Greg Olsen lauded for kindness, but he’s not only Panther philanthropist

Carolina Panther Greg Olsen is a finalist for one of the highest honors afforded NFL players for their community service – the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year – but he’s only one of several Panther players to have started a local charity.

The winner of the Payton award was to be named Saturday night, with Olsen competing against Giants quarterback Eli Manning and Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The announcement came too late for this edition.

Below is a list of the foundations created in Charlotte by Carolina Panthers players and coaches:

Greg Olsen, Receptions for Research

Receptions for Research/The Greg Olsen Foundation provides hospitals, doctors and researchers the resources to save those affected with debilitating diseases. The organization collaborates with other organizations to help find a cure for these diseases. The primary goal of Receptions for Research is to make sure that everyone has a second chance in life.

Thomas Davis, Defending Dreams Foundation

Founded under the principles of educate, empower and defend, the Defending Dreams Foundation aims to defend the dreams of disadvantaged students by providing them with opportunities and resources that enable them to strive for excellence in school and life, build strong character and become great community leaders.

Charles Johnson Foundation

The mission of the Charles Johnson Foundation is to provide opportunities for under-served youth to reach their potential through athletic, recreational and educational programs and initiatives, and to provide support for single African-American mothers through programs and initiatives.

Cam Newton Foundation

The Cam Newton Foundation is committed to enhancing the lives of youths by addressing their social, physical, educational and emotional needs. The theme of the Cam Newton Foundation is “Every 1 Matters.” The foundation strives to emphasize the importance of education, physical fitness and health as vital elements of comprehensive youth development.

Michael Oher, Beat The Odds

The mission of Beat The Odds Inc. is to provide both disadvantaged individuals and those in need with empowering opportunities that enrich their lives and provide a mechanism for higher education and healthy living. Addressing their obstacles and finding solutions for them is the goal.

Mike Tolbert, Family SPADE Foundation

The SPADE (Single Parenting And Developing Education) Foundation assists underprivileged children from single parent situations. Understanding first-hand the difficulties single parent families face, SPADE works with these children in aspects of life such as education, athletics and the challenges of growing up in today’s world.

Andy Lee, Madelyn’s Fund

Madelyn’s Fund, created in memory of the deceased daughter of Andy Lee and his wife Rachel, helps families with the unexpected costs associated with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit stays and even funeral costs resulting from the loss of a child. By creating Madelyn’s Fund, they hope to provide these families the financial support that they need. Madelyn died in 2015.

Kurt Coleman, Coleman4acure

Coleman4acure is dedicated to bringing about a keener awareness and understanding of the need of early detection of breast cancer, a higher level of consideration for risk factors and family history, and continued funding of research for a cure. Coleman’s father, Ron Coleman, is a breast cancer survivor. In 2006, Ron Coleman was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer, which is extremely rare among men.

This story was originally published February 3, 2017 at 8:09 AM with the headline "Greg Olsen lauded for kindness, but he’s not only Panther philanthropist."