NFL Hall of Famer and former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green
Service has been at the core of Darrell Green’s life since his youth, growing up in Houston, Texas. Strongly inspired by his parents and work in the community, he transferred that natural energy into being a professional athlete. Darrell Ray Green, former NFL cornerback, played for the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002. Widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play football, Green was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Young rookie Green was invited to RFK stadium in Washington, D.C. to a community Christmas event hosted by another professional athlete, mentor and friend. He noticed that after the games, cookies and drinks, each child was given a “token” of some sort. Sometimes, the wrong gifts were bestowed upon the kids. One time, a 16-year-old girl receive a gift designated for a young boy. Green was greatly bothered by that. Growing up poor in Houston, he remembered that even though he would receive only one gift, that gift was personal and hand-picked especially for him.
This moved him to host an event the following year where he could collect data (photos, gender, sizes, ages) so that each kid could receive a “personalized” gift and feel special, valued, and thought of. “I experienced something that I thought we could do better, where supporters would have the privilege to spend time with the kids and really make it special … where every child was on someone’s mind,” remarked Green.
This year commemorated the 26th annual Christmas With The Redskins (CWTR) event, hosted by the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation. Being a third year sponsor myself, the experience has been nothing short of phenomenal. The caliber of excellence, execution, organization, atmosphere, and engaging activity is second to none. Not to mention the toys and premium items each child receives. The children are treated like royalty. It’s an unforgettable experience.
For this effort, it takes visionary teamwork to make the dream work! Green’s humility always shines through as he emphatically makes it known that the annual CWTR event is a community collaborative effort. Together with locally trusted relationships and leaders, auxiliary and community groups, and professional athletes, they repeatedly make it happen for hundreds of underserved children throughout the Washington metropolitan area.
“We are all in it together, supporting one another,” says Green. “The energy and the excitement that the people bring to the idea of giving—it’s the heart of the people, the willingness to take the time.” The Redskins players and area supporters show up with one purpose in mind, and that is to make a difference.
Whether the kids are receiving gifts or the players and supporters are bringing the gifts, Green believes that God is the source of it all. Deeply-rooted in his faith, Green explains, “My faith is synonymous with my heartbeat. It’s the driving force of my life. It’s the substance of my life. It’s Christ in me. Jesus helps me to live fully in every way.”
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Darrell Green, Washington Redskins, 1984 (Source: NFL.com)
Green admits that serving others is not always easy, whether in the context of family, sports, church or community, and he relies solely on his faith to keep him grounded so he can perform at his optimal level for the greater good of all who have been entrusted in his care—for to whom much is given, much more is required.
“What could I have done to deserve the life I’ve been given?” says Green. “It’s by God’s grace. I’m grateful for that grace.”
Green “is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the leaders of the land.” (Proverbs 31:23) and he loves and honors his wife and life partner, Jewell, and his growing family. Today, our communities and society at large need more examples like Green to equip the current and next generations. He’s a steadfast runner of faith, hope and love, who has not only won on the football field but on the larger field of life with his selfless service.
Roz A. Gee (@RozAGee) consults as The MediaMatch Maven™ of The Rated Gee Agency with service sectors in media relations, brand readiness, and speaking and training. Roz has masterfully mixed over 20 years of cumulative experience and has worked professionally for industry titans such as General Electric, AT&T, AOL, IBM, and Northrop Grumman. Schedule a complimentary analysis at www.MediaMatchMaven.com. You can also find her on Twitter (@RozAGee) and Facebook.
