For local organizations preparing nominations for this year's Jaguars/NFL Community Quarterback Award, completed nomination forms are due back to the Jaguars Foundation no later than September 16.
The NFL Community QB Award recognizes outstanding community and youth volunteers in the 32 NFL markets and annually awards nearly $1 million to the charitable organizations that they serve. The program honors individuals who exemplify leadership, dedication, and a commitment to improving the communities in which they live through volunteerism.
Residents in each of the 32 NFL cities, age 16 and over, who provide volunteer services for non-profit (501c(3) or 509) organizations are eligible for nomination. Nominees may only serve in a volunteer capacity and may not receive any compensation – monetary or otherwise – for their efforts.
During August and September, local non-profits in the Jacksonville area are encouraged to submit nominations to the Jaguars Foundation, and a team-appointed panel reviews the applications and names 10 finalists, including the team winner, in November. Each finalist receives a $1,000 grant award for the agency at which they volunteer. Two runners-up, and a local winner – the Jaguars Community Quarterback – are then selected from the 10 finalists. The runners-up each receive additional $2,500 grants, and the team winner receives an additional $10,000 grant. In all, NFL Charities will award $25,000 in grants to Jacksonville agencies as part of the program. Each team winner becomes eligible for the national award, to be announced in December, which comes with an additional $25,000 donation.
Previous Jaguars Community QB Award honorees include Mr. Louis Walsh (2001, Guardian of Dreams program), and last year's recipient, Mrs. Lillian Jordan, who died unexpectedly at the age of 68 the day before she was to receive the award. Mrs. Jordan was successfully nominated by Volunteer Jacksonville, Inc. for her dedication to make her Justina Road neighborhood in east Jacksonville a safer place to live. The team presented the award posthumously to Mrs. Jordan's sister, who accepted in her honor.
For more information about this year's program, please contact the Jaguars Community Relations Department by calling (904) 633-2265.
