We Are PFUFA
www.pfufa.org ♦ A 501(c)(7) Organization
(PFUFA Mural with the J. Babe Stern Community Center, Canton, OH)
The Pro Football’s Ultimate Fan Association (PFUFA) is a very passionate group of football fans who have a love for football, others and community that goes well beyond fandom, and who choose to make a difference in the lives of others.
PFUFA Mission - To promote the fellowship of all fans, encourage sportsmanship and support charitable activities.
Lions, Packers, Bears & 29 others! The PFUFA consists of members representing all 32 NFL teams, who exemplify the PFUFA mission statement in their day-to-day lives, and come together in Canton during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement week for the Annual PFUFA Reunion.
There is no other place on earth quite like the tailgate party at the annual reunion, where Lions, Packers, Bears, and Vikings fans stand shoulder-to-shoulder grilling, laughing, and breaking bread; Browns and Bengals fans share in the camaraderie; Raiders, Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs fans travel across the country for each other at the drop of a hat; and Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Washington Football team fans literally give the shirt off their backs for each other. In short, PFUFA is a family, and the memories that are created in each reunion are carried throughout the season until the family comes together again the following year.
Charitable Activities - The PFUFA is made up of big fans that have bigger hearts. PFUFA members are leaders in their communities in support of charitable causes throughout the year, such as providing support for children, food drives, health research/cures, and veterans causes.
However, nothing compares to the spectacle at the annual reunion when the larger than life PFUFA personalities come together in full regalia for the benefit of the children in Canton, starting with activities for children through the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and highlighted by an afternoon spent with the children and their families at the J. Babe Stern Community Center. Beyond raising essential funds to support the Babe, we provide a meal, premium raffle prizes, backpacks with much needed school supplies, sign cards, hand out NFL team collectibles, share a few words and pose for photos. The kids’ faces light up, and they behave as though you just handed them the golden ticket. None of us know how we are going to impact lives/families for the better, but we have seen many examples over the years of the positive changes that have taken place through our partnership with the Babe.
Partnerships - Partnerships are essential for supporting the PFUFA mission, especially PFUFA charitable activities. Since its inception, the PFUFA has been privileged to establish and maintain key partnerships that have grown into friendships over the years that provide benefits beyond the annual reunion. New partnerships are always welcomed to provide greater opportunities and meaningful benefits to our communities. PFUFA partners include the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Canton Chamber of Commerce, the J. Babe Stern Community Center, Akron Auto Auction, Sugardale, US Army, Domino’s Pizza, Esber Beverage and Jostens.
Awards - Beyond the camaraderie and charitable activities, the annual reunion is highlighted by the presentation of awards to members for distinguished service related to friendship and hospitality, charity and courage, and for epitomizing the PFUFA mission statement. The award recipients represent the legacy of PFUFA, and it is a very emotional experience to receive these prestigious awards from extraordinary peers. The awardees inspire others to continue making a difference.
History & Membership - PFUFA was founded in 1999 by honorees of the Visa “Hall of Fans,” a promotion, in conjunction with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which began in 1999 with the goal of selecting one diehard fan from each NFL team. The Visa promotion lasted through 2004, with Visa honorees being celebrated at the Hall of Fame and by their respective teams, and they also became PFUFA members, which contributed to the growth of PFUFA. Beginning in 2007, with the first Class of 2008, an extensive annual Draft process was created through the PFUFA By‑Laws for selecting new members, with PFUFA members having responsibility for scouting and awarding a PFUFA Draft card to prospective members who exemplify the PFUFA mission. These prospects follow a multi-step process of application, rigorous screening by a Membership Committee, exclusive invitation to the PFUFA reunion, and possible induction into PFUFA, including emotional speeches, in a ceremony at the Hall of Fame.
Click here to see the 2019 Reunion picture video
#TOGETHERNESS
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