Darrell Green and Art Monk need money.
Donations are “drying up” in the current recession. Their drawing power is fading after years away from the game. Yet, the needs are ever growing.
Good fortune and great timing have re-united the former Redskins teammates into a fund raising force. The tandem are turning their Pro Football Hall of Fame induction on Aug. 2 into a 10-city charitable tour to raise $5 million over two years.
Monk and Green are two of the more popular Redskins ever. No one on the current team even comes anywhere close. Monk won three Super Bowls and Green two during the Redskins glory days. But even greater, they never left the community while creating youth foundations.
The Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation and Monk’s Good Samaritan Foundation have helped thousands of at-risk children become educaters, doctors and lawyers. They’ve lost some to violence and prison, too. “There’s always issues every day,” Monk said.
It cost lots of money to help several hundred children. Monk, ever a recluse, is no longer shy about it. Neither is Green. They see a chance to create some “shock and awe” to help fund the programs for many years.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us so this is the time to leverage our celebrity, our Hall of Fame for not selfish means, but our foundations,” Monk said.
There will be autograph sessions and galas. Former teammates and even past opponents will come. Hopefully, fans who watched Monk and Green win those Super Bowls will respond with donations to two organizations that help hundreds of children annually. Green works with young ones at four local centers while Monk focuses on high school students.
“We’re trying to instill hope in those who live in communities without hope,” Monk said.
Said Green: “I think there’s still enough money to make a difference.”
Want to help? Visit route281.com. Buy some Route 281 gear (Green wore No. 28, Monk 81) or gala tickets. Check out the appearances, including at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at the new National Harbor on Sept. 6 that will become an annual Hall of Famer’s banquet.
Think about every time you sang “Hail to the Redskins” or wore one of their jerseys. Here’s a chance to repay what was the best sporting time in town for the past 25 years. Step up and support two men who are supporting hundreds.
“We’re touching 300 kids,” Green said. “We want to touch the world.”
More than one million fans lined Constitution Avenue for a Super Bowl victory parade in 1992. Now a new million man march is needed. Once again, Monk and Green will be in the front.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
