Celebrate Excellence EVERYWHERE: Edition 11
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Dickerson & Reed Team Up
Gold Jackets Eric Dickerson and Andre Reed teamed up two days ago to help raise money for children in need. Dickerson and Reed participated in the 30th annual Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce or CIBC Miracle Day where the bank’s traders and brokers donate their trading commissions and fees to support children’s charities.CIBC Miracle Day is held on the first Wednesday of December because it is one of the bank’s busiest trading days of the year. The event has raised $74 million in Canada and $223 million globally since its existence.

UCLA Honors Aikman
UCLA recently retired Gold Jacket Troy Aikman’s No. 8 jersey during halftime of the school’s game against rival Stanford.
Words can't express my gratitude to @UCLA for special day at the Rose Bowl. Thank u fans and thank u marching band!! pic.twitter.com/n30UiHZqit
— Troy Aikman (@TroyAikman) November 29, 2014
Watch how UCLA honored the Class of 2006 enshrinee:
Williams Helps Rebuild Community
Gold Jacket Aeneas Williams and some of his former teammates have been helping the Ferguson community recover and move forward after riots destroyed parts of the city.Check out the video below to see how Williams has been volunteering his time.
Maclin’s Mission
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin grew up without a permanent home as a child. For much of his childhood, he was raised by his football coach, Jeff Parres. Maclin is now in a position where he can give back. Although he was never officially adopted by Parres, Maclin feels a kinship to children who have been or are in the foster-care system.Maclin has initiated a program through the National Adoption Center, a Philadelphia-based organization founded in 1972 that has helped more than 23,000 kids in foster care find new homes, where he hosts adopted family at Eagles home games.
From tragedy to triumph... Inside @JMac_18's NFL journey: http://t.co/jTAN9AwBa8 pic.twitter.com/Pr8sQTTrw6
— NFL (@nfl) December 4, 2014
Holiday Tradition
The Holidays came early for children ages 8-16 from the Harris County Department of Family Protective Services in Houston, Texas. Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson continued his holiday tradition by purchasing toys for kids in need.
$16,266 spent on toys by #AndreClaus. Merry Christmas y'all. pic.twitter.com/cjB1jzxvMd
— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) December 2, 2014
The group of children had 80 seconds to race through Toys R Us and fill their shopping cart with as many items as they wanted.
#Texans' Andre Johnson sends kids on free Christmas shopping spree. #nfl https://t.co/VpJojwdYQg
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) December 2, 2014
Bud Grant Way
This past Monday, on Dec. 1, 2014, Gold Jacket coach Bud Grant was honored by the Minnesota Vikings and the City of Minneapolis. Flanked by his family, friends, former players and fans Grant expressed his gratitude as the stretch on 9th Avenue between 6th Street and 7th Street that was previously known as Carew Drive near the Vikings’ new under-construction stadium was dedicated and will now be called “Bud Grant Way.”
Bud Grant Way was unveiled yesterday. WATCH the ceremony: http://t.co/z9adte1fP0 pic.twitter.com/I5thO0MWD1
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 2, 2014
High School Students visit HOF from Australia
High school students from Sydney, Australia detoured to Canton as part of a 19 day trip to the United States to help them learn about football and American culture.
Sports defines friendship
A group of friends traveled the world for a dream sports trip that includes four NFL games in eight days and a visit to the Hall of Fame.