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Statement of Purpose
THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE ALUMNI is a non-profit service
organization of former professional football players who work voluntarily
on behalf of youth and charity. It was formed as an outgrowth of
philanthropic and civic-minded impulses of men who performed at the highest
level of the nation's most popular spectator sport and used that experience
as a springboard to success in later life.
FOUNDED IN 1967 principally to deal with player welfare issues, the NFL
Alumni was reorganized in 1977 as a tax-exempt charitable and educational
organization. An IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, the NFL Alumni
has national headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a network of
local chapters across the country.
GOVERNING BODY of the NFL Alumni is a Board of Directors, which
includes elected presidents of all chapter affiliates. The chief
executive officer is the President.
THE NFL ALUMNI is a dues-paying membership association. Anyone ever
employed by a major-league football team qualifies as a Professional
Member. Others who did not play pro football, but who support
charitable goals and activities of the organization, are eligible for
Associate and Corporate Memberships.
IN THEIR VOLUNTARY UNDERTAKINGS, members of the NFL Alumni are
guided philosophically by the fundamental ideals expressed in their
motto: "Caring for Kids".
ONE BASIC OBJECTIVE of the NFL Alumni is to render useful public
service by raising funds for worthy causes, that, for the most
part, are youth-oriented in nature. The primary source of revenue
is an annual tour of celebrity golf tournaments in which expenses
are substantially underwritten by participating corporate
sponsors. Proceeds are directed to causes selected by host
chapters, as well as to national outreaches. The NFL Alumni
further seeks to sustain its benevolence programs by engaging in
licensing, direct-mail merchandising and other marketing
activities compatible with organizational purposes through Pro
Legends, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary operated for profit.
A SECOND MAJOR OBJECTIVE of the NFL Alumni is that of fostering
development of "youth through sports and sports through
youth." Central to this mission is a sustained commitment
to sponsoring wholesome supervised activities where meaningful
social interaction can take place between adults and
youngsters. The idea is to present prominent and successful
athletes as role models. Alumni youth work reaches a high point
during Youth of America Week, a celebration observed in
conjunction with the opening of each new pro football season.
AFTER HELPING CHILDREN who lack the advantages they once had,
the NFL Alumni membership turns to a third prime objective -
caring for its own. This is accomplished through funding the
NFL Alumni Foundation in cooperation with the National
Football League. Commonly called the "Dire Need
Fund," the foundation provides financial assistance to
former pros experiencing circumstances of hardship.
IN RESPONDING to requests for assistance and in initiating
projects of its own, the Board of Directors seeks to
further the aims of the NFL Alumni's founding fathers in
two distinct ways:
FIRST, the organization maintains a keen awareness of its
distinctive origins as an advocate for the rights of
former players. As a result, the NFL Alumni encourages
and promotes increased benefits for retired players.
SECOND, the NFL Alumni continues to support those
organizations and projects which offer special promise
of advancing the quality of life in communities where
Alumni chapters are located. The intent is to expand
each chapter's outreach into the community through
year-round participation by Alumni members in
fund-raising and personal-service programs of other
charitable organizations.
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