Indianapolis's Ryan Kelly Named Week 13 NFLPA Community MVP
Indianapolis’ Ryan Kelly Named Week 13 NFLPA Community MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ryan Kelly has been named the Week 13 NFLPA Community MVP for hosting a community baby shower that offered essential resources and support for more than 300 families, including 150 expectant mothers, in Indianapolis.
“It means the world to be nominated for this award and to win it,” the Indianapolis Colts center said. “I know there are a lot of great people out there doing a lot of great work. This was our true passion project.”
Kelly and his wife, Emma, partnered with the non-profit Healthy Birth Day, Inc. and its Count the Kicks campaign to provide essential pregnancy and post-delivery care information for the November 12 shower. Count the Kicks teaches expectant mothers how to track and recognize their baby’s movements. The campaign has led to a reduction in stillbirth rates by empowering moms to alert doctors to changes they may notice. The Kellys credit their use of Count the Kicks’ free app for saving the lives of their twin boys, Duke and Ford, after Emma sought medical attention when she noticed their movements were off.
The baby shower also featured more than 10 local organizations providing guidance on car seat safety, insurance, WIC benefits and even details about the local hospital and children’s museum. While at the Colts facility, guests enjoyed a BBQ meal, participated in a raffle featuring 30 high-end baby items and received gift bags filled with diapers, wipes and baby clothes donated by the Indianapolis community.
“As much as I’m credited for it, my wife did a lot of this and it’s a community-based charity event that we appreciate,” said Ryan Kelly, who serves on the NFLPA’s Executive Committee. “A lot of people came out and supported us and supported other people who are pregnant and going through this incredible time in their life. We’re very excited and honored to be recipients of this award. We hope to make this an annual event every year.”
The Kellys’ passion for this cause stems from the heartbreak of losing their first daughter, Mary Kate, to a miscarriage in 2021. Since then, the couple has dedicated themselves to turning their pain into purpose through advocacy for families and youth in need.
They’ve worked with More Than a Phone, which wipes donated electronics, phones, tablets and laptops and re-distributes them to safe houses so that domestic violence survivors can start a fresh life. Additionally, the Kellys have donated their money and time to Concerns of Police Survivors, which supports families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, and True Strength Ability Awareness, a non-profit launched by his former high school teammate and NFLPA Week 3 Community MVP Jordan Hicks that is dedicated to building inclusive communities and raising funds for young people with special needs.
In recognition of Kelly being named the NFLPA Community MVP for Week 13, the NFLPA will donate $10,000 to his foundation or charity of choice. In turn, Kelly 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
Week 8: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Week 9: Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
Week 10: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Week 11: Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers
Week 12: A.J. Terrell Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Week 13: Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts
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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.