New York's Doug Middleton Named Week 15 NFLPA Community MVP

For Immediate Release
December 22, 2017

NEW YORK’S DOUG MIDDLETON NAMED WEEK 15 NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP
Jets safety provided gifts and mental health education for 32 kids from underserved communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Doug Middleton has been named Week 15 NFLPA Community MVP for giving holiday gifts to 32 kids from low-income areas and increasing mental health awareness.

“Being named NFLPA Community MVP means more to me than any on-the-field accomplishment I could receive,” the New York Jets defender said. “Being able to be a role model in my community has always been a dream of mine.”

When Middleton reported for training camp in July to start his second NFL season, the day’s excitement was overshadowed by the funeral for his childhood best friend, A.J. Morrison. After suffering from severe depression for three years, Morrison committed suicide, leaving Middleton heartbroken yet determined to build upon his best friend’s legacy.

Soon after, the “Dream The Impossible Initiative” was born. The organization’s mission is to support children in underserved communities while emphasizing the importance of mental health.

For Middleton’s first event on Dec. 16, he travelled back to his hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and hosted 32 kids for the “Let Your Light Shine Celebration.” The children were given a variety of gifts, including an Xbox, video games, bikes, sports toys, jerseys, shoes and winter coats to help enhance their Christmas experience. Middleton and a mental health advocate also spoke to group – all of whom had been affected by mental health in some way – providing encouragement and motivation to help push them toward their dreams. The event culminated with craft building and a hearty holiday meal for the 100 students, families and teachers in attendance.

Although a torn pectoral muscle sidelined Middleton for the entire 2017 season, the Winston-Salem native has used the extra time to pour back into his community. He has volunteered multiple times at the Charlotte Rescue Mission by serving breakfast to disadvantaged men and worked with the Western Youth Networks Big Brother program.

This spring, Middleton will serve as the leader of the 14^th annual NAMIWalks North Carolina, which is the largest fundraiser for the state’s National Alliance on Mental Illness. In between studying for his master’s degree in public policy, Middleton has also been working with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system in North Carolina and Brandon Marshall’s Project 375 organization to plan a mental health training event for teachers.

“I made a promise to my community to make sure that I honored my best friend by bringing awareness to the illness that took his life,” Middleton said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to bring more resources to my community and to continue the mission of bringing awareness to mental health.”

In honor of Middleton being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his foundation or charity of choice along with an in-kind donation to him on behalf of our supporting partner Delta Private Jets. Middleton, along with the other 2017 Community MVPs, will also become eligible for this year’s Byron Whizzer White Award, which is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.

The NFLPA Community MVP program recognizes NFL players who are making a positive impact in their local communities. Each week during the regular season, the NFLPA will celebrate one NFL player* who has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to his community. Please visit our website to read more about the program as well as the current and past winners.

*To be eligible for the Community MVP award, a player must be a dues-paying member of the NFLPA and either on a current NFL roster or actively seeking employment as a free agent.

2017 COMMUNITY MVPs

• Week 0: J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)
• Week 1: Colin Kaepernick
• Week 2: Chris Long (Philadelphia Eagles)
• Week 3: Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles)
• Week 4: Max Garcia (Denver Broncos)
• Week 5: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Green Bay Packers)
• Week 6: Vic Beasley Jr. (Atlanta Falcons)
• Week 7: Travis Frederick (Dallas Cowboys)
• Week 8: Andy Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals)
• Week 9: Carlos Dunlap (Cincinnati Bengals)
• Week 10: Josh Norman (Washington Redskins)
• Week 11: Vinny Curry (Philadelphia Eagles)
• Week 12: Emmanuel Sanders (Denver Broncos)
• Week 13: David Johnson (Arizona Cardinals)
• Week 14: Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams)

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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 2020. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.