DALLAS – NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and his wife Pat Smith will be honored in Washington, D.C., as recipients of the 2014 Congressional Horizon Award for excellence in community service. The pair will be recognized for their contributions to youth through Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, a public charity that creates and funds unique educational experiences and enrichment opportunities for underserved children.
The Horizon Award is presented each year on behalf of the Joint Leadership Commission and the Congressional Award Board of Directors. The award honors individuals who have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own contributions and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life. Previous recipients include Mariah Carey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Drew Brees and Patrick Ewing.
Over the past five years, as a result of the commitment and dedication to youth from Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, the organization has touched more than 25,000 youth each year in North Texas, providing funding for camps, cultural arts programs, after school programs and education opportunities. The charities’ Team 22 flagship program provides unique experiences and personal mentoring for high-potential yet underserved students throughout the community. The charity funds opportunities such as summer camp, tutoring and leadership training, as well as existing children’s programs, through its annual grant application process. Ten students from the Team 22 program will accompany Pat and Emmitt Smith to Washington, D.C., to visit the city and attend the award ceremony.
Pat and Emmitt Smith will receive the 2014 Horizon Award during a special congressional luncheon following the Twentieth Annual Congressional Award Golf Classic on Monday, July 28. The event will be attended by several current and former members of Congress, as well as prominent guests, to celebrate the success of this congressional program for youth.
The United States Congress established the Congressional Award in 1979 to recognize initiative, service and achievement in young people. The bill was originally signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have signed continuing legislation.
