CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals fans helped earn $35,000 for an Indianapolis charity.
Bengals' center Ted Karras won the fan vote for Nationwide's Charity Challenge, as part of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The prize money will be donated to Village of Merici, a community for adults living with disabilities in Indianapolis.
Karras, an Indianapolis native who graduated from Cathedral High School, has long supported the Village of Merici, donating proceeds from his popular "Cincy Hat," along with an Indy 500-themed "Indy Hat" to the nonprofit.
"It's hard to think of a cause that would be doing more good for their neighbors and their community," Karras told 13News last May. "It was an easy decision. Whenever you're doing something for the Village, it's easy to know you're doing the right thing."
At the time of that interview, Karras' hats had raised more than $200,000 for Village of Merici.
Colleen Renie, the mother of Karras' best friend, Matt Renie, who has helped develop the hats, along with T-shirts and polos, is the executive director of the Village of Merici.
"It's an honor to see him grow and become such a champion for those with disabilities," Renie told 13News last May. "I think he has truly appreciated the gifts he has and wanting to share those. It's so exciting."
The money raised from the sale of the gear was slated to go toward expanding the facilities at the Village and to help provide more services. Residents of Village of Merici help Karras and Renie pack and ship the Indy and Cincy gear.
Each team in the NFL nominates a player to be the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. Those nominees each receive up to $55,000, and the winner receives a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin is the Indianapolis Colts' nominee this year.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced during the NFL Honors broadcast on Thursday, Feb. 8.