTKYN Foundation in memory of his father, Paul Ward Jr., who passed away at age 46 after suffering cardiac arrest during a spin class in 2016. Since then, the foundation has focused on raising awareness about cardiac health and providing life-saving resources to underserved communities.
In addition to his foundation’s work, Ward was recently selected as one of 11 NFL players to serve in the American Heart Association’s 2024 Nation of Lifesavers Player Ambassador class. As part of this role, he will continue to advocate for heart health education across the country.
“Hopefully, more lives will be saved moving forward,” Ward said.
Since entering the NFL in 2018, Ward has prioritized community outreach, particularly in improving cardiac health. His foundation regularly hosts events such as an All-Star Fitness Expo, a pop-up community event and his annual youth football camp to educate the public on lifesaving practices and raise funds for heart health awareness. Along with donating an AED after every Browns win, MTKYN also played a key role in advocating for the passage of a new Ohio law earlier this year that mandates all schools and recreational facilities be equipped with AEDs.
In recognition of Ward being named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 7, 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. Please visit the NFLPA Community MVP website to learn more about the program.
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
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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.