PurplePTSD: Anthony Barr, MOY Nominee, And Teammates Seek To Give Back

Press release from the PurplePTSD:

December 15, 2021

Anthony Barr, LB for the Minnesota Vikings, was nominated for the 2021 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The work he does on and off the field is having an impact. Barr is not the only Viking doing charitable work and making positive changes in his community.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is considered one of the league’s most prestigious awards. To be nominated is a tremendous honor. Every year, all 32 NFL teams submit the name of a player who demonstrates excellence both on and off the field. It shows their commitment and dedication to their sport as well as exemplary community service. The winner is determined by a panel of judges which is made up of the previous year’s winner, the Commissioner of the NFL, and former players. The winner has $250,000 donated, in their name, to the charity of their choice. The other finalists have up to $40,000 donated in their name to their charity.

According to Anthony Barr, Raise the Barr is built around the story of his mother, Lori Barr, and himself. The foundation seeks to increase economic mobility for students who are single parents. Raise the Barr provides grants, scholarships, mental health resources, and other support for single-parents to complete their education in Minnesota and California.

Raise the Barr is far from Barr’s only charitable work. He is also involved in other community efforts to help stop the cycle of poverty and reduce the need for public assistance. He seeks to help empower low-income parents and their children to succeed in the workforce, at school, and home. Barr is also a leader on Viking’s Social Justice Committee, which helps raise awareness about social justice issues. He’s an ambassador of the NFL partnering with the Minneapolis police department to help create positive change in the community.

Barr is certainly not the only Viking player involved in charitable works; to name them all would take a book but some stand out.

Players like Anthony Barr and other MOY nominees are encouraging fans to get involved. A social media campaign was launched. Fans can vote using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee’s last name or Twitter handle. The player with the most votes will receive an additional $25,000 towards their charity, while second place will get $10,000 and third place $5,000. The players also hope that their charitable contributions help to inspire others during the holiday season and throughout the year. These players not only donate money but their time and other resources in hopes of showing that we all can make a difference.

This press release was produced by the PurplePTSD. The views expressed here are the author’s own.