Cardinals’ Zach Ertz named Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP

Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz has been named the Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP after launching the “Score More n’ Feed More” campaign in Arizona and starting the House of Hope project for Philadelphia youth.

“My wife Julie and I are so honored to be recognized by the NFLPA for the work we are doing in the places that we love so much – Philadelphia and Arizona,” Ertz said in an NFLPA press release. “Both places have embraced us and loved us, and we feel grateful to give back to everyone in such a meaningful way through the Ertz Family Foundation.”

The “Score More n’ Feed More” campaign donates 5,000 meals to local Arizona food banks for every touchdown the Cardinals score this season.

In his two games with the Cardinals, the team has scored eight touchdowns, providing 40,000 meals for around the Valley.

Earlier this week, the Ertz Family Foundation broke ground on the House of Hope project in North Philadelphia.

The former Philadelphia Eagle and his wife Julie, a player for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and Arizona native, donated the first $100,000, followed by a matched donation by the Ertz Family Foundation with a goal to raise $900,000, according to the release.

Once finished, the house hopes to serve 500 Philadelphia youth a week with meals and academic enrichment programs.

Because Ertz was named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA will make a $10,000 contribution to his charity or foundation of choice, according to the release. Ertz spends a large portion of his charitable donations focusing on food insecurity.

Winners of the weekly NFL award become eligible for this year’s Alan Page Community Award, which according to the release, is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.

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