Community

Ed Block Courage Award

Each year, Chicago Bears players select one of their teammates to receive the Ed Block Courage Award for displaying commitment to the principles of courage and sportsmanship, while serving as an inspiration in the locker room. The accolade has become one of the most esteemed honors bestowed upon a player in the NFL, especially since the recipient is selected by his peers.

The Courage Award is named after Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian. For more than 28 years, the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation has celebrated the courageous efforts of players in the NFL while raising the nation's awareness of the plight of abused children in NFL communities. Through the Foundation's Courage House National Support Network for Kids, the organization has helped Courage Houses improve the lives of abused children across America. Named after the NFL team in a respective city, a Courage House is a facility that provides support/quality care for abused children in that community.

NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year

The most prestigious NFL honor recognizing a player for his community service activities as well as his excellence on the field is named after one of our very own: Walter Payton. The NFL Walter Payton "Man of the Year" award is the only League award that recognizes a player's off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence. This prestigious NFL award has been in existence since 1970 and honors players who demonstrate outstanding balance in their lives between civic and professional responsibilities. In 1999, the league renamed the NFL Man of the Year award after Walter Payton as a tribute to his greatness both on and off the field. Cornerback Charles Tillman was the Bears nominee for the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Since the program's inception in 1970, four Bears have earned the title of the NFL's "Man of the Year" - which is the most of any team in the NFL. Past NFL Walter Payton "Man of the Year" winners have included:

1977 - Walter Payton, Running Back
1987 - Dave Duerson, Safety
1990 - Mike Singletary, Linebacker
2000 - Jim Flanigan, Defensive Tackle (co-winner)

Salute to Service Award

Charles Tillman received the 2012 NFL Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA, the NFL's Official Military Appreciation Sponsor, for his exceptional efforts to honor and support U.S. Service members and veterans. His father's 20 years of service in the U.S. Army has driven Tillman's dedication to give back to the military. He participated in an eight-day USO tour to Iraq and Kuwait, and he visited Ford Hood in Texas during the 2012 season to provide DVD players, notebook computers, digital cameras and other resources to patients at the base's hospital. USAA contributed $25,000 in Tillman's honor to the aid societies representing all five military branches.

Brian Piccolo Award

Bear veterans vote the Brian Piccolo Award to the rookie who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication, and sense of humor of the late Brian Piccolo. In 1992, the award was expanded to include a veteran who possesses the same qualities.

Home Team Hand-Off

Through the "Home Team Hand-Off" ticket donation program, seven Bears players and coaches will purchase and donate over 2,000 tickets during the 2012 Bears season. Recipients include Allendale Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, By the Hand Club, Chicago Youth Centers, Gift of Hope, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Loretto Hospital Foundation, Los Amigos de Roberto, Lydia Home, Mercy Home, Misericordia, SEDOL Foundation, Special Olympics Chicago, Special Olympics Illinois, UCAN, , USO of Illinois, the U.S. Military and Wounded Warrior Project.

This annual ticket donation program gives players and coaches the opportunity to purchase a block of season tickets to all home games and donate them to a charitable organization of their choice. The charity then distributes the tickets to deserving children so they are able to experience a Bears game at Soldier Field. A child from each organization also has the chance to participate in a special "on-field" experience during a Bears home game.

The Jay Cutler Foundation

The Jay Cutler Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for underprivileged children and those suffering from diabetes. It is our belief that we are investing in their future as well as the future of the community itself.

For more information, please visit The Jay Cutler Foundation.

Charles Tillman's Cornerstone Foundation

The Mission of Charles Tillman's Cornerstone Foundation is to improve the lives of critically and chronically ill children throughout Greater Chicago by providing daily support and life changing experiences. Since 2005, Charles Tillman's Cornerstone Foundation has impacted the lives of nearly 20,000 Chicago-area children.

Project Borderline

Inspired by his own journey to come to terms with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, Brandon Marshall vowed that he would devote himself to making a difference in the lives of others struggling to cope with the disorder. After spending several months in intensive treatment at McLean Hospital, Brandon went public with his diagnosis and created a foundation to realize his goal of giving others the same chance at recovery that he had.Project Borderline is a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness for Borderline Personality Disorder and helping others gain access to the resources that they need to recover.

For more information, please visit www.projectborderline.com.