It looks like Aaron Rodgers is not the only MVP on the Green Bay Packers’ roster. Oren Burks, the third-year linebacker out of Vanderbilt, was awarded the NFLPA’s weekly Community MVP award. Burks was honored with the award for his work with the House of Hope in Green Bay. House of Hope is a charity dedicated to helping women and children experiencing homelessness. Along with his wife, Burks raised thousands of dollars for the charity.
Green Bay Packers’ LB Oren Burks named Week 4 NFLPA Community MVP after hosting an annual fundraiser for House of Hope Green Bay, which generated thousands of dollars for women and children experiencing homelessness.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 9, 2020
What Is the House of Hope?
The House of Hope opened its doors in 2000 in an effort to provide young families with stability and programs to help them get back on their feet. According to their website, the majority of people living within their walls are children under the age of five. When they first opened their doors, House of Hope had 10 rooms with which to provide to families in need of their services. Recently, in 2018, thanks to fundraising efforts, they doubled their amenities and may now serve up to 20 families.
Oren Burks, the Packers, and Touchdowns for Hope
Seeing the need of the community, and desiring to keep on serving those that are already in their care, the House of Hope teamed up with Oren Burks to raise money to help the homeless population in Green Bay. The Packers organization has partnered with House of Hope for the past 11 years. They previously started an annual auction called Touchdowns for Hope, in which the team donates thousands of dollars worth of memorabilia and experiences for people to bid on. This year, due to the pandemic, the auction was held virtually. That did not stop Oren Burks and his wife from taking a major role in it, though.
In addition to loaning their likenesses to promote the event, the Burks’ made a welcome video to welcome the participants to the online silent auction and raffle. Geronimo Allison, who is spending the 2020 season on IR, also greeted the online participants later on in the evening.
NFLPA Community MVP- What’s the Big Deal?
As mentioned previously, the NFLPA gives out a Community MVP award every week. One of the 17 winners will receive the NFLPA Alan Page Community (APC) Award, which is the highest award the association can bestow. Burks joins 2020 honorees Kevin Byard (Titans), Cameron Heyward (Steelers), Rodney McLeod (Eagles), and Landon Collins (Washington). Byard was the preseason honoree for the award. Previous winners of the APC Award include the following: Brandon Copeland (2020), Malcolm Jenkins (2017), and Anquan Boldin (2014). Charlie Batch was the first player to win the award in 2013.
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