Philadelphia's Bear Named Week 7 National Guard Community MVP
April 20, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
CHICAGO -Philadelphia Soul DL DUSTY BEAR has been named National Guard Community MVP of the Week for his recent philanthropic efforts.
Bear (6-1, 250, Western Kentucky) is in his third season in the AFL and his first with the Soul. Last season, Bear was awarded Second-Team All-Arena honors.
Recently, Bear has dedicated his time to the Philadelphia Children's Alliance (PCA), which provides a safe haven for children who have been victims of sexual abuse.
Bear took a large role in the Soul's Teddy Bear Drive at their home opener this season against Cleveland.
"The Soul asked fans to bring teddy bears to the game and each person that brought a teddy bear got invited to a private meet and greet with Coach Plank and myself," Bear said. "Each bear was donated to the PCA and then given to the children at the facility."
On April 26th Bear will attend the PCA's 12th annual "Bear Affair." The event is a gala and auction to help raise money for the PCA. Alongside Bear will be other notable Philadelphia businesspeople, sports figures and politicians.
"I've been working with the PCA since we arrived for camp and it's something I feel passionate about," Bear said.
When he isn't dedicating his time to the PCA, Bear enjoys speaking to kids at local high schools in the Philadelphia area.
"I love trying to pass my message on to kids," Bear said. "I'm not afraid to stand up and tell you that I didn't come from the best place but I'm also not afraid to tell you that you can make the decisions to make it better."
The Philadelphia Soul (4-1) face the Tampa Bay Storm (3-2) tonight on "NET10 Arena Football Friday" on NFL Network at 8:00 pm ET.
The National Guard Community MVP is awarded to one player each week in recognition of their commitment to community service. Following the 2012 season, players will be voted on by fans to become the National Guard Community MVP of the Year.
Arena Football League Stories from April 20, 2012
- Blaze Emerge Victorious in Rematch with Barnstormers - Utah Blaze
- Soul Shines Through the Storm, 83-48 - Philadelphia Soul
- Philadelphia Tramples Tampa Bay, 83-48 - Philadelphia Soul
- Storm Offense Sputters, Fall to Soul 83-48 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Predators Win First Game of the Season - Orlando Predators
- Georgia Force Fall to the Orlando Predators 27-24 - Georgia Force
- Top 25 QBs in AFL History: No. 1-5 - AFL
- Philadelphia's Bear Named Week 7 National Guard Community MVP - AFL
- From the Church to the Turf: Jeremy Kellem Remains Faithful to the Lord - New Orleans VooDoo
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
