Every year players participate in Broncos sponsored community and charity events (Salute to Fans Tour, Drive for Life Blood Drive, Crush Night, etc.), plan their own events (youth football camps, foundations in their home town), and support their teammates charitable work.
@Broncos cornerback @ChrisHarrisJr giving back during his #UnderdogFootballSkillsAcademy #tipsfromthepro pic.twitter.com/KaupJ8mWYA
— Chevy Hometown Kids (@HometownKidsTV) July 13, 2014
As a Denver sports fan I found a lot of this information difficult to find. So I started a website DenverSportsCommunityEvents.com (yes it's a long name - DSCE for short) to try and track these events. You can sign up for a monthly newsletter or follow DSCE on twitter @DenSportsCommEv for more info, but the plan is to have this information more accessible on MHR as well. This guide is part of that plan.
See something that's missing below? Say something in the comments and I'll update this post.
In addition to giving contact info for the player's foundation (when I could find it) I'm also including the personal twitter account for players, when applicable, so you can give a shout out to the players for the work they are doing. And remember, there are lots of players not listed here who do a lot of great thing in their communities by hosting individual events, donating their time or autographs, attending their teammates events.
Current Bronco Players Community and Charity Organizations
PLAYER NAME | HOW THEY GIVE BACK | CONTACT INFO | MORE INFO |
Ryan Clady | Sharon Kemp Clady Foundation | Ryan Clady: @RyanClady | The Sharon Kemp Clady Foundation, named after Clady's late mother, hosts holiday shopping trips for families in need. |
Orlando Franklin | Orlando Franklin #74 Foundation |
Twitter - @OFranklin74FDN Orlando Franklin: @OFranklin74 |
Franklin started his foundation to help at-risk youth in his hometown Toronto. |
Ben Garland | SoDE Solution |
Ben Garland: @BenGarland63 |
Garland is the Executive Director of SoDE Solution, which raises money to benefit women rescued from human trafficking around the globe. |
Virgil Green | Team Virgil - United Way |
http://www.unitedwaytc.org/news/pledge-volunteer-team-virgil-green Virgil Green: @VGreen85 |
Virgil Green teamed up with United Way to help cut the high school drop out rate in half. |
Chris Harris Jr. | Chris Harris Jr. Foundation |
http://www.chrisharrisjr.com/foundation/ Chris Harris Jr.: @ChrisHarrisJr |
Chris Harris Jr. started this foundation to help kids rise above their circumstances and strive for greatness. The foundation hosts football camps and holiday shopping sprees. |
Peyton Manning | Peyback Foundation | http://www.peytonmanning.com/peyback-foundation | The Peyback Foundation has given over 10 million dollars to youth programs in Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee, and Louisiana. |
Von Miller | Von's Vision |
Von Miller: @MillerLite40 |
Von's Vision raises money to provide low-income Denver children with eye care and corrective eyewear. |
Jacob Tamme | Swings for Soldiers |
http://www.swingsforsoldiers.org/ Jacob Tamme: @JacobTamme |
Swings for Soldiers is a charity golf tournament that raises money for Home For Our Troops. HFOTs uses that money to build adapted homes for wounded veterans. |
Demaryius Thomas | Youth Football Camps |
http://www.procamps.com/demaryiusthomas Demaryius Thomas: @DemaryiusT |
Demaryrius Thomas hosts youth football camps in Denver every summer. |
Mitch Unrein | Host - Denver Draft Party |
http://www.denverdraftparty.com/ Mitch Unrein: @MitchellJUnrein |
Unrein hosted the charity bowling Denver Draft Party event this year and in general does a ton of charitable work in the Denver community. |
Wes Welker | Wes Welker Foundation |
http://weswelkerfoundation.org/ Wes Welker: @WesWelker |
The Wes Welker Foundation raises funds to support at-risk youth in Welker's hometown, Oklahoma City. I know Welker also hosted a youth football camp this summer. |
Derek Wolfe | Wolfe Pack Foundation |
@wolfepack95 |
The Wolfe Pack Foundation raises money to benefit projects that aid underprivileged and at-risk youth in Colorado and Ohio. |
Great charity event for @DerekWolfe95 & @wolfepack95! @D_Brut30 @TheMalikJackson @G_Rob10 & @BenGarland63 played well pic.twitter.com/KT4Fyq2S3V
— Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) June 8, 2014
Former Bronco Players Community and Charity Organizations
PLAYER NAME | HOW THEY GIVE BACK | CONTACT INFO | MORE INFO |
Denver Broncos Alumni Assoc. | Partnering with a variety of charities | http://denverbroncosalumni.org/partners/charities/ | The Salvation Army is the 2014 charity for this Assoc. |
John Elway | Elway Foundation & The Heroes Foundation |
@johnelway |
These foundations raise funds to help prevent child abuse and support America's heroes |
Karl Macklenburg | REACH Foundation |
@KarlMecklenburg |
The REACH Foundation helps foster a love of reading for K-5th graders in Denver schools |
Wesley Woodyard | 16 Ways Foundation |
@WoodDro52 |
The 16 Ways Foundation helps at-risk youths. |
Zane Beadles | Zane Beadles Parade Foundation |
@zanebeadles |
The Parade Foundation supports the journey of young people going through life-changing medical experiences |
Brian Griese | Judi's House |
@briangriese |
Judi's House helps support children who have lost of loved one |
Eric Decker | Decker Dogs |
@EricDecker87 |
Decker Dogs helps train service dogs for returning veterans |
John Lynch | John Lynch Foundation | www.johnlynchfoundation.org | The John Lynch Foundation helps to recognize and encourage students who excel in academics, athletics, and community involvement |
Camp is not only abt fball & cheer skills - it's about standing up to #bullies. pic.twitter.com/MN8VGGTaB4
— 16Ways Foundation (@16ways) June 14, 2014