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Health & Fitness

Atlanta Falcons 2013 Community Service Awards Walter Payton Man of The Year

Photos by Chris Mitchell

Atlanta Falcons Kicker Matt Bryant is his team's nominee for the annual NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award  to be awarded on the field during the Super Bowl in New York next month.

The award has been presented by the NFL since 1970 to recognize players for community service as well as  excellence on the field. Matt Bosher the 2012 Falcons winner presented the local award to his team mate at a special Atlanta Falcons Community Honors Dinner held at the Rays On The River Monday. 

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Bryant, a father of seven and graduate of Baylor University with a degree in Education, was chided for not being the most excitable member of the team but when  Falcons Community Relations Manager Chris Millman poled his fellow team mates the word that stood out about Bryant was "authentic."  "I recognize that I've been blessed," said the 12 year team kicker." I try to do my best to make somebody else's day a little better. We are professional athletes. That's not who we are, just what we do. We go in the community to put smiles on faces," he said.

He was joined at the dinner by his wife Melissa. Bryant's work in the community included attending a groundbreaking for a home for Corporal Todd Love who lost both of his legs in Afghanistan; speaking to students at Lanier High School in Sugar Hill; participating in a golf tournament for the Ronald McDonald House;, purchasing 20 season tickets and t-shirts through the Atlanta Falcons Rise Up and Share ticket program for various charitable organizations in Metro Atlanta, surprised two families with new bedroom furniture in Decatur for the Rooms to Go partnership and attended the 5th Annual Falcons Dazzle & Dine dinner for five breast cancer survivors. 

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Bryant was one of four Falcons players to be named Community All-Star of the Month. His month was November;Jonathan Massaquoi, two-year  defensive end, native of the country of Liberia and graduate of Troy University with a degree in Social Science was the September winner. Corey Peters, four  year veteran defensive end and 2009 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Secondary Social Studies Education was the pick for October. Peters was the 2011 Falcons Walter Payton Man of the Year. Joe Hawley, four year center  who is completing his degree at the University of Nevada Las Vegas was the honoree for December. 

During the awards dinner as guests feasted on filet mignon and oven roasted chicken, the 2013 Community  Quarterback Awards were presented.  The program honors volunteers in Georgia ages 13 and over who display leadership and dedication to making their communities better. Each  month during the season September through December a winner is chose. Each winner receives a grant for $1,000 from the NFL Foundation to support the organization they served. The four winners all receive $1,000 for their respective charities and the overall Atlanta Falcons Community Quarterback MVP's charity receives $4,000. Garland Jones, Community Quarterback for September was named the overall MVP. Garland a high school student started a youth-led program called  Back-N-Pack collecting food that is distributed weekly in more than 130 backpacks to 2,000 refugee children in preschool through fifth grade and their families. He has collected over 16,000 pounds of food donations to help alleviate childhood hunger in distressed refugee families who represent 60 different countries. The program is operated in conjunction with Crowned for Victory Inc., a company founded in 1996 providing programs and workshops with emphasis on thriving economically, socially and educationally. Crowned for Victory will receive the $4,000.  

Runners up and honorees were: (October) Bernadette Birch a volunteer with Cool Girls Inc,; Abhinav Sharma, (November), a volunteer coach with Coaching Corps and Perry Mitchell, (December), a volunteer for Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta Inc. 

The Atlanta Falcons is well known around the NFL for charitable work in the community. Every Tuesday on their only day off of the week, members of the team can be found somewhere around the metro area doing some kind of good deed. The Community Affairs Department is so proud of the success they've had with getting their guys to give back and the awards dinner to recognize those who go the extra mile that they have shared the program with other NFL teams.

Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay greeted the winners and guests and noted that this year the Arthur Blank Foundation has awarded more than $250 million in charitable donations. "We give back and engage The dinner was coordinated by Kendyl Moss Atlanta Falcons Vice President of Community Relations and her team. Also in attendance were Falcons retired players Jessie Tuggle and Michael Haynes.

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