La'Roi Glover Selected as the Ram's Walter Payton Man of the Year Recepient
November 27, 2007 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Rams' head coach Scott Linehan today announced La'Roi Glover has been selected as the Rams' Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. La'Roi will now go on to compete with the other 31 team's representatives for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is a prestigious honor recognizing a player for his community service as well as his on-the-field performance. Each NFL team has the opportunity to nominate the player who they feel best exemplifies the philanthropic spirit of Chicago Bears' Hall of Fame running back, Walter Payton. The nominees from all 32 teams then compete against each other for the national award, which will be announced prior to the Super Bowl.
Six-time Pro-Bowler La'Roi Glover is the heart and soul of the Rams defensive line. Signed by the Rams in 2006, La'Roi was immediately named a team captain, an honor he also earned for the 2007 season.
La'Roi is not only a leader on the field, but also leads by example through his action in the community. This year, La'Roi turned his attention to assisting Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Eastern Missouri in an effort designed to put thousands of area boys and girls in contact with much needed mentors. Glover not only became a "Big Brother" himself, but also purchased a suite to host other mentors and their "littles" at every Rams home game. He also lent his name and efforts to the "Tackle the Issues" campaign designed to
bolster volunteer recruitment. Glover's efforts are in support of the BBBS recently launched Urban Expansion Project aimed at eliminating the Big Brothers Big Sisters 500-child waiting list, which is mainly comprised of African-American children, with 80 percent being African-American boys. In December, La'Roi is hosting 100 BBBS children at the Rams' practice facility where he will give them a tour, provide them with $100 gift cards
and take them on a holiday shopping spree.
Since coming to St. Louis, La'Roi has served as the event captain for Taste of the NFL-St. Louis, a tasting extravaganza that benefits the St. Louis Foodbank and the St. Louis Sports Commission. As an eight-year veteran of the Super Bowl's Taste of the NFL, he has brought his national expertise to the local event and actively recruits fellow teammates to join in the fundraising effort.
He has also participated in Bowl-a-RAM-a, a bowling event that benefits the Epilepsy Foundation, as well as the Make-A-Wish Celebrity Server Dinner, where Rams players assist in Make-A-Wish's fundraising efforts by "working" as celebrity servers.
In August of 1999, La'Roi Glover announced the establishment of The La'Roi Glover Foundation. As part of the Foundation's efforts, La'Roi has been awarding two, $5,000 college scholarships to Point Loma High School graduates, La'Roi's alma mater, since 2000. La'Roi personally reviews each essay and selects one boy and one girl to receive the scholarships based on community involvement, creativity, athletic involvement
and obstacles that they have overcome. To date, the Foundation has awarded 16 scholarships to deserving students and is looking to expand the scholarship program to St. Louis as well.
For the past six years, La'Roi has also served as the host of the Martin Bayless/La'Roi Glover Football camp, a free camp that serves approximately 2,500 kids per year. La'Roi attended this camp as a high school student athlete and vowed if he ever made it in to the NFL, he would come back and support the effort.
About the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
The prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is unique among NFL honors. It is the only NFL award that recognizes a player for his community service activities as well as his excellence on the field.
Renamed in 1999 after the legendary Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame running back, the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award has been awarded annually since 1970.
Recent winners have included Drew Brees and LaDainian Tomlinson. Past winners include many of the league's greatest players, 13 of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Each year a winner is chosen from a list composed of one nominee from each team. The Man of the Year is selected by an elite panel of judges including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Sports Illustrated writer Peter King, Connie Payton (wife of the late Walter Payton), and former players Frank Gifford, Jack Kemp, Anthony Munoz and the previous year's Award winner.
The NFL Man of the Year's designated charity receives a $25,000 donation in his name. Charities selected by the other 31 team finalists each receive a $1,000 donation.