In honor of Devin McCourty winning the 2014 Ron Burton Community Service Award, here's some of the best photos of the Patriots safety in the community.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The National Football League announced today the 32 players who have been named their team's Man of the Year. For his commitment and volunteer work in the community, Patriots DB Devin McCourty has been named as the New England Patriots team nominee for the award. The 32 players announced today represent the best of the NFL's commitment to philanthropy and community impact and are eligible to win the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, presented by Nationwide.
Three of the 32 nominees will be selected as finalists for the award, named for the legendary Chicago Bears running back who died in 1999. Finalists will be announced in January 2015. The winner will be announced in Arizona, the site of Super Bowl XLIX, during the fourth annual NFL Honors awards show, a two-hour primetime special to air nationally on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 9-11 p.m. ET on NBC.
Since joining the organization in 2010, McCourty has been one of the most active players in the New England community, regularly volunteering to assist the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's many initiatives, volunteering countless hours to help others. McCourty has also teamed with his twin brother, Jason, who plays for the Tennessee Titans, to start a foundation to help fight Sickle Cell, a disease that has affected members of his own family. McCourty has joined the team at Boston Children's Hospital to raise awareness and help find a cure for the disease. He serves as a spokesperson in PSAs and continues to raise money through his foundation to help fund research to find a cure. On Oct. 27, he hosted a casino night fundraiser to support Boston Children's Hospital and Next Step, a mentoring program for children and families faced with sickle cell disease. He was joined by children and families he met through his hospital visits who are faced with sickle cell and serves as a mentor to them.
His dedication to giving back doesn't just stop there. His dedication to the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation has been remarkable over the years. McCourty has served as an advocate for education to middle school students through the team's "Read Between the Lines" program, encouraging students to surpass their summer reading goals. In addition to the many school visits he has made, he can be found on most Tuesdays throughout the season volunteering and giving back in his local communities. He has also made numerous hospital visits, worked at food banks and community shelters, supported the Patriots' Play 60 and Football for You events throughout New England and continues to be counted on regularly for his contributions to the team, both on and off the field.
Each of the 32 team nominees will receive a $1,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to the charity of their choice. Three finalists will receive an additional $5,000 donation and the recipient of this year's Walter Payton Award will receive an additional $20,000 donation in his name to the charity of his choice.
For more on the Walter Payton Award, click here.
