Miami Dolphins Feed More Than 8,500 Throughout South Florida With Thanksgiving Meals
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November 27, 2019
#DolphinsHuddlefor100 @NFL
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Miami Dolphins Feed More Than 8,500 Throughout South Florida With Thanksgiving Meals
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. – The Miami Dolphins continued their longstanding tradition of assisting the community and those in need during the 2019 season. Players, cheerleaders, alumni and staff collaborated to feed more than 8,500 members of the South Florida community throughout November.
“We look to impact and unite the South Florida community in ways that are meaningful and engaging throughout the year and always seek opportunities to give back during the holiday season,” Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins said. “We have committed leadership in Stephen Ross, Tom Garfinkel and Chris Grier who recognize our role as stewards in the community to make this Thanksgiving enjoyable for everyone.”
Miami Dolphins Thanksgiving distribution events included:
- As part of the Miami Dolphins FOOTBALL UNITES™ Bigs in Blue program, Dolphins rookies joined youth from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami and local law enforcement officers to participate in the Dolphins Kids Cook-off presented by Publix on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The group gathered for an evening of fellowship and bonding through an interactive cooking class and the students received $100 Publix gift card to help with groceries for the upcoming holiday season.
- In partnership with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Miami-Dade Commissioners, the Miami Dolphins distributed turkeys and gift cards to more than 600 families throughout Miami-Dade County. The distributions kicked off with Dolphins’ alumni, Youth and Community Programs Manager Troy Drayton along with Youth Programs Ambassador Twan Russell, cheerleaders and Dolphins staff distributing 50 turkeys to the students of Mater Elementary with Commissioner Jose Diaz on Monday, Nov. 18. Miami Dolphins alumni Troy Drayton, Senior Vice President of Special Projects and Alumni Relations Nat Moore and Twan Russell joined Miami-Dade County Mayor Gimenez later that afternoon to distribute 100 additional turkeys to Curly’s House of Style in Liberty City, Miami.
- Miami Dolphins alumni Elmer Bailey and Larry Ball, cheerleaders and the Dolphins met with students of the Leadership Learning Center at St. John Bosco and distributed 50 turkeys on Friday, Nov. 22.
- The Miami Dolphins and Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard provided Thanksgiving meals to 20 local youth and their families at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, Nov. 25. The Publix meal boxes included a turkey and sides and were distributed to pre-selected families from Generational Cure, a FOOTBALL UNITES™ community partner.
- Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and teammates hosted the first-ever Chauxdown for Thanksgiving dinner in collaboration with Publix for 70 youth from FOOTBALL UNITES™ partnering programs 5000 Role Models, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County, Boys & Girls Club Miami, the Palm Beach Sheriffs’ Office, Pridelines, North Miami Police Athletic League (PAL), North Miami Beach PAL, Trayvon Martin Foundation, The Mavuno Project, Urban League of Broward County and YWCA on Monday, Nov. 25. Additionally, each child went home with a Publix gift card to help with groceries for the upcoming holiday season.
- Miami Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores, players Matt Haack, Trent Harris, Jonathan Ledbetter, Raekwon McMillan, Nik Needham, T.J. Rahming, Eric Rowe, Jake Rudock, Jason Sanders, De’Lance Turner, Andrew Van Ginkel, J’Marcus Webb and Jomal Wiltz along with T.D., the Miami Dolphins Women’s Organization and staff in collaboration with Feeding South Florida lined up to distribute 500 Thanksgiving meals from Publix to local families in the South Florida area on Tuesday, Nov. 26. Purchased through player donations, the traditional meal kits were capable of feeding a household of 6-8 people and consisted of a turkey, fresh produce and sides.
- Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins teamed up with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department to surprise families throughout Fort Lauderdale and deliver Publix Thanksgiving meal boxes on Tuesday Nov. 26.
- Miami Dolphins alumnus Donald Brown, cheerleaders and staff followed up by picking up and delivering 50 turkeys to Commissioner Rebeca Sosa’s District Office in West Miami on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
- With the support of the Miami Dolphins, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, defensive tackle Kendrick Norton and wide receiver Albert Wilson hosted additional turkey distributions throughout the South Florida community with Godchaux‘s distribution providing 200 turkeys, Norton’s distribution with 100 turkeys and Wilson’s event distributing 50 turkeys.
