Monday, June 4, 2012

May’s Dignity & Respect Champion: Charlie Batch


Congratulations to Pittsburgh Steeler Charlie Batch, May’s Dignity & Respect Champion! 

When he's not on the football field, Pittsburgh Steeler Charlie Batch can be found working with his non-profit, Best of the Batch Foundation, and attending and helping out with community events and activities.
The work Charlie does in the community is limitless. In November, Charlie joined Ryan and the Dignity & Respect Campaign at the Thanksgiving Turkey Fixings Giveaway, where they donated dinner fixings to 100 families in Rankin, Pennsylvania. Also, Charlie was a secret Santa and delivered toys and household items to 30 families this past Christmas Eve.

Along with two Superbowl Championships, Charlie has received numerous awards including the first Jerome Bettis Award for Humanity and Community Service in 2006, the Schramm-McCracken Prize in 2002, and the Walter Payton Man of The Year Award, also in 2006. Among those great achievements, he feels that the Champion award is unique.

Charlie's life motto is "Proper preparation prevents poor performance," which is reflected in the work of the Best of the Batch Foundation. The Foundation is committed to providing underprivileged youth and their families resources to help them succeed in their lives, and serves the Homestead neighborhood.

Some of the educational programs the Foundation provides include the Reading and Computer Literacy Program, where kids work in the Foundation's computer lab to improve their math and science skills, and more. There is also Project C.H.U.C.K. (Continuously Helping Uplift Community Kids), where girls and boys 7-18 years old play 20 basketball games in attempt to make it to the Championship game, as long as they read and attend study halls.

Charlie is a significant supporter of the Campaign and serves as the spokesman for Dignity & Respect for Youth. Last October, he hosted the Dignity & Respect Youth Day with Ryan Mundy, where they talked with more than 2,000 kids about bullying, teamwork, and the value of treating everyone with dignity and respect. The event was so successful that he is already on board to host the 2012 teleconference this year, again in October, which is Dignity & Respect Month.

"My family and friends are big believers in the Campaign, and we continue to apply the structure of dignity and respect in our daily lives and spread it throughout the city of Pittsburgh," Charlie said.

Do you know an individual who makes a positive impact and promotes an environment of inclusion? If so, nominate the person in your life you feel has made a difference for the Dignity & Respect Champion Award!

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