WASHINGTON, D.C. – Von Miller has been named Week 17 NFLPA Community MVP for providing 164 underprivileged students in Denver and Texas with free corrective vision services.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the NFLPA for the third straight season with a Community MVP award,” Miller said. “When I began my career, I set out to make sure every kid has access to glasses that needs them, and these Community MVP awards let us know that we are achieving that goal.”
Through a series of eye exam days during the past six months, the Von’s Vision foundation has helped numerous youth in need receive either their first pair of glasses or replacements for their current, faulty frames. The Denver Broncos linebacker was on hand for several of these exam days, which took place throughout the NFL season at his three Vision Centers — the Broncos Boys & Girls Club, the William E. Cope Boys & Girls Club and the campus of Texas A&M, where he played college football.
By holding the vision services on site, Miller has allowed in-need youth, who otherwise might not have the transportation and financial needs, to receive no-cost screenings and high-end glasses.
This marks the third straight year that Miller has been named NFLPA Community MVP for his efforts through the Von’s Vision Foundation, founded in 2012. As someone who could not afford the corrective vision services that he needed as a child, Miller has made a point to make sure others don’t suffer in the same way.
Miller’s mission has taken on many different forms. More than 4,600 children have been impacted by the free screenings and eye exams offered at his annual Von’s Vision Days. Over 2,200 youth have been reached through its ancillary programs, such as frame donations to the Anchor Center for Blind Children and Von’s Vision Fest. And this spring, the foundation will open its first Von’s Locker. This program, done in partnership with Hero Practice Services, will place a locker within several of Hero’s optometry offices throughout Colorado, broadening the reach of Von’s Vision beyond Greater Denver.
In honor of Miller being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to foundation or charity of choice. Also, our supporting partner Pledge It has set up a crowdfunding campaign in his name called Sacks For Sight to benefit Von’s Vision Foundation. Donors can pledge contributions for every sack recorded by Miller this season, or they can make a flat donation at the following website: pledgeit.org/vonsvision.
Miller, along with the other 2019 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 NFLPA Community MVP program recognizes NFL players who are making a positive impact in their local communities. Each week during the regular season, the NFLPA will celebrate one NFL player who has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to his community. Please visit our website to read more about the program.
2019 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 0: Derrick Nnadi, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 1: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: Rashaad Coward, Chicago Bears
Week 3: Lonnie Johnson, Houston Texans
Week 4: Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5: Brandon Carr, Baltimore Ravens
Week 6: Deatrich Wise JR. New England Patriots
Week 7: Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 8: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Week 9: Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 10: Kelvin Beachum, New York Jets
Week 11: Richard Sherman, San Francisco 49ers
Week 12: Mark Barron, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 13: Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
Week 14: Kyle Van Noy, New England Patriots
Week 15: Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
Week 16: Brandon Copeland, New York Jets
Week 17: Von Miller, Denver Broncos
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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 2020 season. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.