These events are part of an ongoing series of the #DolphinsHuddlefor100 service projects as part of the NFL’s 100th celebration. The NFL has invited fans, players, clubs and employees to join Huddle for 100, an effort to inspire 1 million people to volunteer 100 minutes of their time to make meaningful contributions to their communities. These activities are in connection with the Miami Dolphins’ initiative to level the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community. For more information on the NFL Huddle and to see volunteer opportunities with the Dolphins, visit https://www.miamidolphins.com/community/specialteams.
Miami Dolphins promote Ford to active roster
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November 27, 2019
Miami Dolphins promote Ford to active roster
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have promoted wide receiver Isaiah Ford to the active roster and placed wide receiver Jakeem Grant on injured reserve.
Ford is in his second stint on the team’s active roster this season. He played in three games and caught two passes for nine yards (4.5 avg.), the first two receptions of his career. Ford made his NFL debut for the Dolphins in 2018 and originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (237th overall) by Miami in the 2017 NFL draft.
Grant finished the season with 10 games played and two starts, totaling 19 receptions for 164 yards (8.6 avg.) and four carries for five yards (1.2 avg.) and one touchdown. Grant also had 23 kickoff returns for 578 yards (25.1 avg.) and one touchdown and five punt returns for six yards (1.2 avg.). His 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Buffalo in Week 11 gave him a franchise-record four special teams return touchdowns in his career.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Isaiah Ford |
WR |
6-2 |
194 |
2/9/96 |
2 |
Virginia Tech ’17 |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
D7, ‘17 |
The Miami Dolphins and Dairy Council of Florida Celebrate Continued Commitment to Youth Health & Wellness
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November 26, 2019
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The Miami Dolphins and Dairy Council of Florida Celebrate Continued Commitment to Youth Health & Wellness
MIAMI GARDES, FLA. – Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker along with alumnus Twan Russell, cheerleaders and T.D. in partnership with the Dairy Council of Florida surprised the students of Gratigny Elementary School in Miami-Dade County with a $10,000 grant as part of the partnership’s renewed commitment to the Hometown Grant Program in an effort to improve youth health and wellness on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
“The Miami Dolphins are stewards of South Florida and we have a responsibility to give back to our youth by sharing our resources and expressing the importance of education, eating healthy, exercising and making great choices so that the future and the people that make up South Florida are great,” Miami Dolphins Youth Programs Ambassador Twan Russell said. “This marriage between the Miami Dolphins and the Dairy Council of Florida through Fuel Up to Play 60 is a big initiative for us to make sure these kids have the nutrition to keep up with playing outside and also understanding what they need for their bodies to perform at their best.”
Funding from the grant was used for the school to purchase milk coolers to provide students with easier access to the different milk options available to them during breakfast and lunch as well as Nike sneakers for 257 students in an effort to promote both nutrition and physical activity through the Fuel Up to Play 60 program.
“We feel very fortunate that the Miami Dolphins share our commitment to health and wellness, and we are grateful for the generous donation,” Gratigny Elementary School Principal Bisleixis Tejeiro said. “This contribution will help strengthen our athletic program through physical activities and promoting healthy lifestyles. Our school will utilize the milk cooler to promote nutrition while our students are extremely happy with their new sneakers to have fun with and be active.”
Developed by the NFL and Fuel Up to Play 60 in 2014, the Hometown Grant initiative provides grants to support physical activity and nutrition programs in school districts in all 32 NFL markets. This is the 6th year for the Dairy Council of Florida and Miami Dolphins coming together to provide this grant.
“We are so excited to partner with Gratigny Elementary School and the Miami Dolphins to teach children the importance of not only getting in 60 minutes of physical activity per day but also fueling their bodies the right way,” Dairy Council of Florida Director of Youth Wellness Teresa Moran-Wiebe said. “Implementing change now will make sure these students make healthier choices in the future.”
