The Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League are a fan favorite franchise. They have been a success on the field, playing at a consistently high level, since joining the league as an expansion team in 1960. In addition to their great success on the field, "America's Team" has been just as successful off the field and is considered to be one of the most valuable sports teams in North America. The great success of the Cowboys organization hasn't just been limited to the football field, it has spilled over into the community that it serves, represents, and calls home.
At the heart of any organizations success are the people. Jerry Jones has been owner of the NFL Dallas Cowboys for the past 18 years. Together, he, his wife Gene and their family manage and operate the franchise. All three of his children are part of the Cowboys organization and are actively involved with the day-to-day operation of the franchise. Thankfully for the people of Dallas and area, Jerry Jones and his family put equal emphasis on The Cowboys giving back to the community.
The Dallas Cowboys and their Logo are one of the most recognizable sports franchises in the world and are more than happy to use their celebrity status and visibility to help others. The idea behind giving to the community is to help those who don't have the means to help themselves. In the words of Jerry Jones, "As a sports entity that has enjoyed unprecedented success and recognition for four decades, we feel a very strong obligation to transfer that championship tradition and the magic that it creates toward the bigger purpose of making a difference." To that end the resources, talents, and skills of his family, the Cowboy players and all members of the organization are utilized for community outreach.
The presence of the Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys in their community is unmistakable. Their giving way has been recognized by countless charities and organizations. The Lone Star Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Family Gateway, a Dallas outreach organization, the Boys and Girls Club of America, and the United Way, to name just a few, have all recognized the support and generosity they have received by Gene and Jerry Jones and family.
Every year the Dallas Cowboys players along with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders make a holiday visit to local children's hospitals. For the past 18 years, with the guidance of Gene Jones, the Dallas Cowboys have visited local children's hospitals. Along with their visits each child receives Dallas Cowboys gift items and autographs from both the players and cheerleaders.
Dallas Cowboys wives are also very involved in giving to the community. One such example is the food drives they hold at a Dallas Cowboys home game for the North Texas Food Bank. At a designated game, Cowboys wives are on hand to collect non-perishable food items at all Texas Stadium gates. This is a much-appreciated gesture by the Food bank as the state of Texas leads the country with the highest number of "food insecure" families.
As with all of the 32 NFL teams, the Dallas Cowboys take part in the NFL Community Quarterback Awards program. The program identifies and acknowledges outstanding volunteers in the community who demonstrate dedication, commitment and leadership to make the Dallas and area community a better place. The non-profit organizations that are served by the award-winning volunteers receive grant donations. The NFL Community Quarterback program awards nearly $1 million annually to the charitable organizations served by the 32 NFL teams.
At the core of the Dallas Cowboys organization is the importance and need for giving back to the community and making a difference. Dallas and area charities have all benefited from the time, effort and generosity of the Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys franchise. In the words of Jerry Jones, "the star on the helmet can move mountains" - something he, his family and the Dallas Cowboys are happy to see happen time and time again.
