Brandon Copeland named 2020 NFLPA Alan Page Award Community Winner
| The NFL Players Association honored Brandon Copeland as the 2020 Alan Page Community Award recipient at its annual state of the union press conference in Miami Beach, Florida. Copeland feels fortunate that he had the right people in place “who took the blinders off of me so to speak” and showed him hard work does pay off. His hope is that his foundation Beyond the Basics helps kids realize their full potential. “You’re highlighting the positive, and so now you’re giving a young kid something to shoot for and now they are shooting not just to be the best football player ever, or the best basketball player ever, right. Now they want to be like some of these other players and they want to be the best football player but also give back, or also run a business, or also do well in school.” This is NFLPA’s highest honor, recognizing a player’s dedication to impacting his team’s city and communities nationwide, following the Pro Football Hall of Famer and social advocate for whom the award is named. Justice Page believes players “have the power because of our celebrity to not only perform well on the athletic field but also to be a part of changing the future and be a part of making this world a better place.” The New York Jets linebacker brought his teamwork skills from the field and helped change the lives of more than 300 foster and underprivileged children. He enlisted 11 NFL current and former players from across the country for this pursuit: Josh Bynes, Joel Gamble, Duron Harmon, Kerry Hyder, Cam Lynch, Devin & Jason McCourty, Kevin Minter, Kyle Van Noy, Tahir Whitehead, and Avery Williamson. The athletes hosted seven “December to Remember” pizza parties and shopping sprees in New York/New Jersey, Tampa, Baltimore, Dallas, Boston and Oakland in mid-December. This is just one of several philanthropic events hosted by his non-profit, which works to empower young individuals to maximize their potential by exposing them to enriching experiences, opportunities, and people. Events throughout the year include the annual youth football camp, single parent Thanksgiving giveaway, Growth through Golf and a new celebrity basketball game coming in March 2020. The NFLPA donated $100,000 to Copeland’s Beyond the Basics, INC. “I look forward to using the NFLPA’s generous donation to continue empowering people, whether it be through community events or taking the time to have a simple conversation,” Copeland said. “Honors and moments like this are a humbling sign that the work of our foundation is making a real impact.” |