2024 has been nothing short of another substantial year in the community for Dion Dawkins and his foundation Dion's Dreamers. For the third consecutive year, the Buffalo Bills have selected Dawkins as their nominee for the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is one of the NFL's most prestigious honors and recognizes players for their on-field excellence and community service.
Dawkins has been one of the league's best left tackles this season on the field. He's also been just as impactful off the field.
This past year, communities all over the country have been positively impacted by the efforts of Dawkins' foundation, Dion's Dreamers.
Dion's 4th annual 716 CommUNITY Day was hosted in July to celebrate the Buffalo community at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Buffalo's Eastside. The community day welcomed families and children for a day full of fun, activities and many necessary resources needed in underserved areas. Over 1,000 people received free hot meals, fresh produce, free haircuts, clothing and hygiene products as part of the event; 50 children received free bicycles and helmets.
Dawkins also partnered with Delta Sonic and The Teacher's Desk, to provide Western New York teachers with free supplies for their classrooms — he collected 2 pallets worth of school supplies. He also supported the Northland Workforce Training Center, a school which empowers students to seek careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy efforts, by donating 250 backpacks and school supplies to their Back-To-School Event.
Dawkins' community work did not stop in Western New York. In June, he hosted his second annual Kickball Tournament in his hometown of Rahway, New Jersey to raise money for Dion's Dreamers. Continuing to give back to his hometown, Dion donated new travel clothes and gear to his alma mater, Rahway High School. Bringing his community efforts down south, Dion's Dreamers donated backpacks and school supplies to the children of Delray Beach Boxing Club in South Florida.
Dion's in-season community work started with participating in CPR Training of student athletes at Niagara Falls High School in association with the Buffalo Bills Foundation, Highmark, and the American Heart Association. He also supported the Bills Foundation's initiative, Huddle for Hunger, by donating a truckload of Shnow Crunch cereal towards ending hunger in Western New York.
2,000 boxes of Shnow Crunch were also donated to the Cheektowaga Central School District as well as local Boys and Girls Clubs. Dion participated in a variety of Play60 events, winter coat drives, the Erie County Juvenile Court's Youth Empowerment Program and his annual Talent Shnow, showcasing Buffalo's best talent to benefit Dion's Dreamers.
Through Dion's Dreamers, he shows the power of giving back. He embodies what it means to be a Buffalonian. His deep commitment to underserved communities, sets the tone for future Buffalo Bills who follow in his footsteps.
All 32 nominees will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The winner of the 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally on FOX and the NFL Network on Thursday, Feb. 6.
Each nominee will receive up to $55,000 and the award winner will receive up to a $265,000 donation to their charity of choice. All donations are made possible by the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.
Fans are once again encouraged to participate in Nationwide's annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows fans to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. Fans can vote on X/Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle of their chosen nominee or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear.
The nominee who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide to the charity of their choice, with the runner-up receiving $10,000 and the third-place winner receiving $5,000.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and staff joined participating charities and guests at The Draft Room to kickoff Give 716 Day. Fans can support their favorite local nonprofits starting at 7:16 p.m. on July 15 to 11:59 p.m. on July 16 at Give716.org.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Tyrell Shavers (80). Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Tim Connolly. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Tyrell Shavers (80). Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Jason Woolley, Josh Byrne, Tim Connolly. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Tyrell Shavers (80). Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne, Tim Connolly, Scott McManigle. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Jason Woolley. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Rich Jureller. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Tyrell Shavers (80). Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Dion Dawkins. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Josh Byrne. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Tyrell Shavers (80). Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Jason Woolley. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Brian Duff. Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
Buffalo Bills, Sabres and Bandits players, alumni and participating charities attend the Give 716 Kickoff Event, July 15, 2024 at The Draft Room.
