Marlon Favorite Named AFL Pulse Player of the Week
April 2, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
CHICAGO (March 29, 2013) - New Orleans VooDoo DL MARLON FAVORITE has been named the AFL Pulse Player of the Week for his recent philanthropic efforts.
Favorite (6-1, 325, LSU) is in his second season in both the AFL and with the VooDoo.
Favorite has dedicated his time volunteering at hospitals, schools and mentoring at-risk youth.
"I have been involved in the community since I was a teenager here in New Orleans," Favorite said. "If you're helping someone then you're doing the right thing in God's eyes and that's what drives me and motivates me."
Most recently, he went to Ames Elementary school to read, visit with students and sign autographs.
"It's just a beautiful thing in my eyes when you can go read to the kids and encourage them to do it and make it a cool thing," Favorite said. "So many of them look at us as professional athletes and love what we do on the field but when they see us do something that they are asked to do all the time it does change their view on reading."
Favorite also has spent two years coordinating "Big Fav's Holiday Toy Drive". In December, Favorite teamed up with the New Orleans VooDoo and several other local businesses to promote the drive by sending out email blasts, Facebook messages, tweets and press releases asking people in the community to donate toys. After the toys were donated, Favorite, the VooDoo Dolls and his family and friends traveled to several areas around New Orleans to distribute the toys to families in need.
"This year we were able to collect over 300 toys," Favorite said. "It was my second time doing the drive and we plan on doing it again this upcoming year because it's just a joy to be able to give out toys to those kids."
Favorite has a passion for mentoring students and helping children. As a football coach at De La Salle High School in New Orleans, he has the opportunity to impact students' lives every day.
"I am fortunate enough to play professional football and gather up this knowledge of the sport and transfer it to these kids, along with life skills," Favorite said. "I just hope I am able to continue to take my experience and wisdom and pass it on to the kids."
Favorite was born and raised in New Orleans and has lived there his entire life. Being able to give back to the community is something that he makes a priority in his life.
"I was blessed to have great parents and a great family and friends to help guide me on my way so to be able to come back and do the same thing in my adult years to the youth in my area means a lot to me," Favorite said.
The AFL Pulse Player of the Week is awarded to one AFL player each week in recognition of their commitment to community service.
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