IAM Assistant Director of Communications DeLane Adams participated as a judge in the selection process for the 2026 NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Alan Page Community Award. The judging panel also included former NFL player Anquan Boldin, national NFL writer Mike Jones, and Margaret Richardson, Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer at GoFundMe. More than 6,000 fans contributed to the process through digital voting.
The Alan Page Community Award is regarded as the highest honor given by the NFLPA to a player who demonstrates exceptional community service in their team’s city or hometown. The award recipient is chosen by fellow players through a league-wide digital vote.
This year’s five finalists were Garett Bolles (Denver Broncos), Dion Dawkins (Buffalo Bills), Nakobe Dean (Philadelphia Eagles), Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens), and Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears). Garett Bolles was selected as the winner following a vote by his peers.
Bolles received a $100,000 donation from the NFLPA for his GB3 Foundation. The announcement took place on February 3 during the NFLPA’s Super Bowl press conference in San Francisco. Earlier in the season, Bolles and his wife opened the Bjorem + Bolles Childhood Apraxia Training Center in Parker, Colorado. This facility aims to train speech-language pathologists to support children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and was established through personal contributions from the Bolles family.
“It was an honor to represent the IAM Union and the labor movement on this distinguished panel,” said Adams. “The commitment these NFL players demonstrate to their communities mirrors the same dedication other union members show every day in serving their neighbors and fellow workers. I want to thank Brandon Parker, NFLPA director of media and community relations, for inviting me to be part of this important process. Congratulations to Denver Broncos’ Garett Bolles on this well-deserved recognition, and to all 18 outstanding candidates who are making a real difference in people’s lives.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has maintained ties with the NFLPA over several decades, including providing office space during its early years at IAM Headquarters.
“The IAM Union is proud to have DeLane representing the IAM in the judging of these remarkable athletes who understand that real leadership means lifting up your community,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “The NFLPA’s Community MVP campaign is a tremendous program. I want to congratulate Denver Broncos’ Garett Bolles and all the other finalists. They represent the best of what it means to be a union member, standing up for those who need it most.”
Since 1967, the annual Alan Page Community Award has recognized players for their civic contributions; it was renamed in 2018 after Pro Football Hall of Famer Alan Page, who also served on Minnesota’s Supreme Court and played an active role within the players’ union.
Each week during football season, one player is named an NFLPA Community MVP based on nominations reviewed by a committee consisting of staff members from across teams and representatives such as agents or marketing professionals. Each weekly honoree receives a $10,000 donation from their union directed toward their nonprofit organization of choice.
