$ 2,000 donation provided child care and dinner at a local restaurant for 50 Gold Star wives, and treated them to a special night out on the town.
Three of the 32 nominees will be selected as finalists for the national award, renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears RB Walter Payton. Finalists will be announced in January 2018. The winner will be announced in Minneapolis the night before Super Bowl LII. Jackson will wear a Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the season, in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field.
The NFL announced last month a Super Bowl Ticket Giveaway, a new initiative this season to surprise fans across the country with an invitation to attend Super Bowl LII in Minnesota. As a Man of the Year nominee, Jackson received two Super Bowl LII tickets to give away to community heroes. On Tuesday, Jackson visited Five Star Veterans Center in Jacksonville, a local nonprofit that provides safe and secure housing for displaced veterans. After touring the facility, Jackson surprised retired Marine Col. Len Loving, CEO of Five Star Veterans, with the two Super Bowl tickets. Jackson also personally donated $ 2,000 to cover any necessary travel expenses.
Jackson hosts a private screening of“ Thor: Ragnarok” for military families.
Jackson visits with school children alongside Jacksonville Sheriff’ s Office Patrol Officer and former Jaguars TE Ernest Wilford.