Steffy Named to 2008 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
10/1/2008 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 1, 2008
WACO, Texas - University of Maryland senior quarterback Jordan Steffy has been selected to the 2008 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team in recognition of his tireless community involvement, Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association announced Wednesday.
Steffy, a fifth-year player from Leola, Pa., represents one of 22 individuals chosen for the team from the more than 50,000 football student-athletes at all four-year collegiate institutions based on their exemplary work with charitable organizations and community service projects with the Maryland football program.
With his selection to the 17th annual Good Works Team, Steffy earns the distinction as the first Maryland football player to receive this honor.
The Terps signal-caller first became interested in helping others during high school after participating in a fundraiser to aid a classmate suffering from epilepsy, enabling the boy to receive the surgery he needed.
"The impact that event made on his life made me realize that I wanted to do something on a larger scale," Steffy recently said. "I knew I wanted to have a positive effect on more lives."
For Steffy, his current off-the-field endeavors focus on aiding underprivileged and disabled youth, especially those suffering from epilepsy. Steffy's Children Deserve a Chance Foundation has raised more than $50,000 thus far during 2008 to aid young people in need, and the veteran quarterback has ambitions to expand his foundation in order to contribute even more.
The foundation currently is in the process of constructing a developmental youth center near Steffy's hometown that will provide area children with educational opportunities, as well as supervision following school days and during summer vacation.
"A lot of the kids are from poverty-stricken areas and really need our help," Steffy said. "We want to give these kids the same opportunity that the kids at the private schools and at the best public schools are getting."
Steffy has also participated multiple times with the TERP reading program which has student-athletes visit local elementary schools. His involvement with the local schools led him to chosen as the graduation speaker at Ellicott Mills Middle School.
Other community service efforts include visits to the National Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C., and participation in the 2007 HIV Holiday party in Baltimore. He has also taken part in the America Counts initiative and most recently participated in the Relay for Life.
Steffy joins Duke RB Re'Quan Boyette as the lone ACC players on the 2008 Good Works Team. Steffy and Colt McCoy of Texas represent the only quarterbacks named to the team,
A selection committee consisting of five former members of the Good Works Team, two coaches, five members of the college football media and one Allstate representative determined the 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) members of the team from among 45 nominees. The other 11 representatives on the team were named from the NCAA Championship Subdivision (I-AA), Divisions II and III and the NAIA. A complete list can be found at AFCA.com.
Steffy started the Terps' season-opening 14-7 win over Delaware, but he has since been sidelined as he recovers from a thumb injury. He has completed 92 of 159 passes for 933 yards and two touchdowns during his five-year Maryland career.
