Anthony Barr, MOY Nominee, and Teammates Seek to Give Back
LeeAnn Lowman
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Anthony Barr, LB for the Minnesota Vikings, was nominated for the 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The work he does on and off the field is having an impact. Barr is not the only Viking doing charitable work and making positive changes in his community.
What is the Award?
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is considered one of the league’s most prestigious awards. To be nominated is a tremendous honor. Every year, all 32 NFL teams submit the name of a player who demonstrates excellence both on and off the field. It shows their commitment and dedication to their sport as well as exemplary community service. The winner is determined by a panel of judges which is made up of the previous year’s winner, the Commissioner of the NFL, and former players. The winner has $250,000 donated, in their name, to the charity of their choice. The other finalists have up to $40,000 donated in their name to their charity.
Raise the Barr Foundation
According to Anthony Barr, Raise the Barr is built around the story of his mother, Lori Barr, and himself. The foundation seeks to increase economic mobility for students who are single parents. Raise the Barr provides grants, scholarships, mental health resources, and other support for single-parents to complete their education in Minnesota and California.
Raise the Barr is far from Barr’s only charitable work. He is also involved in other community efforts to help stop the cycle of poverty and reduce the need for public assistance. He seeks to help empower low-income parents and their children to succeed in the workforce, at school, and home. Barr is also a leader on Viking’s Social Justice Committee, which helps raise awareness about social justice issues. He’s an ambassador of the NFL partnering with the Minneapolis police department to help create positive change in the community.
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Other Vikings Giving Back
Barr is certainly not the only Viking player involved in charitable works; to name them all would take a book but some stand out.
- The Minnesota Vikings Foundation was created by the team to improve life expectancy through physical activity and good health. Additionally, it works to close the educational gap experienced in Minnesota as compared to national test scores and graduation rates. This foundation relies on the players, staff, and fans to improve the well-being of the community.
- Adam Thielen, WR, and his wife formed the Thielen Foundation. The Thielen Foundation believes in the power of sport to change our society. It provides financial support, equipment, and apparel to help keep athletic programs running, especially during the COVID pandemic. Thielen’s organization donated $100,000 to a local high school to restore their stadium lights. He earned recognition from the NFLPA for his charitable work.
- QB Kirk Cousins supports the team’s Social Justice Committee with both funding and time. Cousins surprised many by making a large donation to the committee. The committee works toward criminal justice reform, education, and voter registration
- Kene Nwangwu and Brian O’Neill both have siblings with autism. They both promote autism awareness organizations – Autism Self-Advocacy Network and Autism Speaks, respectively. This year they both wore cleats that showed their support and raise awareness about autism.
- Christian Darrisaw is passionate about giving back to his community and about fitness. He created the Christian Darrisaw Fitness Challenge as a way for individuals as well as communities to challenge themselves and each other to improve their overall fitness and health. All proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Southwest Virginia, where Darrisaw was both raised and attended college. Darrisaw matched the money raised and donated this year with another $15,000 on top of the donations.
- The Wilf Family Foundation is taking social justice reform seriously. They have made large donations and spoken out, aiming to improve voter registration, voting rights, and minority entrepreneurship (among others focuses). The Wilf family has been very vocal about being the descendants of Holocaust survivors and that has fueled their passion for equality.
How Can I Get Involved?
Players like Anthony Barr and other MOY nominees are encouraging fans to get involved. A social media campaign was launched. Fans can vote using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee’s last name or Twitter handle. The player with the most votes will receive an additional $25,000 towards their charity, while second place will get $10,000 and third place $5,000. The players also hope that their charitable contributions help to inspire others during the holiday season and throughout the year. These players not only donate money but their time and other resources in hopes of showing that we all can make a difference.
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