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BUCCANEERS NAME DAVIN JOSEPH 2012 MAN
OF THE YEAR
FOR COMMUNITY
LEADERSHIP
For the second
consecutive year, G Davin Joseph has been named the 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Man of the Year. As the Buccaneers' nominee for this year's NFL Walter
Payton Man of the Year award, a $1,000 donation will be made in his name to the
Davin Joseph Events for Cause Foundation.
Primed to help lead a
rejuvenated Buccaneers squad in 2012, Joseph suffered a season-ending knee
injury during the preseason, bringing his 2012 campaign to an end. However,
Joseph remained a committed teammate this fall, dedicating his efforts to
rehabilitation and returning in 2013 even stronger than before.. Equally evident
has been Joseph's strengthened presence in the community, demonstrating his
desire to continually make a positive impact on those less
fortunate.
Spearheaded by Joseph
and teammate Jeremy Trueblood, "Turkey Time with the O-Line" has now provided
more than 3,500 Thanksgiving meals to underprivileged
families.
Joseph has been a
leader in communities throughout Florida dating back to his early years as a
Buccaneer. In 2007, he helped develop "Turkey Time with the O-Line," a
holiday initiative sponsored by the team's offensive line which has now
distributed more than 3,500 Thanksgiving meals to needy families in the Tampa
Bay area. Joseph recently established the Davin Joseph Events for Cause
Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to enhancing athletic and
performing arts programs in public schools by instituting safe, structured
after-school programs, enhancing athletic facilities, and encouraging greater
community involvement. And for the past three years, Joseph has served as the
Buccaneers' spokesman for the NFL/United Way's LIVEUNITED campaign,
promoting volunteerism and service throughout the Tampa Bay community. His
partnership this year has gained significant recognition throughout the Bay area
for his active role in promoting TEAM DAVIN, a call-to-action effort for
fans to join forces with United Way Suncoast to build the next generation of
volunteers, mentors, and tutors. In addition to spearheading his own community
initiatives and foundation efforts, Joseph continues to participate in a variety
of philanthropic efforts throughout Florida.
The NFL/United Way
national platform, which includes one player from every NFL team, is led by
Joseph, who recruited over 3,500 volunteers this season - more than double the
mark of the second place player on United Way's TEAM NFL
leaderboard.
The National Football
League has awarded the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award since 1970 to
recognize a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing
excellence. Each NFL team selects a local Man of the Year finalist to be
eligible to receive the national award. Three finalists will be selected, each
of whom will receive a donation to the 501(c)(3) organization of his choice. A
blue ribbon panel will select the Walter Payton Man of the Year winner from the
three finalists. The national winner, who will be announced at the second annual
NFL Honors award show on February 2 in New Orleans, will also receive a
larger donation to the charity of his choice.
To learn more about
Davin Joseph's efforts to give back to the community, visit www.buccaneers.com.
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