Athletes Take Field for Haiti Relief
 |
|
Members of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) are stepping up to raise money and promote awareness for the recovery effort in Haiti. You can take action now to help the Haitian survivors by clicking on the AFL-CIO Haitian Disaster Relief site here.
This week, the NFLPA is expected to announce the creation of the “ONE TEAM 4 HAITI” campaign, a partnership with the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, National Basketball Players Association, National Hockey League Players Association and Major League Baseball Players Association to focus on relief efforts in Haiti.
The “ONE TEAM 4 HAITI” campaign will promote relief efforts by airing public service announcements that feature professional athletes from all four major sports leagues.
Pro Athletes Take Field to Help Native Children
Members of the Professional Athletes came together in a benefit for Native American children at the union’s recent 14th annual “Evening With the Stars” gala in Washington, D.C. The gala featured a silent auction and a live auction of sports memorabilia and Native American art.
An estimated 1.3 million Native Americans currently live on reservations, and many suffer from poor health, poverty and inadequate education. Proceeds from the gala will benefit Native Vision, a nonprofit initiative that connects Native American youth with professional athlete mentors through a variety of health and education programs.
The union hopes the involvement of pro football players will help draw attention to the challenges facing many Native Americans.
NFL Players Selects Smith as Executive Director
Washington, D.C., attorney DeMaurice Smith was selected today as executive director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). He succeeds the late Gene Upshaw, who died in August 2008. The NFL Player Representatives unanimously chose Smith to serve a three-year term.
Smith, 45, is a trial lawyer and litigation partner at the District of Columbia law firm Patton Boggs. A former assistant U.S. attorney, Smith previously served as counsel to then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder in the U.S. Department of Justice.
In a press release, Smith says:
I’m humbled by their decision. I’m honored and proud to lead a great group of men. I think we understand the challenges that face us but we also understand the strength of our unity.
