Allstate and AFCA reveal the 2023 Good Works Crew
4 min read
22 student-athletes named to one in every of school soccer’s most prestigious honors for neighborhood service
NORTHBROOK, Unwell., September 12, 2023 – Allstate and the American Soccer Coaches Affiliation (AFCA) are recognizing 22 student-athletes and one head coach for exemplary neighborhood affect by naming them to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew ®.
One participant, Blake Corum, a working again on the College of Michigan, is on a mission to encourage others to dream massive and serve their communities. Corum began a Giving Again 2 Give Thanks turkey drive in 2021 utilizing cash from his title, 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 subsequent 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 group was chosen out of 136 student-athletes who have been nominated from throughout the county.
“It’s inspiring to see how these younger males on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew select to make use of their presents and skills to be a blessing to their neighborhood,” mentioned Tim Tebow, two-time nationwide champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Good Works Crew member. “Serving and loving individuals will help reveal the larger function that we are able to all have, not simply in sports activities, however in life.”
This yr’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew 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 reaching excessive tutorial honors.
“This is likely one of the highest neighborhood service awards school soccer gamers can obtain,” Sam Acho, ESPN analyst, writer and 2010 Good Works Crew member mentioned. “It serves as an vital 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 assets 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 “captivated with profitable.” The management initiative helps develop Clemson Soccer scholar-athletes by private progress, life abilities {and professional} improvement.
“I’m in awe of what these gamers have completed when it comes to service and lecturers,” mentioned Troy Hawkes, govt vice chairman and normal supervisor of gross sales at Allstate. “They exemplify what it means to go above and past in being a job mannequin and pillars locally.”
Junior punter Juan Velarde has been a neighborhood 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 effectively the Annual Hispanic Instructional summit, sharing his expertise and entrepreneurial profession plans. Inside his neighborhood, Velarde has volunteered at Durham‐Raleigh El Centro Hispano to tutor and encourage college students along with his story.
“It’s superb to see what these athletes have performed at such a younger age,” AFCA Govt Director Todd Berry mentioned. “They steadiness athletics, schoolwork and neighborhood service. That is an impressive group of males who will proceed the Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew legacy.”
Click here for the full 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team roster of players and their stories
Vote for the captain
At ESPN.com/Allstate, followers can be taught extra concerning the gamers’ accomplishments and vote for the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew ® captain as soon as a day now by Nov. 22. All through the season, followers can be part of the dialog utilizing #GoodWorksTeam on their social media channels to assist others be taught extra about these gamers and their tales.
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Concerning the Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew®
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Crew was established in 1992 by the School Soccer Affiliation, recognizing the additional efforts made by school soccer gamers and scholar assist employees off the sphere. The AFCA grew to become the governing physique of the award in 1997 and continues to honor school 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 Crew because it started in 1992. The SEC is adopted by the Atlantic Coast Convention with 55 picks and the Huge 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 Crew. The Bulldogs are adopted by Kentucky and Bethel (Minn.) with 17 honorees. Tremendous Bowl XLII, XLVI and XLI champion quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning have been members of the 2002 and 1997 Allstate AFCA Good Works Groups, respectively.
Concerning the AFCA
The AFCA was based in 1922 and at the moment has greater than 11,000 members around the globe starting from the highschool stage to the skilled ranks. Based on its structure, the AFCA was fashioned, partly, to “keep the very best potential 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 electronic mail. To get extra in-depth articles and movies, please turn out to be an AFCA member. Get details about membership and particular member advantages on the AFCA Membership Overview web page. To affix, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
Contacts:
Jessica Porter, Allstate Media Relations
847-402-5600
Vince Thompson, AFCA
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