Through the Hometown Grant program, NFL teams and state/regional dairy organizations identify deserving schools in their communities to receive funding to help facilitate sustainable physical activity and healthy eating programs for students. Since 2014, the program has provided hundreds of schools nationwide with funds and resources, resulting in more than one million students staying physically active and making healthier food choices. This year, Gratigny Elementary School of Miami-Dade County was selected to receive the funding. The school also made the commitment to actively participate in Fuel Up to Play 60, which is a nutrition and physical activity program that empowers youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their school.
Miami Dolphins make roster moves
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November 20, 2019
Miami Dolphins make roster moves
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have signed safety Adrian Colbert off Seattle’s practice squad, activated linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel from injured reserve and promoted defensive tackle Gerald Willis from the practice squad. The team also placed wide receiver Gary Jennings, safety Reshad Jones and safety Bobby McCain on injured reserve.
Colbert played in 21 games with 12 starts for San Francisco over the past two seasons (2017-18). He totaled 52 tackles (44 solo), six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. In 2019, Colbert spent the offseason and training camp with San Francisco and some time on Seattle’s active roster and practice squad. He originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (229th overall) by San Francisco in the 2017 NFL draft and played collegiately at the University of Miami.
Van Ginkel was Miami’s fifth-round pick (151st overall) in the 2019 NFL draft but was placed on injured reserve prior to playing in a regular-season game. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior in 2018 at Wisconsin after totaling 60 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.
Willis has spent most of the season on Miami’s practice squad. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with Baltimore on May 3, 2019 and spent the offseason and training camp with the Ravens. Willis played collegiately at the University of Miami, where he was a second-team All-American as a senior in 2018. He started all 12 regular-season games that season and led the ACC with 18 tackles for loss.
Jennings made his NFL debut last week for Miami but did not record any stats. He was awarded to the Dolphins off waivers from Seattle on Nov. 6, 2019. Jennings was a fourth-round pick (120th overall) by Seattle in the 2019 NFL draft. He finished his career at West Virginia ranked sixth in school history with 2,294 receiving yards.
Jones started four games for the Dolphins this season, making 27 tackles (17 solo) and one pass defensed. In his career, Jones has played in 128 games with 113 starts for the Dolphins, totaling 763 tackles (588 solo), 10.5 sacks, 21 interceptions, 55 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (163rd overall) by Miami in the 2010 NFL draft.
McCain played in nine games with eight starts for the Dolphins this season, totaling 25 tackles (19 solo), two interceptions and three passes defensed. In his career, McCain has played in 71 games with 40 starts for the Dolphins, totaling 195 tackles (152 solo), four sacks, six interceptions, 25 passes defensed and one forced fumble. He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick (145th overall) by Miami in the 2015 NFL draft.
| Name |
Pos. |
Hgt. |
Wgt. |
Birthdate |
Exp. |
College |
Hometown |
Acq. |
| Adrian Colbert |
S |
6-2 |
205 |
10/6/93 |
3 |
Miami (FL) ’17 |
Mineral Wells, Texas |
FA, ‘19 |
| Andrew Van Ginkel |
LB |
6-4 |
242 |
7/1/95 |
R |
Wisconsin ’19 |
Rock Valley, Iowa |
D5, ‘19 |
| Gerald Willis |
DT |
6-2 |
300 |
8/23/95 |
R |
Miami (FL) ’19 |
New Orleans, La. |
FA, ‘19 |
Miami Dolphins Host FOOTBALL UNITES™ Palm Beach County Cultural Tour presented by Baptist Health
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November 19, 2019
#DolphinsHuddlefor100 @NFL #FootballUnites #InspireChange
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Miami Dolphins Host FOOTBALL UNITES™ Palm Beach County Cultural Tour presented by Baptist Health
DELRAY BEACH, FL – Miami Dolphins players Allen Hurns, Chris Myarick and Steven Parker, alumnus Lorenzo Hampton, cheerleaders and staff spent the day exploring Palm Beach County alongside local youth, community leaders and law enforcement at the Dolphins’ third FOOTBALL UNITES™ Cultural Tour presented by Baptist Health of the season to experience the richness and diversity of South Florida on Tuesday, November 19.
