Tampa Bay's Devin White Named Week 13 NFLPA Community MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This year marked Devin White’s first Thanksgiving without his father, who unexpectedly passed away on November 10. But that didn’t stop the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker from taking care of families in Louisiana and Florida, where he handed out 500 turkeys and 45 Thanksgiving meal kits. For this, White has been named the Week 13 NFLPA Community MVP.
“Thank you to the NFLPA for selecting me as the Week 13 Community MVP,” White said. “These last three weeks have been tough since losing my dad, but I know he was proud of all the work I’ve been doing on and off the field.”
While on the way to catch his team’s flight for the first-ever NFL game in Germany, White received the news that his father, Carlos Thomas, had passed away. After putting together a performance that earned him Week 10 NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, the Super Bowl champion proceeded to honor his father off the field. On Nov. 19, just one day before the funeral, White and his mother provided more than $15,000 worth of turkeys on a first-come, first-served basis to families in his hometown of Cullen, Louisiana.
A few days later, after heading back to Tampa, White made sure that children in the local foster care system also had a special holiday. Through his Get Live 45 Foundation, he handed out 45 Thanksgiving meal kits that helped feed more than 450 foster children and their families from Hope Children’s Home, Grow Into You Foundation, Florida 1.27 and Radiant Church.
“I started my Get Live 45 Foundation to help kids and families in foster care and to give back to my hometown,” White said. “I’m glad all the work we’ve been doing is helping people and putting smiles on their faces.”
Inspired by the impact his Buccaneers teammates have made in the Tampa Bay area, White launched his own foundation in 2021 with a mission of providing hope and comfort to kids in foster care and disadvantaged youth. This year, he and his non-profit launched the “Dream Family Room Makeover” initiative where White selects a local foster family to have parts of its home renovated. The first makeover took place in July, featuring a new living room space with toys and a backyard swing set for a family raising five foster kids along with their own five children.
A month later, White hosted his first Get Live for Back-to-School giveaway. There, the Pro Bowler distributed backpacks full of school supplies and non-perishable food to 50 foster children. And in October, White threw a bowling party for 60 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay, surprising them all with brand-new toys. In total, the Get Live 45 Foundation has impacted the lives of more than 800 children in need so far throughout Florida and White’s home state of Louisiana.
In honor of White being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his charity or foundation of choice. White will also take part in a virtual or in-person visit to a 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.
2022 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 1: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Week 2: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Week 3: Cody Davis, New England Patriots
Week 4: Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders
Week 5: John Metchie III, Houston Texans
Week 6: Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
Week 7: Jason Cabinda, Detroit Lions
Week 8: Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins
Week 9: Dalvin Tomlinson, Minnesota Vikings
Week 10: Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Cardinals
Week 11: Orlando Brown Jr., Kansas City Chiefs
Week 12: Jonathan Jones, New England Patriots
Week 13: Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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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.