Oakland Raiders players, past and present, executives and fans attended an Awards Gala to honor the 2008 Ed Block Courage Award winner, RB Justin Fargas., this past Monday evening in Oakland.
"It's a great honor. It's great for me to be a part of [the Fred Finch Youth Center's efforts]," Fargas said. "It's an honor and a privilege to play this game and wear this uniform. That's why you play the game, that's why you work hard...to strive toward your goals. It's something I've dreamt about doing since I was a kid."
FB Justin Griffith., a former Courage Award winner with Atlanta, added, "[Fargas] fought injury and came back and that needs to be rewarded. You can battle through injuries and still have a great season. Just to see him go out there and do well makes me happy too."
The Ed Block Courage Award annually honors one player from every NFL team who exemplifies commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage. The award has become one of the most esteemed honors bestowed upon a player in the NFL, primarily because his selection is based upon a vote of his peers and recognizes a player’s efforts on and off the field, as well as their ability to overcome great adversity. Courage Award recipients embody everything that is positive about professional athletes as they serve as inspirations in their locker rooms and constructive role models in their communities.
Fargas excelled during the 2007 season despite missing the final two games due to a knee injury. The running back set a career high for rushing yards (1,009) and ran for four touchdowns. Due to Fargas’ persistence and hard work to overcome his injury, the Raiders players voted him as the 2007 Ed Block Courage Award winner.
The evening also featured award presentations to several of Fred Finch Youth Center’s bravest youth for demonstrating courage, perseverance, and resilience in overcoming personal challenges, trauma and abuse.
This Awards Gala benefits The Oakland Raiders Courage House: Fred Finch Youth Center, a national leader in providing innovative programs for emotionally challenged youth and their families. Fred Finch, one of the oldest and most respected Bay Area service providers for at-risk and developmentally delayed youth, provides hope and healing to youth who struggle with the challenges of chronic mental illness, substance abuse, chronic loss and trauma, histories of abuse and neglect and, often, the compounding realities of poverty and racial injustice. Support from the Oakland Raiders and the event’s attendees is critical in allowing Fred Finch Youth Center to continue serving the area with programs that each year offer education, therapy and a safe haven for over 1,200 children and teens in need.
The Awards Gala also included dinner and both live and silent auctions.
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