Pittsburgh’s Jonnu Smith Named Week 7 NFLPA Community MVP
Pittsburgh’s Jonnu Smith Named Week 7 NFLPA Community MVP
Washington, D.C. – Jonnu Smith has been selected as the Week 7 NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Community MVP after he and several of his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates visited approximately 100 inmates at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette to share messages of hope and encouragement.
Among those in attendance was Smith’s older brother, Wayne, who has been incarcerated since 2010. The visit, which took place on the players’ day off, reflected Smith’s deep commitment to community engagement, personal growth and second chances.
“It is truly a blessing and an honor to be named this week’s NFLPA Community MVP. As a man of faith, I understand the position of my platform far exceeds any touchdown I can score. The real stats are off the field,” Smith said. "The joy that I have for receiving an award for doing something pure and not expecting anything in return makes it all the more special.”
Joining Smith for the visit were teammates Pat Freiermuth, Connor Heyward, Corliss Waitman, Calvin Anderson and Matt Sokol. Together, they spent the day talking with inmates about resilience, responsibility and the importance of perseverance. Representatives from the culinary-based nonprofit Community Kitchen Pittsburgh also gave a presentation on its training programs, apprenticeships and transitional employment opportunities designed to help individuals rebuild their lives after incarceration.
Since joining the Steelers this season, Smith has been able to see his brother more frequently while expanding his ongoing charitable work through the Nu Family Foundation. Its mission is to empower the next generation through education, media and sports, as well as improve the lives of those facing food and housing insecurity.
The ninth-year tight end recently partnered with Gwen’s Girls, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that offers free, holistic programming to empower at-risk girls and young women in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. During the after-school visit, Smith met with participants in the Black Girls Equity Alliance Program to learn more about their advocacy around the juvenile justice system. To celebrate their efforts, Smith gifted each girl a pair of sneakers to paint as a creative expression of their work and later surprised them with tickets to the Steelers’ My Cause My Cleats game in November, where they will showcase their custom designs.
In recognition of Smith being named NFLPA Community MVP for Week 7, the NFL Players Association will donate $10,000 to the Nu Family Foundation. Additionally, Pittsburgh's own Richard King Mellon Foundation is matching the NFLPA's grant for a total contribution of $20,000 to Smith’s nonprofit.
Along with the other Community MVPs from this season, Smith 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.
As part of a new supporting partnership with GoFundMe, fans can now also make a donation directly to the Nu Family Foundation here. All donations are tax-deductible and will go directly to the player's selected nonprofit.
Now in its 12th season, the NFLPA’s award-winning Community MVP campaign is part of the union’s continued efforts to support the year-round civic outreach and engagement of its player members. For more information about NFLPA Community MVP program, visit here.
###
About the NFL Players Association:
The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is the union for professional football players in the NFL and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of protecting the health, safety and financial future of its more than 2,000 player members, who are the backbone of North America's most popular and highest revenue-generating sport. Through a wide offering of programs, resources and engagement opportunities, the NFLPA provides world-class service to players throughout their career lifecycle and builds solidarity to advocate on their behalf in the areas of healthcare, revenue, compensation and working conditions. The current CBA will govern the sport through the 2030 season. Learn more at nflpa.com.