22 student-athletes named to considered one of faculty soccer’s most prestigious honors for group service
NORTHBROOK, Sick., September 12, 2023 – Allstate and the American Soccer Coaches Affiliation (AFCA) are recognizing 22 student-athletes and one head coach for exemplary group influence by naming them to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce ®.
One participant, Blake Corum, a working again on the College of Michigan, is on a mission to encourage others to dream huge and serve their communities. Corum began a Giving Again 2 Give Thanks turkey drive in 2021 utilizing cash from his identify, picture, likeness alternatives. The drive supplies Thanksgiving dinners to households in underserved communities in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
One other is Ladd McConkey, a large receiver on the College of Georgia, who has a ardour for serving to youngsters. He bonded with youngsters who’ve most cancers or uncommon blood issues at Camp Rainbow. McConkey additionally helped with the shock donation of $100,000 to the Athens Downtown Academy, which educates the following technology of leaders.
Corum, McConkey and 20 different gamers have one mission: doing good of their communities. For greater than 30 years, Allstate and the AFCA highlight student-athletes whose exceptional tales typically go unnoticed. The ultimate staff was chosen out of 136 student-athletes who had been nominated from throughout the county.
“It’s inspiring to see how these younger males on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce select to make use of their presents and abilities to be a blessing to their group,” stated Tim Tebow, two-time nationwide champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Good Works Workforce member. “Serving and loving folks can assist reveal the better function that we will all have, not simply in sports activities, however in life.”
This yr’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce gamers have modified lives by mentoring youth, feeding the hungry and donating their earnings. Some even established their very own nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations – all whereas attaining excessive tutorial honors.
“This is among the highest group service awards faculty soccer gamers can obtain,” Sam Acho, ESPN analyst, writer and 2010 Good Works Workforce member stated. “It serves as an essential reminder to those athletes: they’re extra than simply soccer gamers.”
Will Shipley, a junior working again at Clemson College is an instance of that. The star participant established the 1 CLEM5ON endowment to assist present sources to Clemson College college students, together with fellow scholar-athletes. A part of the endowment helps Clemson’s P.A.W. Journey program. P.A.W. stands for “obsessed with successful.” The management initiative helps develop Clemson Soccer scholar-athletes by means of private progress, life abilities {and professional} growth.
“I’m in awe of what these gamers have completed by way of service and lecturers,” stated Troy Hawkes, government vice chairman and basic supervisor of gross sales at Allstate. “They exemplify what it means to go above and past in being a task mannequin and pillars in the neighborhood.”
Junior punter Juan Velarde has been a group function mannequin since he began at NC Central. He served as a speaker on the NC Governor’s Advisory Council for Hispanic and Latino Affairs as properly the Annual Hispanic Instructional summit, sharing his expertise and entrepreneurial profession plans. Inside his group, Velarde has volunteered at Durham‐Raleigh El Centro Hispano to tutor and encourage college students together with his story.
“It’s wonderful to see what these athletes have executed at such a younger age,” AFCA Govt Director Todd Berry stated. “They steadiness athletics, schoolwork and group service. That is an impressive group of males who will proceed the Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce legacy.”
Vote for the captain
At ESPN.com/Allstate, followers can study extra in regards to the gamers’ accomplishments and vote for the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce ® captain as soon as a day now by means of Nov. 22. All through the season, followers can be part of the dialog utilizing #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels to assist others study extra about these gamers and their tales.
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In regards to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce was established in 1992 by the Faculty Soccer Affiliation, recognizing the additional efforts made by faculty soccer gamers and pupil help employees off the sphere. The AFCA turned the governing physique of the award in 1997 and continues to honor faculty soccer gamers who go the additional mile for these in want. Allstate labored to current the award beginning with the 2008 season. The Southeastern Convention (SEC) leads all conferences with 84 picks to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce because it started in 1992. The SEC is adopted by the Atlantic Coast Convention with 55 picks and the Massive 12 Convention and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Convention, each with 41 picks. Georgia is in first place with 23 honorees to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Workforce. The Bulldogs are adopted by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 17 honorees. Tremendous Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning had been members of the 2002 and 1997 Allstate AFCA Good Works Groups, respectively.
In regards to the AFCA
The AFCA was based in 1922 and at the moment has greater than 11,000 members all over the world starting from the highschool stage to the skilled ranks. Based on its structure, the AFCA was fashioned, partially, to “preserve the very best doable requirements in soccer and within the teaching occupation” and to “present a discussion board for the dialogue and research of all issues pertaining to soccer.”
For extra details about the AFCA, go to www.AFCA.com. For information, try insider.afca.com and subscribe to our weekly e-mail. To get extra in-depth articles and movies, please develop into an AFCA member. Get details about membership and particular member advantages on the AFCA Membership Overview web page. To hitch, please fill out the AFCA Membership Software.
Contacts:
Jessica Porter, Allstate Media Relations
847-402-5600
Vince Thompson, AFCA
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