The New York Jets have named quarterback Chad Pennington as the Club’s 2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Through his 1st and 10 Foundation, Pennington has impacted many lives throughout the Tri-State Area, West Virginia and Tennessee. As the Jets’ award winner, Pennington will receive $1,000 to donate to the 1st and 10 Foundation, his 501(c)(3) organization of choice. Pennington is eligible to win the national Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and be recognized at a press conference during Super Bowl week in South Florida. The national winner will receive $25,000 to donate to the 501(c)(3) organization of his choice. Since 1970, the NFL has awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award to recognize a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.
NFL Charities requires a panel of no less than six people to vote for the Man of the Year winner. Two-thirds (2/3) of the panel must be external members from outside organizations, including one media representative and one non-profit/government representative. This year’s panel included Dan Leberfeld, Editor in Chief of Jets Confidential, C. J. Papa, Sports Director of WLNY-TV 55, Lynn Vandenberg, Executive Assistant and Events Operation Manager of the Boomer Esiason Foundation, Laura Dyer, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Davis Vision and two representatives from the Jets Community Relations Department.
“Community Relations is one of Davis Vision's most important strategic corporate goals, and we are proud to be a partner of the efforts of the entire Jets team in the community” said Laura Dyer. “We are especially proud of Chad Pennington for all of his outstanding work with children. From promoting healthier lifestyles to his mentoring program, we feel that Chad and his wife go above and beyond in reaching out to the less fortunate.”
Chad Pennington and his wife Robin created the 1st and 10 Foundation to build stronger communities by assisting programs and institutions that seek to improve quality of life as well as support leukemia research and patient family services. In March, the 1st and 10 Foundation granted a total of $40,000 to the Tri-County Health Clinic, Inc. (TCHC) and Clay Primary Care Systems, Inc. (CPCS). Each health center, located in West Virginia, received $20,000 to purchase exercise equipment for the "Healthy Behaviors in the Community" program that will be implemented by both clinics.
The foundation announced earlier this year its participation, through a $5,000 grant, with the "Mentor Get Mentor" project implemented by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State located in Huntington, West Virginia. The project will focus on the recruitment of volunteers for more than 75 children who are on the waiting list for the existing mentor programs. "I truly believe in the mission of the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization," said Chad Pennington. "We are thrilled that we can be a factor in affecting a young person's life in a positive way."
The 1st and 10 Foundation awarded a $20,000 to the Boone County Community Organization (BCCO) to assist with their Boone County Nutrition Program. The BCCO provides meals, cooks, transportation, drivers and buildings for the residents of Boone County. In the year 2005, the program served 31,744 meals to homebound residents of the county.
The past two years Pennington and his foundation have run the 1st and 10 Foundation Celebrity Bowl to raise significant funds for the foundation. All monies raised by the 1st and 10 Foundation will be spent directly on charitable causes. Administrative costs associated with the foundation's work are covered by his personal, charitable donations to the foundation. 1st and 10's administrative services are performed by their large volunteer network. Other successful foundation programs include the Bobby Hampton Race for a Cure, Share Our Soles campaign and Super Saturday and Super Sunday programs, where students get to go to Jets and Marshall home football games.
The Jets’ quarterback has also attended the Jets’ Taste of the NFL event the past years. Because of Pennington’s participation in this event it has become one of the most successful “Taste” events in the NFL. The proceeds go to Shop Rite Partners in Caring which fights hunger in the Tri-State area.
Chad Pennington was originally selected by the Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Since becoming the Jets’ starter a quarter the way through the 2002 season Pennington has led the Jets to a 27-21 record and two playoff appearances (2002 & 2004). For his career, he has completed 968 passes on 1,491 attempts for 10,795 yards, 66 touchdowns and 41 interceptions for a passer rating of 89.7.
