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Dynamo Press Release
Davis, Brad's Brigade among finalists for Jefferson Award for Public Service
Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis was announced as one of All Stars Helping Kids' 10 Dream Team For Public Service finalists from 36 nominees selected for the prestigious Jefferson Awards for Public Service. The awards seek to honor athletes who display an exemplary commitment to service in their community. The 10 athletes will be officially recognized at All Stars Helping Kids' annual Sports, Business & Philanthropy Breakfast in the San Francisco Bay Area on March 14, 2011.
Davis was honored for his work with military personnel and their families as part of his Brad's Brigade campaign to increase support for servicemen and servicewomen and their families. Davis has welcomed military personnel to Dynamo games since the club moved to Houston, and the campaign has hosted several major outings to Dynamo games over the last two seasons, with Davis - an MLS All-Star each of the last two years - often playing a key role on the field. Davis also devotes a considerable amount of his free time to community service, including befriending children in local area hospitals.
"I'm tremendously honored to be mentioned in the same sentence as this award," Davis said. "To be involved with this group of people and see what they do off the field is amazing. Military service means a lot to me and to my family, and it's always been a part of my life and something I will continue to support. Everybody knows about it, but hopefully this helps get more people on board, and I'm sure the other nine contestants have good causes themselves."
It is the second consecutive year in which a Dynamo player has been named to the Dream Team for Public Service; last year, midfielder and Houston resident Stuart Holden was honored for his work with children's cancer patients.
Jefferson Award Finalists for Outstanding Service by an Athlete
(To make a $5 donation to the charity of the athlete's choice, text the code below to 50555)
(Name, Team CODE)
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints BREES
Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever CATCH
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors CURRY
Brad Davis, Houston Dynamo DAVIS
Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons (R) DUNN
Ernie Els, PGA ELS
Ryan Hall, US Track & Field HALL
Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics PIERCE
CC Sabathia, New York Yankees SABATHIA
Brian Westbrook, San Francisco 49ers WEST
Over the next two months, each athlete will have the opportunity to raise money for the charity of their choice through a text-to-donate campaign. All Stars Helping Kids will award matching funds up to $2,500 for each finalist. To learn about each finalist and their beneficiary organizations, please visit the All Stars Helping website at http://www.allstarshelpingkids.org/teammates/index2011.html.
The two award recipients will be announced in the spring and will have the opportunity to attend the Jefferson Awards National Banquet in Washington, D.C. on June 21, 2011. Past recipients of Jefferson Awards for Public Service include, Oprah Winfrey, Colin Powell, Lance Armstrong and Bill and Melinda Gates.
In the fall of 2010, The Jefferson Awards and All Stars issued a call to service, encouraging teams to nominate community oriented athletes and asking fans to show their support by helping to select the winners. Voting was conducted both online and via text message, with over 64,000 casting their vote for one of the 36 nominees.
"These champions represent a wide swath of success both on and off the playing field, and we are very excited to be able to honor this group," spokesman and former football star Ronnie Lott said. "The real winners in this process are the millions of people that all these athletes have assisted in community service. It is an honor for us to recognize this group and assist all of them in their very noble endeavors."
"It is a pleasure to recognize these ten outstanding athletes and we are excited for them join us in Washington for the national ceremony," said Sam Beard, founder of the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. "Many times we forget that elite athletes from so many different walks of life are using their stature to make an impact, and this group is a great cross-sampling of what is being done in so many sports to impact the lives of others. They are all leaders and champions in their own ways, and we are proud to salute them all."