Minnesota's Harrison Phillips Named Week 15 NFLPA Community MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Harrison Phillips has been named this season’s Week 15 NFLPA Community MVP after he spread holiday cheer to more than 450 families while impacting multiple causes across three different states.
“Words can't express how appreciative I am for being named this week's NFLPA Community MVP,” Phillips said. “Each week, I see all our winners and the honorable mentions, and it makes me feel more motivated seeing our union members giving back. This week was special because it involved my Playmakers all across the country.”
In his team city of Minnesota, the Vikings defender dressed up as Santa Claus and treated 200 families to a shopping spree totaling $25,000 in gifts. Back east in his previous team city of Buffalo, the Stanford alum got a helping hand from some of his former Bills teammates, who hosted 150 families for a holiday party with arts and crafts, games, cookie making, gifts and more. Rounding out his festive giveaway, Phillips’s Playmakers foundation put together a special event in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, with 100 families receiving gifts from their wish lists.
As an extension of this spirit of giving, Phillips asked the families in each city to pay it forward by contributing donations to various causes. In Omaha, the attendees brought 400 pounds of food for the Food Bank for the Heartland. In Minnesota, more than $3,500 was collected for local veterans in need; and in Buffalo, carloads of gifts were given to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Phillps, who also earned NFLPA Community MVP honors in 2020, has consistently made an impact through his Harrison’s Playmakers foundation, which works to promote social inclusion and kindness for children and young adults with developmental differences and needs. Through the Playermakers groups established in three cities, the six-year veteran has hosted more than 20 events this year alone. From sports camps and shopping sprees to rented-out movie theaters and VIP game experiences, Phillips’s outreach initiatives always include opportunities for participants to give back in their own way.
In honor of Phillips being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA is making a $10,000 contribution to his foundation or charity of choice. In turn, Phillips will take part in a virtual or in-person visit to a school or children’s hospital. Along with the other 2023-24 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.
Now in its 10th season, 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.
2023-24 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 1: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Week 3: Justin Hardee, New York Jets
Week 4. Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions
Week 5: Arik Armstead, San Francisco 49ers
Week 6: Emmanuel Ogbah, Miami Dolphins
Week 7: Calais Campbell, Atlanta Falcons
Week 8: Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 9: Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants
Week 10: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Week 11: Jalen Pitre, Houston Texans
Week 12: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Week 13: Lawrence Guy, New England Patriots
Week 14: Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
Week 15: Harrison Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
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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.