On the field, Von Miller is an elite pass-rusher, blowing past offensive linemen on his way to the quarterback on a weekly basis. A Hall-of-Famer in the making, he’s easily one of the best Denver Broncos in his era.
But off the field, Miller makes an impact that’s far greater than anything he’s accomplished on it, and for his work with his foundation, “Von’s Vision,” the Broncos linebacker has been named the Week 17 NFLPA Community MVP.
In the spirit of the giving season, Miller donated 2,013 eyeglass frames to the Anchor Center for Blind Children, a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing early intervention and education to children aged five and under who are blind or visually impaired, in late December 2017. In honor of Miller being this week’s NFLPA Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his foundation. He will also be eligible for this year’s Byron ‘Whizzer’ White Award, an award of the highest honor from the NFLPA.
The donation to the Anchor Center for Blind Children comes after Miller was presented with the Denver Broncos’ Community Impact Award in early December for his significant impact that Von’s Vision has had on Denver kids. Miller’s prominent engagement in his foundation and his efforts have allowed him to use his platform to promote a worthy, important and personal cause and thus, has made him a deserving winner to be named NFLPA Community MVP.
“Anchor Center for Blind Children is blessed to receive this gift of beautiful, designer, corrective eye-wear for our children and the community who will benefit having their own customized glasses they can wear with confidence for years to come,” said Savannah Wippel, Director Of Development And Community Relations at the Anchor Center for Blind Children.
As a personal mission to provide eye wear and eye care to kids in need, Miller’s commitment to his foundation, Von’s Vision, has allowed him to find a way to help kids see a brighter future and ultimately, he has awareness of how he can be a reason of change in his community by providing realistic ways to help kids who may not have the resources to receive vision treatment.
In 2017, it was a record year for Von’s Vision as 1,265 kids received frames, lenses and eye exams for a total value of $632,500 in addition to the donation of 2,013 eyeglass frames to the Anchor Center for Blind Children for a total value $503,250. By the end of 2017, Von’s Vision provided a value of over $2 million dollars of free eye care to more than 5,000 Denver students.