49ers Honor Military Families for Salute to Service

In celebration of Black History Month, 49ers B.U.I.L.D. and 49ers social justice grant recipient, 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, teamed up for a conversation around sports and activism: highlighting the history and legacy of activism in sports and looking towards the future as athletes today continue to use their platform to contribute to positive social progress. Panelists include 1968 Olympic gold medalist, Dr. Tommie Smith, Fresh Lifelines for Youth Executive Director, Ali Knight, and 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead.

2020 was an unforgettable year and the 49ers listened, responded and met physical distancing with the spirit of unity. Here is a recap of how the 49ers supported the community last year.

Fred Warner and Dennis Brown were on hand to deliver the news to the owners of Nirvana Soul and Back A Yard Caribbean Grill that they would be the recipients of the 49ers and Visa's $10,000 grants.

For the past five years, Arik Armstead has visited a local hospital in his hometown of Sacramento to deliver holiday cheer. In 2016, Armstead met Lorenzo, a 16-year-old lifelong 49ers fan fighting kidney failure, marking the start of a wonderful friendship.

Listen to a special Storytime with Arik Armstead and the second grade class from Cesar Chavez Elementary School in San Francisco, followed by a group discussion about diversity.

The 49ers and Invisalign brought smiles and holiday cheer to pediatric patients at a local children's hospital. Offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill virtually visited patients, delivering toys to kids and appreciation meals to staff.

The 49ers delivered holiday cheer to 30 deserving families at the Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley's Central Commons complex in Fremont. Thanks to the generosity of U.S. Bank, Jimmy Garoppolo, coaches, executives and in-kind donations from Zenni Optical, Peet's Coffee, Shoe Palace and Panini America, the organization delivered more than $20,000 of in-kind gifts to the families.

On behalf of U.S. Bank and the 49ers, Ben Garland helped support 20 black and minority-owned businesses in the Bay Area by surprising them with $490 gift cards.

To help our troops create special memories with their families, the 49ers and USO Northern California hosted 60 military families for a free, socially-distant holiday movie screening. Each family went home with a holiday gift bag featuring Zenni Optical glasses and Panini America trading cards.

For his storied impact in the community and embodying what it means to be Faithful to The Bay, we are proud to recognize Arik Armstead as the 49ers 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, presented by Nationwide.

NFL players will wear their hearts on their cleats for the fourth-straight year of My Cause My Cleats when they wear custom-painted cleats inspired by their personal causes.

The 49ers teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank to support over 700 families for Thanksgiving and provide Clover milk and turkey roasts donated by the team including players, coaches and their families.

49ers alumnus Guy McIntyre delivered meals to Santa Clara populations affected by COVID-19, including isolated seniors, volunteers, healthcare workers and families with hospitalized loved ones. The team simultaneously supported small Santa Clara restaurants who have felt the effects of the pandemic.

George Kittle discussed the Salute to Service stickers players wore on their helmets to show appreciation for the military and spoke about his family and friends who serve in the armed services.

The 49ers and U.S. Bank teamed up to host a virtual financial wellness session led by Operation HOPE for nine single mothers part of nonprofit WANDA Silicon Valley. The mothers were also surprised with a visit from 49ers players who revealed that U.S. Bank would cover the next three months' rent.

As part of the 49ers annual cancer awareness efforts, the team partnered with the American Cancer Society for a behind-the-scenes experience with 49ers players and breast cancer warrior and longtime Faithful Shelby, and her Dignity Health Oncology Nurse Navigator Cheri.

For the first "Community Tuesday" of the season presented by U.S. Bank, Jed York, Azeez Al-Shaair, Daniel Brunskill and Ben Garland joined Chairman John Hope Bryant and the Operation HOPE team to bring financial literacy principles and inspiring conversations to 20 youth from Student Program for Academic & Athletic Transitioning (SPAAT) in a virtual session. The students walked away with new ideas and emotional anecdotes from the speakers, as well as a promise from Operation HOPE for follow up coaching.

Arik Armstead resumed his virtual reading program with a visit to a class of second graders from Union City, CA. Join along for this read aloud as Armstead read Making the Moose Out of Life by Nicholas Oldland!

49ers PREP presented by U.S. Bank and Santa Clara High School teamed up for a 30-minute live, online Q&A for its football team, with tight end Ross Dwelley giving insightful advice to the student-athletes.

The 49ers, Giants and Dignity Health came together to voice their support for Governor Newsom's #WearAMask campaign and announce an initiative to create 200,000 cloth masks to be distributed in Northern California communities.

Solomon Thomas shares personal stories and raises awareness for mental health and suicide prevention with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Moutier.

As part of the organization's Community Days 2020, over eighty 49ers staff and players joined Solomon Thomas and his family for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Virtual Walk to raise awareness for mental health.

Through Citrix and their partnership with Activate Good and Learning Together to empower future readers, Bubba Paris was able to read "The Ugly Duckling" in true Bubba fashion.

Sociologist and team consultant to the 49ers and Golden State Warriors, Dr. Edwards provides an oral history lesson on Juneteenth and its significance during this current climate.

The 48 graduating seniors are the first cohort to complete the full six-year program, each putting in 1800+ hours of extra STEM learning.