Cheesehead
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
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The Linsleys also have helped direct donations to CASA from the Packers and the NFL social justice initiative, totaling $100,000 in the last two years, and they have served as state spokespeople for Wisconsin CASA, attending special events and appearing in PSAs and advertisements.
Their vision is for every child to feel safe and secure in their home and heart. According to Kristin Jacobs, the Executive Director CASA of Brown County, 145 volunteers advocated on behalf of 281 children in Brown County last year. The Linsleys have served as volunteer advocates for three children.
"You're hanging out with the child or children," Linsley said. "My wife's had two cases and I've been on one with her. So we basically go into their home, or in the school or an after-school program and do arts and crafts, play sports with them, talk with them and just make sure they're doing all right."
Linsley has also demonstrated his commitment to the community by raising funds for the family of his "bike kid," Travis Kohlbeck, when the Kohlbeck family faced various health challenges.
Linsley spends time giving back in a variety of other ways, including helping to host a Play 60 event for students with special needs at Syble Hopp School in De Pere and taking part in numerous Packers Give Back programs and events. He has also been a major participant in the Packers Give Back Celebrity Bowling Event that has helped raise money for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and CASA, and he often lends a hand to help teammates with their fundraisers.
All 2020 nominees will wear a Man of the Year helmet decal beginning Week 14 and continuing through the end of the season in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.
Linsley, now in his seventh NFL season, is the first offensive player to be honored as the Packers' nominee for the annual award since Aaron Rodgers, an eventual finalist, in 2014. Other nominees include Blake Martinez (2019), Kenny Clark (2018), Clay Matthews (2017), Jayrone Elliott (2016) and Sam Barrington (2015).
"I'm just happy that my wife and I are fortunate enough to be in this position where we can have an impact on the community," Linsley said. "There are lot of guys who have done a lot of great things in the community here over a number of years. The example has kind of been set and Anna and I, we're very thankful and I'm happy to accept this (nomination) and hopefully we can keep on making a positive impact."
Fans are encouraged to participate in Nationwide's 6th 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. 10 and Jan. 17 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.
Hashtag information and official rules can be found at nfl.com/manoftheyear. New this year, fans can win NFL Shop gift cards and additional money for their favorite nominee's charity. Each Monday during the #WPMOYChallenge, Nationwide will ask fans to respond on Twitter with their favorite nominee and one randomly selected fan each week will win a $100 NFL Shop gift card and $2,500 for their favorite nominee's charity.