“It’s a good experience anytime you are able to get away from football. I love football, but at the end of the day sometimes you need some things to take your mind off it. Just being out here with the kids to experience different cultures — I feel like it’s really big for me,” Hurns said. “Seeing a different culture, how things were back in the day, I feel like it’s so great. Especially growing up in the neighborhood you were born in you are so secluded: you went to school and you played football. But didn’t get to see other communities, so coming out and seeing different heritages and different cultures I feel like that is a lot. These kids, they look up to a lot of us and seeing how they are able to come out on this tour, that’s great. That’s something we need to do more of because growing up in neighborhoods where there aren’t many resources, once you’re able to see more and be exposed to more, it’s a great feeling for kids.”
The tour, in partnership with Discover The Palm Beaches, Cultural Council of Palm Beach County as well as Greater Miami and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureaus, began with a visit to the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum and Cornell Museum with a guided exploration through the surrounding historic neighborhoods along the way. The team enjoyed light refreshments from Delray Beach’s historic Donnie’s Restaurant and concluded the day with a visit to The Wick Theater and Costume Museum to tour their exhibition, enjoy a musical performance from The Music Man and eat lunch.
“Introducing the arts to our youth is a vital part of our mission, so we were delighted to partner with the Dolphins for this educational tour,” The Wick Theater and Costume Museum Vice President & Museum Curator Kimberly Wick said. “Cultivating a love of culture and history is a mission we share with the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program, and it was thrilling to see the reactions of today’s guests as they explored our Roaring 20’s exhibition and experienced live performances. We hope today’s adventure will instill in our youth a desire to connect with the cultural arts throughout their lives.”
These initiatives align with the organization’s goal to level the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community. Dolphins Chairman of the Board & Managing General Partner Stephen Ross and Dolphins players created the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program as a way to bring positive social change. The Miami Dolphins organization believes it is important to be inclusive of the diversity and aware of the intersections that make up South Florida, uniting groups of different races, genders, sexual orientations, identities, abilities and faiths around the power of football.
These programs connect to the NFL’s Inspire Change platform, showcasing the collaborative efforts of players, owners and the league to create positive change in communities across the country and work with RISE – the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality – to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations. Information on the FOOTBALL UNITES™ program can be found here. To learn more about RISE, visit here. Fans can join the conversation with the NFL’S Inspire Change program by clicking here.
Miami Dolphins waive Walton
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November 19, 2019
Miami Dolphins waive Walton
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins today announced they have waived running back Mark Walton.
“We were made aware of a police matter earlier this morning regarding Mark Walton. We hold our players to a high standard and take these matters very seriously. We will have no further comment at this time,” said General Manager Chris Grier.
Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders and Junior Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Program Participate in #DolphinsHuddlefor100 Feeding South Florida Meal Pack presented by Just BARE Chicken
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November 18, 2019
#DolphinsHuddlefor100 @NFL
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Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders and Junior Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Program Participate in #DolphinsHuddlefor100 Feeding South Florida Meal Pack presented by Just BARE Chicken
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders along with the Junior Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Program in partnership with Just BARE Chicken participated in a #DolphinsHuddlefor100 service project with Feeding South Florida to pack meals for families in need throughout South Florida on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The Junior Miami Dolphins Cheerleader Program exists to inspire young women to be better performers who are confident in their dance and cheer skills, caring about their teammates, upstanding in the community and hard-working individuals. This program puts children in a positive position for growth, discovery and empowerment.
This event is part of an ongoing series of the #DolphinsHuddlefor100 service projects as part of the NFL’s 100th celebration. The NFL has invited fans, players, clubs and employees to join Huddle for 100, an effort to inspire 1 million people to volunteer 100 minutes of their time to make meaningful contributions to their communities. These activities are in connection with the Miami Dolphins’ initiative to level the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated and united South Florida community. For more information on the NFL Huddle and to see volunteer opportunities with the Dolphins, visit https://www.miamidolphins.com/community/specialteams
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Just BARE® Chicken is distributed nationally by Pilgrim’s. The brand lives its mission of good food for more people by providing Natural/No Antibiotics-Ever and Organic varieties of chicken with no antibiotics, no added hormones, no animal by-products (vegetable and grain fed), and no artificial additives. Organic Just BARE® is USDA-certified organic and verified by Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA). To find simply delicious recipes, nutrition information and general cooking and safe handling tips, visit www.JustBAREChicken.com. Find Just BARE® Chicken on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Miami Dolphins Announce Week 11 Play Football Award Winners
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November 18, 2019
#JuniorDolphins #PlayFootball
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Miami Dolphins Announce Week 11 Play Football Award Winners
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins announced their Play Football Week 11 award winners in a program designed to celebrate youth football in South Florida. For each home game, the Dolphins will identify a high school coach of the week, high school player of the week, youth player of the week and team mom of the week. The high school coach of the week selection will celebrate those with long-standing tenure in the coaching community, paying tribute to Don Shula’s 50th season with the Miami Dolphins organization.
