The company recently announced it has created a Community Award for exceptional volunteer and charity service and named it after UFC veteran Forrest Griffin.
Forrest Griffin is a retired MMA fighter, who is best known for winning the 1st season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF 1) and later becoming the UFC light-heavyweight champion.
Griffin is widely credited for “saving” the UFC after his now-legendary performance against Stephen Bonner in the final of TUF 1. He has since been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sport and now serves as the Vice President of Athlete Development for UFC.
UFC president Dana White explained why the company chose to name their newly created Community Award after the fighter:
“Forrest Griffin embodies what it means to truly give back and be a charitable person, so it’s perfect that this award is named in his honor. Forrest is someone that will give his time and volunteer with charities, then help fundraise by making a personal donation without any recognition. That’s what charitable giving is all about. He doesn’t do it because someone is watching him, he does it because he cares,” White said.
The 1st-recipient of the Forrest Griffin Community award will be revealed at International Fight Week in July in Las Vegas.
White revealed that he will personally select the winner of the award. The recipient will be awarded $25,000 (£21k) in the form of a donation for a charity of their choice. The UFC has partnered up with Toyo Tires and will make the donation together in Forrest Griffin’s honor.
Forrest Griffin was honoured to have the award named after him. This is what the former champion had to say:
“I’m extremely proud to have such a distinguished award named in my honor. At moments like this, all I can think is that I’m not worthy and I haven’t done enough. We always think we could have and should have done more, but that’s not what this is about. This is about celebrating the good things we have done in the community and how we have helped changed lives. Hopefully this award will encourage others to give more and get involved,” Griffin said.
According to the report, Griffin does charitable work with multiple organisations in the Las Vegas community, such as Boys Town Nevada, Boys & Girls Clubs, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, and Three Square Food Bank.
This article first appeared on CLOSEDGUARDMEDIA.com on 19th March, 2020.
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