Giving Back to the Community - A Dallas Cowboys Franchise Mission

The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League are a fan favorite franchise. They have been a success on the field, playing at a consistently high level, since joining the league as an expansion team in 1960. In addition to their great success on the field, "America's Team" has been just as successful off the field and is considered to be one of the most valuable sports teams in North America. The great success of the Cowboys organization hasn't just been limited to the football field, it has spilled over into the community that it serves, represents, and calls home.

At the heart of any organizations success are the people. Jerry Jones has been owner of the NFL Dallas Cowboys for the past 18 years. Together, he, his wife Gene and their family manage and operate the franchise. All three of his children are part of the Cowboys organization and are actively involved with the day-to-day operation of the franchise. Thankfully for the people of Dallas and area, Jerry Jones and his family put equal emphasis on The Cowboys giving back to the community.

The Dallas Cowboys and their Logo are one of the most recognizable sports franchises in the world and are more than happy to use their celebrity status and visibility to help others. The idea behind giving to the community is to help those who don't have the means to help themselves. In the words of Jerry Jones, "As a sports entity that has enjoyed unprecedented success and recognition for four decades, we feel a very strong obligation to transfer that championship tradition and the magic that it creates toward the bigger purpose of making a difference." To that end the resources, talents, and skills of his family, the Cowboy players and all members of the organization are utilized for community outreach.

The presence of the Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys in their community is unmistakable. Their giving way has been recognized by countless charities and organizations. The Lone Star Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Family Gateway, a Dallas outreach organization, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the United Way, to name just a few, have all recognized the support and generosity they have received by Gene and Jerry Jones and family.

Every year the Dallas Cowboys players along with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders make a holiday visit to local children's hospitals. For the past 18 years, with the guidance of Gene Jones, the Dallas Cowboys have visited local children's hospitals. Along with their visits each child receives Dallas Cowboys gift items and autographs from both the players and cheerleaders.
Dallas Cowboys wives are also very involved in giving to the community. One such example is the food drives they hold at a Dallas Cowboys home game for the North Texas Food Bank. At a designated game, Cowboys wives are on hand to collect non-perishable food items at all Texas Stadium gates. This is a much-appreciated gesture by the Food bank as the state of Texas leads the country with the highest number of "food insecure" families.
As with all of the 32 NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys take part in the NFL Community Quarterback Awards program. The program identifies and acknowledges outstanding volunteers in the community who demonstrate dedication, commitment and leadership to make the Dallas and area community a better place. The non-profit organizations that are served by the award-winning volunteers receive grant donations. The NFL Community Quarterback program awards nearly $1 million annually to the charitable organizations served by the 32 NFL teams.

At the core of the Dallas Cowboys organization is the importance and need for giving back to the community and making a difference. Dallas and area charities have all benefited from the time, effort and generosity of the Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys franchise. In the words of Jerry Jones, "the star on the helmet can move mountains" - something he, his family and the Dallas Cowboys are happy to see happen time and time again.

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Alex Smith - 2001 Draft Day Picks

Alex Smith was born on May 7, 1984 in Seattle, Washington. While Smith has not always had the physical attributes of some of the other quarterbacks of his time, he has been able to advance through the football ranks with sheer determination, hard work, and a great mind. But this is not to say that Smith does not have any athletic ability. Throughout his career he has been known as both a running and passing quarterback.

Smith attended Helix High School where he was on the same team with NFL star Reggie Bush. This made for a great backfield combination, and the pair led their team to two sectional championships.

While Smith was not as highly recruited as Bush, he did get some attention from schools across the nation. He wound up at the University of Utah where he had a very good career. During his first full season of action in 2003 Smith accounted for over 2,200 yards passing and 452 yards rushing. He also scored 20 touchdowns while only throwing 3 interceptions.

His final season at Utah was more of the same. He passed for 2,952 yards and 32 touchdowns. This was on top of the 631 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the ground. During his final year at Utah he also led his team to a 12-0 record capped off with a Fiesta Bowl victory against the University of Pittsburgh.

Smith was the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. Shortly after being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers he signed a six year contract worth $49.5 million. Although he struggled during his first year, he improved greatly in 2006. During this season he passed for 2,890 yards and 16 touchdowns. If Smith keeps moving in the right direction he is sure to be a great quarterback in the NFL. He has proven that he has all of the tools to be a huge success.

Bob writes for DraftDayPicks.com and 2GoAllOut.com. Where you can purchase a Alex Smith Jersey or get info on a JaMarcus Russell Jersey [http://www.fanfrenzyzone.com/nfl/jamarcus_russell_bio.html]

Gift Ideas - Sports Memorabilia As a Gift For a Loved One

Watching sports either live in a sports stadium or on television is a famous pastime for many Americans. Hence, it is not bizarre anymore to give collectibles as gifts for loved ones. These memorabilia pieces are wonderful presents for family and friends especially if your friend is a truly a sports enthusiasts. These are not only unique gifts but will truly be treasured by the recipient.

There are many reasons why sports collectibles are considered good gifts. One explanation would be that it can encourage a child to begin collecting as a hobby. Sport collectibles are not only good gifts but are also good investments. These items increase its worth in time. Memorabilia pieces can range in a wide array of selection from basketball, golf and many other sports. It can also vary from helmets such as good quality Riddell NFL mini helmets or assorted player bobble heads. It only depends on the preference of the person you are giving the gift to.

There are many gift ideas you can give for young children. You can start encouraging your child as a little sports fan by giving him a wooden rocking chair from your favorite sports team. This is absolutely an adorable gift for children. Some gift ideas may also include baby bibs and blankets.

The teen years are a great time to start a sports collection. It is a good idea to encourage a teenager to begin this hobby by determining his favorite team or player. For instance, if your son is an avid fan of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) then giving your son a signed action photo will definitely be a winner with your teen boy. The fast growing popularity of female sport heroes such as Venus Williams makes teen girls supporters of different types of sports. Gift ideas are endless ranging from team jerseys, tank tops and sweatshirts.

There is no doubt that most men are sports fanatics, so it is obvious that you can never go wrong with a sports memorabilia as a gift whether it's your boyfriend's birthday or an anniversary gift. If you can afford an expensive gift then sport collectibles such as NFL helmets can be a good choice. These helmets are also available in mini helmets that are exact replicas of the ones that players wear but are just a bit smaller. Riddell NFL mini helmets are good choices and can be presented in display cases. If your budget is a little bit tight, you can still wow your husband by buying him inexpensive items such as team golf balls or baseball cards.

Sport collectibles are great presents for family and friends. It's not only a good way of showing how you care for them but also a means of proving that you take notice on what they really like.

Coach John Rockwell is a huge football fan. He has written many articles related to Riddell NFL Mini Helmets. Other articles Coach John has written are related to sports equipment and collectibles such as NFL Helmets. Coach John resides in Texas with this wife and three children.