Award recipients will receive tickets to a Dolphins home game, be presented with a plaque on the field at Hard Rock Stadium and receive acknowledgement of their accomplishment in the game program and through the Dolphins’ social media platforms. The Dolphins also will recognize a team of the week who will be on field during the national anthem.
The program concludes at the Dolphins-Eagles game where the Dolphins will honor yearly award winners in all categories with the exception of the team of the year.
Week 11 Winners:
- High School Coach of the Week: Brian Dodds from Park Vista Community High School. This is Dodd’s 32nd overall year coaching varsity football and 14th season as Park Vista’s head football coach. During his tenure, Dodd has led the Cobras to a 104-45 record, nine state playoff appearances, a regional final and four district championships. Dodds was previously the head football coach at Boca Raton High School for five seasons and served as an assistant coach for six seasons. During his tenure at Boca Raton High School, Dodds’ team won a district championship in 2001 and made three consecutive playoff appearances. At Princeton High School in Ohio, where he coached for three seasons, Dodds was named the 2003 GMC Coach of the Year and led the Vikings to its first conference championship in several years. Dodds also spent four years as an assistant coach at Miami Trace High School and East Clinton High School in Ohio. He has won the Sam Budnyk Coach of the Year Award given to the top prep football coach in Palm Beach County three times (2001, 2007 and 2013) and has been a finalist six times. Dodds has also served as the head varsity basketball coach at Boca High School and head varsity baseball coach at Boca High School and East Clinton High School.
- High School Player of the Week: Gabe Taylor from Gulliver Preparatory School. Taylor recorded three interceptions as the Raiders defeated American Heritage School (Delray) 34-13. The Raiders finished the regular season undefeated at 10-0 for the first time in school history. The younger brother of Sean Taylor, Gabe, totaled 10 interceptions on the season and returned five for touchdowns.
- Youth Player of the Week: Joe Dailey from the Jupiter Mustangs of Jupiter Mustangs Pop Warner. Dailey has played tackle football in the Jupiter Mustangs Pop Warner Association for eight seasons. He plays quarterback and safety and displays speed, toughness and an advanced football IQ. He has led his 12U team deep into the playoffs for three straight seasons and always displays good sportsmanship and is respectful of his teammates, coaches and opponents. Dailey is also a leader in the classroom and maintains a 4.0 GPA while enrolled in a challenging and competitive pre-law program, where he develops and applies his analytical and speech and debate skills.
- Team Mom of the Week: Lakeria Phillips from the Pahokee Panthers 6U of Treasure Coast Pop Warner. Phillips is a lifelong Pahokee resident, Palm Beach State College honors graduate and the proud team mom of the Pop Pahokee Panthers 6U football program. As team mom, she cherishes assisting a vibrant group of young men and athletes. Phillips’ job includes making sure the players are ready for practices and games, leading fundraisers and events and cheering the team on. She enjoys every moment of the job and is appreciative of the opportunity to be involved in Pahokee’s program and mentor some of the community’s future leaders.
- Team of the Week: Park Vista Community High School and Scheck Hillel Community School.
The Junior Dolphins program encourages youth players and coaches to teach, learn and play football in a fun and safe environment. The Junior Dolphins program is designed to give kids access to learn the fundamentals of football using the NFL’s top resources. To grow the game, the Junior Dolphins program will work to educate coaches, parents and youth on the health and safety of football with a strong emphasis on character development. Junior Dolphins is building the next generation of Dolphins Fans.
