Daniel Snyder: Understanding the Real Power of Football
On the field, football is known for its hard hits and strong plays. It is a game of aggression and power. No one knows that better than Daniel Snyder. However, for Dan Snyder, the goal is to take every yard on the field and give back all you can elsewhere. This is because Snyder has learned how to use his passion for football and direct it to the greater good.
Most people know Daniel Snyder as the owner of the Washington football franchise. Indeed, Snyder has owned the team since 1999, and he has had a key leadership role in growing the franchise. Yet success according to Snyder is not merely measured in wins and losses. Under Snyder’s leadership, success has also focused on charitable endeavors.
In many ways, football is the perfect conduit for such fundraising. With its widespread popularity, a franchise like Washington can make millions of dollars. With a charitable mindset, some of this lucrative nature can be redirected toward meaningful causes. This is why Dan Snyder is one of the most respected philanthropists in the Washington area.
In fact, this has always been one of Snyder’s primary goals. After purchasing the team, one of his first major moves was to create the Washington Charitable Foundation. The foundation got its start in 2000, and it helps unite local corporate and community partners. Most of the efforts from the foundation focus on issues important to youth such as education, community outreach and wellness. Since its inception, Snyder’s foundation has given more than $29 million to important community causes.
Just consider the impact the Charitable Foundation had during the 2019 season. Under Snyder’s direction, the foundation hosted more than 100 school workshops and other special events for children. This included a program focused on youth literacy. Nearly 40,000 fourth and fifth graders in the area were motivated to read through the innovative Read Program. More than 12,000 kids were inspired to stay healthy through a junior high wellness program.
The Charitable Foundation is also committed to families. In 2019, the foundation invested heavily in its work with Loads of Love. This program helps establish laundry facilities on school grounds. This provides palpable relief to children who are homeless or in unstable home environments.
While many of Dan Snyder’s efforts are focused on the local Washington community, he is aware that his position allows him a wider reach. Therefore, Snyder uses the Charitable Foundation to address salient issues on a national and worldwide scale. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew wreaked havoc in the Caribbean. Snyder used the foundation to provide emergency relief to the area. He performed similar contributions in 2004 after the tsunami and in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Snyder is also proud to support national causes for children in need. He actively supports Children’s National Hospital. He is a member of the board of directors, and he enabled the construction of the Snyder Family Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center. He has also partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Through his support here, the Daniel M. Snyder and Family Communication Center was built. This center serves as a hub to take in hundreds of calls regarding missing children across the nation.
Although 2020 has been a year of hardship for many, Snyder has spent his time doing what he can to give back. After George Floyd’s murder, Snyder personally made sure to support the Black community. He donated $250,000 to important causes related to social justice, and he took on a leadership role to promote racial equity in the Washington area and beyond.
Moreover, his work during the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially noteworthy. Snyder made sure that the Maryland National Guard had access to FedExField to operate a testing site for Prince George’s County. On top of that, he donated $100,000 to a local food bank to support families struggling to make ends meet during this difficult and unprecedented time.
These charitable endeavors are really just the start. Snyder has given back to historically Black schools, the military community and at-risk neighborhoods. Clearly, while charitable work is important to Snyder, he still knows he has a day job. Snyder is active in the world of the NFL. He serves on the Media Committee, the Business Ventures Committee, the Digital Media Committee, the International Committee and more. His input is thoroughly respected because his work in Washington speaks for itself. He has helped the team become successful and profitable. He has made sure that the field, training facilities and coaching staff are all top-notch.
Overall, Daniel Snyder has shown us all how powerful the game of football can be when done properly. His dedication to the Washington franchise is matched only by his unwavering commitment to the community and the world at large.
Learn more about Dan Snyder: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/daniel-snyder
