TAMPA BAY’S MIKE EVANS NAMED WEEK 16 NFLPA COMMUNITY MVP
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mike Evans has been named the Week 16 NFLPA Community MVP after he donated more than $30,000 to support Tampa Bay kids in need while also providing four-year college scholarships for six local high school students.
"This is a huge honor," the Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver said. "With the many blessings I've received through football, my wife, Ashli, and I started the Mike Evans Family Foundation to be a blessing to others. We don't do it for the recognition. It just makes us feel good to give back."
The Super Bowl champion once again created a special holiday experience for Tampa Bay kids in need through his annual Catch For Christmas initiative. This year, Evans and his foundation gave back more than $30,000 to the youth in his community over the course of a week.
On December 13, Mike and Ashli Evans surprised the staff and kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay with gifts and signed jerseys. On his way out the door following the event, Evans spotted some of the children playing outside on a field, so he joined them in tossing around the football. The next day, Evans went shopping with 13 kids from the Children’s Home Network -- a Tampa organization that helps victims of neglect and domestic abuse – and bought gifts off their wish lists and for their families. Finally, on December 19, Evans, along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation Social Justice Fund and AdventHealth, presented six local high school students with a Florida pre-paid four-year college scholarship plan, valued at $23,500 each.
The eight-year veteran founded the Mike Evans Family Foundation in 2017 to make a difference in the lives of children in need and those who have been affected by domestic violence. Through his non-profit, he annually awards 13 college scholarships valued at $5,000 each to graduating high school seniors across the country who may not have the opportunity to attend college because of financial reasons.
While Evans has spent much of his NFL career giving back to those in his community, this past year alone saw him really step up those efforts. Evans donated $50,000 to the United Way of Galveston to support their storm relief efforts after Texas was hit hard by a winter storm; raised $50,000 through the Mike Evans Family Foundation golf tournament and bowling event to support youth, encourage education and take a stand against domestic violence; hosted 150 youth at his annual football camp in Galveston; organized a Halloween event for 13 kids at the Florida Aquarium, where they got to pick out a costume to take home; and donated meals to Tampa families in need over the Thanksgiving holiday.
In honor of Evans being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his charity or foundation of choice. Our supporting partner, Aldine Sports Association, will create customized T-shirts and hoodies featuring his unique Community MVP superhero illustration made by HEARTLENT Group. The apparel will be sold on ASA’s website during the season, with a portion of all proceeds going to Evans’s foundation or charity of choice.
Evans, along with the other 2021 Community MVPs, will 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.
2021 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 1: Justin Reid, Houston Texans
Week 2: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Viking
Week 3: Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills
Week 4: Arik Armstead, San Francisco 49ers
Week 5: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Week 6: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Week 7: Brett Hundley, Indianapolis Colts
Week 8: Chris Harris Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
Week 9: Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals
Week 10: James Smith-Williams, Washington Football Team
Week 11: Lawrence Guy, New England Patriots
Week 12: Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Week 13: Will Gholston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 14: Rodney McLeod, Philadelphia Eagles
Week 15: Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos
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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.