The Glenn S. "Pop" Warner Inspiration to Youth Award"
Priest Holmes #31 Kansas City Chiefs
Priest Holmes was the winner of this year's Glenn S. "Pop" Warner Inspiration to Youth Award, which is presented to an individual who has inspired the youth of today to become great achievers of tomorrow.
Priest Holmes is a sensational sixth-year running back attempting to follow up his incredible debut campaign with the Red and Gold last season. He enters his second campaign in Kansas City after signing with the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore on April 21st of 2001.
The talented Texan simply enjoyed a monster 2001 season, finishing the year with the NFL's rushing crown firmly in his grasp. Priest joined fellow Chiefs Hall of Fame inductee Christian Okoye as the only other Kansas City player to lead the NFL in rushing and also joined the company of Chiefs Hall of Fame enshrinee and fellow Texas native Abner Haynes who paced the AFL with 875 ground yards in '60 as the only other player in team history to lead the league in rushing
And while Priest has achieved remarkable goals on the field, he has managed to do the same in the community as well.
Holmes received the Special Achievement Award for Professional Athletics from the Kansas City Sports Commission in June of 2002. He also presented 12 Baltimore-area high school seniors with scholarships during the 2000 spring on behalf of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc. He was also one of the featured guests at the '99 Sports Ball, hosted by The Family Tree, an organization dedicated to developing more capable and nurturing families.
Holmes is a proud spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Education's GEAR UP program, a program that prepares students from low-income neighborhoods for college and is an acronym for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program. He is also a sponsor and contributor to the Dr. Ben Carson Scholarship Fund for which he gave motivational talks and makes appearances. Also, Holmes appeared as a Keynote Speaker for the Ray Kroc Youth Achievement Awards, which are given out by the McDonald's Corporation to Baltimore area high schoolers towards furthering their education.
Some of Priest's other various community service related activities include being a celebrity spokesperson for '99 "McHappy" Day, which is a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House Charities; recieving one of three "Father of the Year" awards by the Afro-American Newspapers; being an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and being a featured motivational speaker at Youth Explosion 2000, sponsored by The New Psalmist Baptist Church of Baltimore. Finally, Holmes is a proud supporter and benefactor to the Children's Miracle Network and its battle against Muscular Dystrophy.
Holmes currently resides in San Antonio, Texas with his two sons, De'Andre (9) and Jekovan (5).
Priest Holmes is a sensational sixth-year running back attempting to follow up his incredible debut campaign with the Red and Gold last season. He enters his second campaign in Kansas City after signing with the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent from Baltimore on April 21st of 2001.