Cleveland's Myles Garrett Named Week 1 NFLPA Community MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Myles Garrett has been named the Week 1 NFLPA Community MVP after hosting his inaugural Back to School Kickoff for more than 250 kids who experience poverty in the Greater Cleveland area.
“It is an honor to be named the NFLPA Community MVP,” Garrett said. “From a very young age, my family taught me that helping other people is not just the nice thing to do; it’s the right thing to do.”
The two-day community event saw hundreds of students from the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Ohio receive free haircuts and hair styling before their first day of school as well as essential back-to-school supplies. The All-Pro defensive end put on the event in partnership with the United Way of Greater Cleveland, for which he serves as an ambassador. Garrett took time to interact with each kid, chatting with them as they ate from the food trucks on hand, hosting a Q&A session and taking part in a magic trick.
The former Texas A&M standout has had an impressive on-field career since being picked No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, but his philanthropic work has brought him even closer to his adopted hometown. Through Garrett’s United Way partnership, he has hosted various community events throughout Northeast Ohio, including “Home for the Holidays,” where he provided winter gear and school supplies to local children in need.
Garrett’s love for science and dinosaurs has also spurred him to promote the importance of STEM in schools. Earlier this year, he was named the first community science ambassador for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. In his new role, he invited children from the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Ohio to a screening of “Jurassic World Dominion,” as they enjoyed snacks and giveaways while watching the movie with Garrett and some of his Browns teammates.
"I’m passionate about uplifting the next generation and I plan to positively impact as many lives as possible for as long as I can,” the sixth-year veteran said.
In honor of Garrett being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his charity or foundation of choice, and Garrett will take part in a virtual or in-person visit to a local school or children’s hospital. Along with the other 2022 Community MVPs, he will also become eligible for this year’s Alan Page Community Award, which is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.
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.
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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.