With NFL training camps now in full swing, retooled rosters are hitting the field together for the first time as they prepare for another grueling season. But the players aren’t the only ones excited for the NFL regular season to start in September.
The women of the Professional Football Players Mothers Association (PFPMA), are ready to kick off their 26th year of support, success and service.
The PFPMA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997, by the mothers of NFL players who noticed the lack of a proper support system and information network in professional football. They felt that no other organization had addressed the off-the-field challenges of raising an NFL player or provided resources to help navigate the journey.
According to their website, their mission of strengthening the NFL-mother community began in the Baltimore area with the mothers of Baltimore Ravens, but after 26 years of charitable initiatives, they have expanded to all 50 states.
Photo Credit: PFPMA
As much as the women of the PFPMA understand the importance of supporting their sons’ success on the field, they also strive to illuminate the other aspects of pursuing a route to the NFL. One of the quintessential values of the organization is education, which it upholds through various seminars and an annual scholarship opportunity for high school seniors. The PFPMA also boasts a long list of beneficiaries including the American Cancer Society, Salvation Army and Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide.
“Listen In With KNN,” had a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the organization. For its annual Pre-Season Conference, the PFPMA returned to its Baltimore roots with a sentimental “Where It All Started” theme. On July 21 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, the organization held a luncheon benefiting the American Cancer Society’s childhood brain cancer foundation so they can continue their life-saving work in the local community.
The Pre-season Conference luncheon featured a packed itinerary with various special guests. The main event was an “Unleash the Power of your Potential” panel discussion which featured speakers from a multitude of backgrounds including former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, healthcare advocate Patricia “Nurse Patti” Lafontant and PFPMA moms Sabrina Greenlee and Mary Fischer Nassib. The empowering and informative conversation was moderated by former Baltimore Ravens left tackle Bryant McKinnie.
Photo Credit: PFPMA
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott was also in attendance with his young son for a Meet & Greet. Scott, on behalf of the city of Baltimore, expressed his gratitude to the PFPMA with a citation that recognized the organization’s unwavering dedication to community service.
Several Baltimore-area vendors were present to promote their small businesses, selling everything from books, to lip gloss, to accessories. And, to truly underscore the significance of the “Where It All Started” theme, inaugural PFPMA president Cassandra Ogden led the luncheon’s business meeting.
The event was followed by the PFPMA’s annual day of service at the Baltimore Hope Lodge, which is an American Cancer Society program that provides a free “home away from home” for families of cancer treatment patients. The women helped with tasks like gardening, cleaning, and serving food – all while proudly wearing the NFL jerseys of their sons.
Photo Credit: PFPMA
The day was a profound exhibit of everything the PFPMA values. Demonstrations of support, success and service were each prioritized at this year’s Pre-Season Conference, whether through the inclusion of local vendors, the uplifting panel discussion or the charitable day of service at Hope Lodge.
The women of PFPMA who raised these powerful men exhibit the strength and resilience of NFL moms.
