Whether or not Cam Newton has been able to make his usual impact on the field this season doesn’t matter as much as the impact that he has been able to make in the community over his time in the NFL – it’s for that reason that, despite being on injured reserve and only playing two games in 2019, the Carolina Panthers have made Cam Newton their nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Each team nominates one player every year that represents the best of the NFL’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact, recognizing an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. First established in 1970, the national award was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton – Thomas Davis (2014) is the only Panthers player to have won the award in their franchise history.
Each nominee will receive a donation in their name of $50,000 for a charity of their choice, with the winner receiving a $250,000 donation after the award is announced the night before the Super Bowl.
Since creating the Cam Newton Foundation, the organization that bears his name has provided $5.13 million in grant funding, year-round programming resources and donations to schools and non-profit agencies in Atlanta and Charlotte. This year alone, Newton donated Thanksgiving meals to over 1,300 underprivileged children and their families at his annual “Thanksgiving Jam” and next week, his signature “Santa Cam Surprise Sleigh” event will delight children in the area with donated gifts – last year’s donation was over $100,000.
Newton has also used his outreach to create the “Un1ted As 1” program, which aims to bring youths together for social change, as well as his 7-on-7 All-Star Team that affords children the opportunity to counsel and prepare elite high school players for the next step in their football development. In addition, his “Cruisin’ With Cam” event held with the Roaring Riot raised almost $20,000 for the foundation.
Newton’s events have become signature events in the Charlotte area year after year and the Panthers QB has established himself as one of the pillars of the community since coming to the team in 2011.
Fans are encouraged to participate in Nationwide’s 5th annual Charity Challenge, a social media campaign designed to support and promote team nominees. Fans can vote on Twitter by using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee’s last name. The player whose unique hashtag is used the most between Dec. 12 and Jan. 12 will receive a $25,000 contribution to their charity of choice, while the second and third place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations, all courtesy of Nationwide.
