Vance McDonald
TIGHT END
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Demonstrates Excellence on The Field
Vance McDonald was acquired by the Steelers via a trade with the 49ers on August 29, 2017. During his six-year NFL career, Vance has played in 93 games with 69 starts and has caught 174 passes for 1,996 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
When COVID-19 struck in 2020, many families through Western PA were struggling to put food on the table as well as find the necessary PPE equipment to keep themselves safe. Naturally, Vance again stepped up to support those in the community who needed it most. In collaboration with his teammate, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his favorite non-profit, Convoy of Hope, Vance started the Trucks of Hope campaign. The mission of the campaign is to bring five individual trucks full of nonperishable food, PPE equipment and cleaning supplies to 1,000 families. The campaign has raised over $100,000 and three trucks have visited the area to support over 3,000 families due to Vance's leadership.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Vance's giving continued with his hometown of Winnie, Texas when it was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey in 2018. He immediately sprang into action by starting a fundraising campaign to assist his community with disaster relief efforts. Last year, Vance rekindled his relationship with Convoy of Hope, this time bringing its efforts to Pittsburgh, where they collaborated to create "Huddle for the Holidays" at Heinz Field. This event gave over 500 families and communities in-need the opportunity to receive free healthcare services, haircuts, shoes, winter gear, job services, groceries and gifts just in time for the holiday season. This event was the second most attended event by our players and personnel staff. Team President and owner Art Rooney II praised the event saying "It's exciting to see everybody come out to help out the community. I want to take my hat off to Vance McDonald who was the impetus to get this started and partnering with Convoy of Hope. It's a great night." The Huddle for the Holidays event is one that the Steelers hope to continue annually alongside their new community partner, Convoy of Hope.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Vance's leadership, selflessness and team-first attitude on the field can be seen each week, but what he does behind the scenes, what he does for those who need it the most, is where Vance truly shines. Even before his time in Pittsburgh, Vance's dedication to his community through philanthropy has been a priority in his life. In 2014, while playing with the San Francisco 49ers, Vance teamed up with Convoy of Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides food, supplies, and humanitarian services to impoverished or otherwise needy populations throughout the world, to take part in a mission trip to Haiti where he and his wife Kendi assisted in providing food to the community and teaching sustainable agriculture techniques to local families. The Pittsburgh Steelers nominate Vance McDonald as their Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.
