Huddle Up: NFL seeks 100 minutes of community volunteering

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL wants America to huddle up as part of the league’s celebration of its upcoming 100th season, and the first event in that initiative will focus on the fight against hunger.

Overall, the NFL is encouraging fans, players, teams and league employees to volunteer 100 minutes in their communities in 2019.

“We hope to rally generations of fans, players, coaches, and the 32 clubs to serve the communities that have supported and sustained us over our first 100 years,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday.

The league is proposing four such huddles:

—National. These will be hosted by the league around such major events as the draft and Super Bowl. The first is next week in Nashville, Tennessee, site of the draft.

—Team. A season-long competition among the 32 teams awarding monthly community-focused prizes to clubs based on volunteer minutes.

—DoSomething Huddles: DoSomething.org, the largest not-for-profit organization exclusively for young people and social change in the U.S., will provide volunteer opportunities for all fans.

—Personal Huddles: Fans can volunteer for a cause of their choice and share efforts on social media using #NFLHuddleFor100.

“Galvanize the country and make meaningful change,” said Anna Isaacson, the league’s senior vice president of social responsibility. “That is the overarching goal.”