Punts for Purpose: Brock Huard, other NFL players fight to end global child poverty

SPONSORED – As we are in the middle of the National Football League season, professional athletes are teaming up with Compassion International to prevent infant mortality and empower women at risk.

Seattle Sports host and FOX Sports college football analyst Brock Huard joins Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion and other NFL punters in partnership with Compassion in a cause now known as “Punts For Purpose.” The charity program is part of “The Fight for First,” a global initiative to raise $7.5 million to fund 500 survival centers for mothers and babies in the developing world.

Many vulnerable children around the world don’t have a fighting chance to survive their first year of life. Every year, 2.6 million babies in poverty don’t survive their first 28 days, and most die in their first week of life due to pre-term birth or delivery complications. In many regions in the developing world, mothers also face severe and life-threatening conditions.

“The idea that we’re fighting for kids to get to their first birthday is inspiring and challenging all at the same time,” said Steve Stenstrom, President of Pro Athletes Outreach.

What you can do to help

For each punt downed inside the opposing 20-yard line during an NFL regular season or playoff game, you can join several punters, including Pinion, in pledging money to support 500 survival centers in the developing world, help save the lives of thousands of babies and their mothers and help babies born in poverty reach their first birthday.

Pinion, who recently traveled with his wife to the African nation of Tanzania to open survival centers, said on the Falcons In Focus podcast on atlantafalcons.com that three of his fellow punters are taking part in the project for the entire season with pledgers per downed punt. Also, there will be a game closer to the end of the year where 15 punters throughout the NFL will participate.

You can get involved in various ways. You can pledge to give money with every punt downed inside the 20-yard line, or visit compassion.com/puntsforpurpose to make a one-time donation or set up a monthly contribution.

You can also encourage others by recording and sharing a challenge video for players and other fans, rally teammates and other players to join the fight and engage fellow fans using your social media accounts.

Every Compassion Survival Center you help launch gives mothers and their babies a fighting chance. Compassion has the church partners in place to launch new Survival Centers. All they need is your partnership.

Compassion’s survival centers provide proper prenatal care, education, nutritious food, clean water, access to medical care, a birth assistant during childbirth, and a community of spiritual and emotional support to moms and babies in poverty. The results of these centers are undeniable. Centers in the African nations of Ethiopia and Togo have seen measurable improvements in key areas.

Ahead of Major League Baseball’s 2023 World Series, Chris Stratton, pitcher for the world champion Texas Rangers, and Pavin Smith, outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, competed against one another on the baseball diamond, but came together as teammates for The Fight for First initiative.

Previously, Compassion teamed up with professional athletes from numerous sports to complete “Fill the Stadium,” an effort in direct response to food shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign raised over $36 million and provided life-saving food and support to over 76,400 children around the world.

For more information on how you can join the fight for children in poverty to reach their first smile, their first steps, their first birthday and more, visit TheFightForFirst.com.

Their lives are on the line. Let’s just help them get the win.