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This Week in NFL Do-Goodery: Brandon Marshall, Kevin Beachum, the Atlanta Falcons

Because the NFL is often silly, some of the storylines we cover are, of course, also silly. How’s Isaiah Crowell’s toilet paper doing? This weekly feature is designed to be an antidote to all of the ridiculousness, to honor the players who are taking their time in the spotlight seriously with an eye toward affecting change and bettering lives. Given the political climate of the week, collecting the examples of do-goodery was especially therapeutic and hopefully reading it will provide the sam effect. Kudos to all the players listed and please shoot me a note  @thefootballgirl if there is anyone I missed or if you’d like to nominate a do-gooder in future weeks.

– On Wednesday Broncos LB Brandon Marshall announced the creation of his FEEL Movement (Feed & Educate to Empower Leaders). Both Marshal and the Broncos kicked in $50,000 for the launch. FEEL is an action arm of Marshall’s foundation in conjunction with Shop Now to Fund, a conscience-based e-marketplace. For every $250 dollars spent on Marshall’s fundraiser, a FEEL box containing basic food and hygiene item, as well as empowerment material, will be delivered to families in need in Denver and Marshall’s hometown of Las Vegas.

– Ravens kicker and noted opera singer Justin Tucker donated $50,000 to the Baltimore School for the Arts.

– Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, along with his wife Julie, announced the creation of the Julie and Kirk Cousins Foundation this week.  The organization is rooted in biblical philosophy and will focus on Disaster/Famine Relief, Justice, Promotion of Human Rights, Community Development, Good News of Salvation in Jesus and Bible Translation.

– Rams DE John Franklin-Myers surprised students at the Kayne Eras School for special education with new cleats. Teammate Aaron Neary joined him as the two shared experiences and  offered life lessons to the students.

“I enjoyed this so much,” Franklin-Myers told TheRams.com. “You look at these kids’ faces when they get cleats or a hat, and you can see what it means to them.

– Giants DT Damon Harrison donated $20,000 in relief efforts to North Carolina following Hurricane Florence.

– Jets OT Kevin Beachum has been involved in trying to eradicate world hunger since joining the NFL in 2012 in large part because he was on free and reduced school lunches as a kid. This week Beachum announced that he is partnering with five food banks in cities where he has ties and donating 5,000 in hopes that people will match. Once they match he’ll donate another $5,000.

Here he discusses on NFL Network.

– The Atlanta Falcons went full stop on Tuesday as EVERY player on the roster, along with Arthur Blank and CEO Rick McKay participated in the organization’s Hometown Huddle. The annual event, the only one in the NFL incorporating the entire 53-man roster, saw Falcons at 11 locations in the Atlanta area including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Crossroads Community Ministries and many more.

– Perennial do-gooder Chris Long is at it again, this time donating 25% of his salary to aid literacy. Long and his wife Megan are donating more than 25,000 book and setting up neighborhood-based reading areas for families