New York Jets: Kelvin Beachum finalist for NFLPA Community Award

New York Jets left tackle Kelvin Beachum has been named one of five finalists for the 2018 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award. It’s an incredible accomplishment that comes on the heels of years of charitable work.

New York Jets left tackle Kelvin Beachum may not be the biggest name on the field, but he may just have the biggest heart off it.

The Jets blindside protector has been named a finalist for the 2018 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award along with four other NFL players. Per the NFLPA website, the award is the “highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player” and is given to the player who “goes above and beyond to perform community service in their team cities and hometowns.”

The ultimate winner of the award will receive $100,000 in donation money to a foundation or charity of his choice with each of the finalists already receiving a $10,000 donation. The award recipient will be chosen in a vote by his NFL peers and will be announced on January 31st.

There are quite a few familiar names that Beachum is up against, both in terms of their on-field careers and their off-field charity work. Cam Newton, Von Miller, Andrew Whitworth, and Geno Atkins are the four other finalists and each player is just as known for their charitable work as they are their impressive football prowess.

Here are the 5 finalists for the Alan Page Community Award: @GenoSacks @KelvinBeachumJr @VonMiller @CameronNewton @awhitworth77.The 2018 winner will be announced at our #SuperBowl press conference on Jan. 31 following a vote by their @NFL peers.?: https://t.co/3cAMFl9glS pic.twitter.com/qBW2hhRsCP

— NFLPA (@NFLPA) January 18, 2019

From a pure football standpoint, Beachum is up against four players who each have three or more Pro Bowl appearances to their names. From a charitable standpoint, he will be competing with four individuals who have raised tens of thousands of dollars to help better their communities.

So it’s safe to say there’s pretty steep competition.

Beachum’s primary charity work this season came through his campaign launched in October called the World Food Day Match Challenge. The Texas native has done his fair share of work combatting domestic hunger in the past and this campaign brought in over $70,000, $46,000 came courtesy of donations right out of his pocket.

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Beachum donated $5,000 to five different food banks located in places special to his life and career and offered to donate an additional $5,000 if the community was able to match his initial donation. Although not every bank was able to match, Beachum was still able to raise over $70,000 which helped serve over 330,000 meals as a result of the three-week campaign.

It’s truly incredible to see athletes such as Beachum spending their time, energy, and money to give back to the community and help make the world around them a better place. A special congratulations should go out to all five finalists for receiving the praise that they so greatly deserve.

Regardless of which player ultimately wins the award, there will be no losers. Just five players who helped to better their communities and the people living there.

That sounds like a win-win to me.

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