More than a decade after he left for the NFL, former University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is still giving back to Knoxville - this time by putting food on the tables of needy families.
The PeyBack Foundation, formed by Manning in 1999, is donating 750 vouchers for hams and gift certificates for $20 at Food City to children in Knox County schools just in time for the holiday break.
Food City provided an equal number of vouchers and gift certificates to the school system. The vouchers will be sent home Friday with children from 12 schools with the highest percentage of students on a free and reduced lunch program.
The donation comes at a perfect time, according to South Knox Elementary School principal Muncie Harbin.
"This is incredible news. Now we don't have to pick and choose which children we can help," Harbin said.
South Knox is receiving 175 vouchers, enough for every child at the school. Ninety-seven percent of the students at the school qualify for free and reduced lunches.
"A lot of our parents have been laid off or had their hours reduced this year. We've been trying hard to provide something for these families," Harbin said.
Harbin joined other administrators from across the county Wednesday for a formal presentation from the PeyBack Foundation at Food City on Western Avenue. Each principal had similar concerns for this year.
"We have children who are going hungry, but their parents aren't on any type of program yet," said Janie Knight, principal at Norwood Elementary School. "This donation was a wonderful surprise."
While the Indianapolis Colts quarterback himself couldn't attend the presentation, he is very aware of the donation, according to the foundation's executive director, Elizabeth Ellis.
"Peyton wants to be as involved as possible," she said.
This is the first year for the giveaway. But the nonprofit is active in Knoxville in other ways. Each year the organization provides gifts and books to children at Beaumont Elementary School. Manning used to read to children there when he was a student at UT.
The charity also hosts a pizza party for teenagers at the Boys and Girls Club.
"Knoxville is very special to Peyton. We hope we can do more in the future," said Ellis.
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Comments » 44
lewhs93#205993 writes:
Wish we had more Manning's in this country.A great Vol.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
You see if we all could be like Peyton, we wouldn't need bigger government giving to all of the poor. Thank God for inspirational stories and good people.
ncvol writes:
Peyton is always doing something to help out somewhere it is needed. He has a heart of gold. Go Vols!
gnm53108 writes:
Agree!
He is a winner in every aspect.Brings alot of pride to the whole Volunteer Nation.
Vawlfanpreandpost writes:
It is stories like this that make me root hard for the Colts and Peyton on Sundays. The guy is a class act. His parents raised their kids right. I'm glad Peyton is a Vol. The University of Tennessee couldn't ask for a better ambassador.
gnm53108 writes:
Me too...Well as long as they aren't playing my Titans.They have to come after the Titans,season ticket holder since we bought em from houston.
Of course the Vols will allways be first.
blitzshoot writes:
Can imagine how proud Olivia and Archie are. Talking about doing an awesome job as parents. Congrats! and thanks Peyton!
rabidvol1998 writes:
My favorite Peyton quote. Mr. Manning, having just signed a very large contract, what are you going to do with all that money? Peyton, "earn it".
I guess give some away also.
Great man, great VOL, great Knoxvillian.
bloodrunsorange writes:
Woodson who? Peyton is truly a true class act! I know a lot of you won’t like this commit but Tebow is too. We wanted and tried hard to get him. He is doing everything we thought he could. Someday Florida might be as fortunate as are we are today with Manning. I’ll be glad when we don’t have to confront him any more on the field. He’ll probably show Florida the same respect Manning showed us and stay until his eligibility runs out. He could say forget you and take the money and run like some of our so called greats do. Again, Woodson who?
GoonSquad writes:
Maybe you would be happier if he donated some money to William Ayers, or how about helping out with selling that Senate seat the Obama "knows nothing about."
Give me a break.
madisonvillevol writes:
to whom much is given...much is required. " train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."(proverbs 22:6). what a fine example of these truths.
richvol writes:
Amen...GOD has blessed Peyton in many ways. His charitable heart being one of them.
I recall when the US Government could not find a way to help the flood victims in New Orleans. Peyton and Eli filled a chartered plane with food and water and personally helped unload the contents to desperate people.
Nothing he ever does on a field will impact me more than the image of him and his brother unloading that plane.
Colliervol writes:
Trying to organize a "Free Michael Vick Rally".
ORANGEASIAN writes:
The sad thing about this article is people want to slime in a stinky pile of negativity, when this is all about helping people in need. Who cares about all that other phooey when it is about the good of someone's heart to continue to give in the community.
GR82BAVOL writes:
Right on Orange, right on.
I won't disgrace this thread with additional negative puke since Orange got the point across...
...what a super man Peyton Manning is. God bless Peyton and the Manning family and God bless Knoxville, Tennessee and the rest of the free world.
TommyJack writes:
I'm pretty sure FL sold its right to Gatorade many years ago. Silly argument, IMO.
TommyJack writes:
You're right, Naffy. Pacman, Artest, et al send positive messages to the youth of American. Plaxico too. Nice. And how about that Michael Vick. Dads all over American want their kids to aspire to these heights.
MOOREVOLS writes:
I don't recall Manning ever bragging about anything and I enjoy reading articles like this.
You're obviously a Bama fan in reality.
Colliervol writes:
Well naffy, you opened yourself up for this one as usual. Except for your grandfather, every case you mentioned has issues in other areas. An attempt to buy favor with a donation does not erase the escapades of Pacman (too numerous to mention), T.O. (blatant self-promoter and noted team cancer), Ron Artest (assault and battery in the stands and noted team cancer), and Michael Vick (Don't get me started.)
