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Greg Olsen wins Walter Payton Man Of The Year Charity Challenge, $25K towards his foundation

From becoming the first player at his position to ever post three-consecutive 1,000 receiving-yard seasons to being named an All-Pro for the second-straight time, Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has made quite an impact in 2016. His most important achievement, however, didn’t come until after the final snap of the campaign. At midnight on Monday, Olsen is the winner of Nationwide’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity Challenge. Thanks to fans, the 10-year veteran has earned $25,000 for his foundation, Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation.

Olsen’s organization strives to help support hospitals, doctors and families better treat children and loved ones with congenital heart disease and cancer. As one of the charity’s two initiatives, “Receiving Hope” was created in 2009 following his mother’s battle against breast cancer. “The HEARTest Yard” fund would then be established in 2013 soon after his unborn son T.J. was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Olsen, as one of the league’s nominees for the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, topped 31 other NFL players by receiving the most votes on social media with the hashtag #OlsenWMPOYChallenge from Dec. 12 to Jan. 8. Despite trailing San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith heading into the contest’s final weekend, he would receive a heap of support from a few friends in clinching him the comeback victory.