The NFLPA named Philadelphia Eagles safety Rodney McLeod as the winner for the 2022 Alan Page Community Award on February 9, 2022.
The award recognizes one specific player each season for their contributions and leadership to the city’s community along with other communities across the country.
McLeod’s foundation, “Change Our Future,” will receive the $100,000 from the NFLPA, the Eagles announced.
Eagles safety Rodney McLeod wins the 2022 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award. He was chosen by NFL players👏🏼
The NFLPA will donate $100,000 to @Rodney_McLeod4 and Erika’s Change Our Future Foundation pic.twitter.com/iOhNbT8INw
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) February 9, 2022
McLeod hosted his foundation’s first Inaugural art & Sole Sneaker Ball, where around 150 toys and 250 shoes were given to families in need for Christmas. An estimated $205,000 was also reported to have been raised toward STEM and Black history in the curriculum in local schools, per Philadelphia Eagles.com.
The Eagles’ safety is well known for his activism against the surging gun violence in Philadelphia. McLeod has worked with fellow players on the team for a new campaign started in 2022 called the Eagles Social Justice Leadership Council — where $316,000 was awarded to various social justice nonprofit organizations in the city.
Congratulations to @Rodney_McLeod4, the recipient of the 2022 Alan Page Community Award! In recognition, the @NFLPA will donate $100,000 to McLeod’s Change Our Future foundation.#FlyEaglesFly
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 9, 2022
“Ever since I arrived in Philadelphia as a free agent in 2016, this has been my home,” McLeod said. It hurts to see so much heartache and suffering in our communities as a result of these senseless acts of violence. We are losing family members, friends, mentors, role models, and future leaders because of the gun violence in our streets.
No one should ever have to live in fear of going to school, hanging out at the playground, or just walking out the front door. Yet, for so many in our communities, they do.”
McLeod is the fifth Eagles player to win the award, as he joins Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long, Brian Dawkins, and Troy Vincent.
