THE HISTORY OF OTFPWA AWARDS AN INTERVIEW WITH VALARIE EVERETT For OTF Board member Valarie Everett, the height of fashion is lifting up other women, supporting other women, empowering them and celebrating their efforts. “Look, we all know the testosterone world that Off The Field and football brings – the life we live in,” said Everett wife of former NFL Pro, Major Everett. “I believe that the success of our guys is on the backs of the strength in their partners and more often than not, the accolades are given to the player. This is true for women outside of the game, too. I feel that women should be celebrated for what they have done to contribute. Women are out there making things happen and spearheading movements. For some reason, it is innate with most women to deflect accolades and compliments and praise with overt modesty. ‘Oh, No – it was nothing! My pleasure! Anyone could do it.’ NO! It was IMPACTFUL. It was MEANINGFUL. It was GAME-CHANGING. And no one else did it – YOU DID IT!” When Everett became a member of the Off The Field Board of Directors in 2016, she was immediately drawn to the Annual Super Bowl Fashion Show Awards Committee and has since become an integral part of the award election process and presentation. Each year, Off The Field honors a woman of impact with the OTF Woman of Impact Award, and a woman of courage with the Danielle Beverly Courage Award. The definition of the Woman of Impact Award
dedication to causes that are committed to community service and philanthropy. Off The Field looks to individuals who are leaders in service and philanthropy. This may be women who are difference-makers in private industry, philanthropy or civil service. The candidate must not be a member of Off The Field and must live in or near the host Super Bowl city area. Previous Woman of Impact Award recipients include: Roberta Adams, Kiersten Allen, Rosa M. Gatti, Cindy Gruden, Robin Roberts, Marlo Thomas, Patricia Smith, Holly Robinson Peete, Dionne Boldin, Tina Simmons DeFoor, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Congresswoman Fredericka S. Wilson, and Traci Otey Blunt. The Danielle Beverly Courage Award pays homage to Danielle Beverly, a courageous member of Off The Field who has battled and beat breast cancer three times. Previous Danielle Beverly Courage Award recipients include: Kimberly Alexander, Dr. Keisha Kirkland, Teri Upshaw, Niya Brown Matthews, Kristin Young, and Ericka Lassiter. This nominee must be a member of Off The Field. The selection process has become streamlined with the search beginning each year in the Super Bowl host city. “We begin reaching out to our Off The Field members that live in the host city, said Everett. “We rely heavily on our OTF members who are familiar with the area,
"WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS ."
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