Green, Monk travel 'Route 281' to Canton
By Jason S. Rufner
When Darrell Green and Art Monk were football players, it was their job. Having retired from that job, they have set themselves to the task of their life's work: helping those who need it most.
Of course, the two former Washington Redskins were pretty good at their jobs -- so good that each will see himself inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 2.
Leveraging their imminent induction, the soon-to-be Hall of Famers announced the launch of “Route 281: The Road To Canton,” a series of tour stops and gala events designed to create visibility and raise funds for the work done by the two men's charitable organizations: Monk's Good Samaritan Foundation and Green's Youth Life Foundation.
“This goes beyond tackles and catches. This is important,” said Green at a press conference May 7 at Redskins Park in Ashburn. “We want to touch the world. Wherever people are hurting, that's where we want to be.”
The number 281 is formed from amalgamating the numbers worn by Green (28) and Monk (81) when each donned burgundy and gold.
“We don't think it's a coincidence that Darrell and I are going into the Hall of Fame together,” remarked Monk, adding that he and Green have been good friends with common interests since becoming Redskins in the early 1980s.
Green and Monk are joining forces with the Hilaron Foundation, a Northern Virginia 501(c)(3) organization that provides expertise in cultivating fundraising avenues.
Monk and Green acknowledged the difficulty of fundraising during present economic times, but they are undeterred.
“Fundraising has been tough on all of us,” said Green. “But the reality is that we're going to go where we need to go to get these dollars.”
He stated that the goal is to raise $5 million during the first two years.
Both men's organizations aim to promote education, job training, and healthy social, moral and physical development among underprivileged inner-city youth and their families. The Youth Life Foundation tends to assist younger children, while the Good Samaritan Foundation aims at those of high-school age.
The two foundations, whose centers are each able to actively assist between 40 and 60 kids at any time, have locations in Washington, D.C., as well as in Richmond and other cities throughout the country. Orphanages and ministries have been and continue to be among the beneficiaries of the work done by the two foundations.
Green spoke earnestly of some of the experiences his inner-city kids have gone through.
“One of my former students is a professor at the university level. Another is sitting behind bars on a charge of murder. But many of my students are educators throughout the city. Many have followed down an academic path.”
Monk had similar points.
“We've had a kid shot and murdered as he was getting on our bus to be a part of our program,” he said. “But we've had students graduate with scholarships to go to Stanford University. We've had students who've gone on to be teachers, doctors, lawyers, in the military. So the programs are very effective.”
Monk, like Green a pious man, quoted from biblical scripture: “'Hope deterred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled makes the tree of life.' When they start seeing their longing fulfilled, they become positive, constructive citizens in our community.”
Both Green and Monk consider their charitable activities to be their primary motivation.
“We've gotten all the accolades for what we've done on the field, but for us the major focus is what we do for people off the field,” Monk said.
Green agreed, saying, “These aren't just programs. These are our lives.”
The tour kicks off with a meet-and-greet event June 7 in Branson, Mo. Nearly a dozen events have already been solidified, most of them within the commonwealth of Virginia, including a gala July 26 at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester.
The Hilaron Foundation is in negotiations with venues in other locales, such as Roanoke, Atlanta, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Dallas.
Several current and former Redskins have agreed to appear in support of Green and Monk's efforts -- Gary Clark, Rick “Doc” Walker and Charles Mann. As the tour expands into other markets, past and present players familiar in those areas have agreed to lend their support.
The tour will culminate with a black-tie supergala Sept. 6 at the Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, Md. It is intended that the supergala will become an upscale annual event of the Hilaron Foundation in support of Monk and Green's causes.
More information on the Road To Canton tour and tickets to events can be found at Route281.com.