Translation: You can't act like a dimwit six days a week and hope that going to church on Sunday cures what ails you. Same thing with a donation. It's nice but it doesn't make up for the trouble you cause.
Those are the "facts". Something you never bother with when discussing Manning. It's no longer worth discussing. You have gotten really boring and pathetic in your arguments.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I give at church when my cans sell.
Colliervol writes:
He's not a Bama fan. In reality, he's either Al Sharpton or the girl that Peyton mooned. One or the other.
jimr07 writes:
and your point is lost on most of us.
jimr07 writes:
great post and i am afraid that naffy will never learn.
Bristol writes:
Thank you Peyton, you know what Christmas is all about.
SemperVol writes:
Not a big follower either but Ayers is a extreme-left, commy, terrorist ba$tard...
And for you, RobVol...
Since 1999 he has served on the board of directors of the Woods Fund of Chicago, an anti-poverty, philanthropic foundation established as the Woods Charitable Fund in 1941.
I'm sure Hitler gave money to good cause as well... so you're point is completely erroneous.
Peyton is a great ambassador, role model, and one he11 of a model american.
ssmith82#219353 writes:
You are correct he is a winner in the game of life. One little point, I believe he WON the super bowl.
TommyJack writes:
No worship, just admiration. Weigh it out...Manning, T.O.? Manning, T.O.? Er, uh, duh.
rockytoplady writes:
If mooning a female trainer is the worst prank he pulled in college, we should all certainly be able to live with that. It apparently got blown grossly out of proportion because of who he was and the trainer was looking for $. The whole thing was ridiculous. No, he is not God to me, however he is a role model, despite a nasty divorce or not. I am thankful for his charitable nature and desire to help others. That is what we should be thinking about. Since he is a UT grad, this publicity does help our university. Give the Peyton bashing a rest.
Colliervol writes:
I'm pretty sure naffy (Robthe vol, dvolfan, or whoever he/she is this week) is the one that got mooned.
jimr07 writes:
Or, in you case T. martin.
Colliervol writes:
I don't need to read squat when I see you've posted something. As noted before, your schtick is old and tired and not worth a comment any longer. Go away. Nobody cares.
When 99.9% of the populace disagrees with you, chances are you are wrong. What part of that don't you understand?
ctownvol writes:
I think they're gonna be working as taste-testers at the Chattanooga bakery. Love those moon pies! Or maybe working for Dupree retreiving carts down at the K-Mart.
rabidvol1998 writes:
Most likely they will continue coaching and continue making more money than ClownVol
Colliervol writes:
Same page? Still don't have a clue do you? When you get pinned to the wall, change the subject. Good try.
You're opinion is still as worthless as it was an hour ago.
ctownvol writes:
Excuse me nice lady. You talking to me?
allvol9 writes:
Peyton is a Vol through and through! Way to step up and help the needy.
ctownvol writes:
Trust me. There are a lot of folks making more money than me. Yourself being probably one of them. Since you are pulling in such a bankroll maybe you can go by yourself a sense of humor. pierce.
ctownvol writes:
And no I didn't call you pierce. It did start with a p and end with a rick.
ctownvol writes:
Sure thing naf. You know where I can buy some manners? Hopefully not where you bought your brains or your class. Because you sir got ripped off.
ctownvol writes:
I know rob. You should know by now I see it as all in fun too.
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
A true Vol!
rabidvol1998 writes:
you called me Patrick?
You desparage ut coaches and can't handle a little gig on salary? Have you heard about;
goose and gander?
heat and kitchen?
Going to sense of humor class, later.
BigOrangeVol writes:
"Well naffy, you opened yourself up for this one as usual. Except for your grandfather..."
Not so fast Colliervol! That man is directly responsible for our resident Special Ed poster with a sub-75 I.Q. I bet that $50K went to fund education for the severely and profoundly retarded. So in a way it was both self-motivated and self-serving.
BTW, I haven't added it up but over the years all I would have had to donate to the United Way to get to $50K was $1,500 a year. Pretty sure I passed that a while back so color me unimpressed with Granddads donation or anything else Nafsharpton has to say.
Let's see... Peyton GIVES money and Tee TOOK money (and a car). Peyton is involved with charities while Tee is involved with a gambling and money laundering operation that attracted the attention of the Feds as well as being buddies with Wayne Rowe and Dianne Sanford.
BigOrangeVol writes:
This Gatorade debate is simply beyond stupid. James and John Stokley bought-out Gatorade in ’67. Quaker Oats bought-out Stokley-Van Camp in ‘83. ConAgra bought-out Quaker Oats in ‘98. Gatorade is now a division of PepsiCo.
If anything, Gator fans should be upset that the Stokley family donated a lot of that Gatorade money to the UT Athletic Department! The funny thing is that Robert Cade, the inventor of Gatorade who died a year ago, initially offered the rights to U of F but they turned him down. So they didn’t get a penny from it until 8 years later.
So what if those 20% royalties to U of F are in the 6 million dollar per year range!!! That money is invested back into a myriad of the universities research projects and NOT into the Athletic Department.
We should all hate the Brits because of the Revolutionary War. We should hate on anyone buying any German, Italian, French or Japanese products because of WWI & WWII. What a moron!
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