A Partnership in Building Stronger Communities
The NFL and United Way partnership is the most visible and longest running charitable collarboration of its kind—a winning combination since 1973.  Our joint goal is to work together and have an impact in our community.

The Minnesota Vikings and Greater Twin Cities United Way have teamed up for over ten years.  Together we're communicating the good work of United Way and putting faces on players usually hidden by helmets.  Each year both sides join forces for a preseason ticket promotion, the Hometown Huddle and community awards.

New! Back to Football Friday—September 10

Show your NFL team pride at your work or school on September 10!  The NFL and United Way are teaming up to make youth health and wellness a nationwide priority. Help tackle childhood obesity while celebrating your NFL team pride. 

At your office:
Register for Back to Football and you could win a trip for two to Super Bowl XLV! Get your office involved and tell us about your Back to Football celebration. Your workplace could win a party hosted by the NFL and a visit from an NFL player! For more information and to register visit www.unitedway.org/backtofootball.  We've included tools to help you organize the festivities.

At your school:
Schools nationwide are invited to submit three essays, each in 100 words or less, and 3-6 photos. Thirty-four schools will be named NFL PLAY 60 Super Schools and receive a visit from an NFL player and a $10,000 NFL PLAY 60 health and wellness grant! Visit NFLRUSH.com/backtofootball to get your school involved and start planning your Back to Football Celebration today!

Hometown Huddle Featured on Front Page of Vikings Community Report
Our Hometown Huddle event is just one of the ways we work together to make a positive impact for kids in the Twin Cities. This year, kids from Plymouth Christian Youth Center, YWCA Midtown, and Fremont Community Clinics learned the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle from their favorite Vikings players at the GameSpeed Kidz program.
See the Vikings 2009 Community Playbook (PDF).

The Minnesota Vikings LIVE UNITED

Underneath everything we are, underneath everything we do, we are all people. Connected, interdependent, united. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. That’s what it means to Live United.

Be part of the change to create a better life for us all. Vikings player Madieu Williams has already joined the Live United movement and so can you. Learn more about LIVE UNITED.

Recent Events

Hometown Huddle—October 6
GameSpeed Kidz
The 10th annual NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle was a great success! Vikings players came together with kids from Plymouth Christian Youth Center, YWCA Midtown, and Fremont Community Clinics to LIVE UNITED and emphasize the importance of choosing a healthy and active lifestyle with the GameSpeed Kidz program at GameSpeed Sports Academy. The event kicked off with players leading kids through a fitness camp as Vikings Cheerleaders and Viktor the Vikings mascot cheered them on, followed by players and kids creating a mural together at the facility in Eden Prairie.

GameSpeed Kidz is a wellness program that is a part of GameSpeed Sports Academy owned by Vikings player, E.J. Henderson. It is designed specifically for kids aged 7-12 and focuses on the importance of physical fitness, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices through youth fitness programs, seminars and academic support. Learn more about GameSpeed Kidz programs and services.

A Celebration of Sorts—September 15
Southdale Center
Spiderman, cheerleaders and pirates, oh my!  Over 700 volunteers joined United Way and Arc Greater Twin Cities at Southdale Center for the sixth annual A Celebration of Sorts.  Throughout the day volunteers help to sort and tag more than 100,000 halloween items that will become the Halloween Boo-tique™ at Arc's Value Village Thrift Stores across the metro area.  The Minnesota Vikings even stopped out to LIVE UNITED and lend a hand to the day's efforts.  Thanks to everyone who came out and made it another successful year!

                             
           Vikings players, Colt Anderson and Visanthe Shiancoe                     Even Viktor jumped right in to volunteer!
                          pose with a volunteer in full team spirit.