Thanks to Cincinnati Bengals fans, Ted Karras is on track for doing something very special.
Karras remains atop the leaderboard of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Charity Challenge after over three weeks of voting.
Karras has become more than the literal center of the Bengals' offensive line, he's helped raise awareness and money towards an amazing cause. In 2022, he founded The Cincy Hat, a hat that simply says "Cincy" on the front. It was originally supposed to be a gift for his teammates, but it's turned into so much more.
When a demand arose for the hats to be sold publicly, Karras took the opportunity to turn those sales into direct donations to the Village of Merici, a nonprofit living community for Adults with disabilities in Karras' hometown of Indianapolis, IN.
The Cincy Hat grew exponentially, and Karras was able to directly aid several people he's known personally for years.
"I wanted to give a fun gift to my new teammates when I moved to Cincinnati. The Cincy Hat has taken on a life of its own and become an income stream for the Village of Merici, a nonprofit living community for Adults with disabilities. The Village has a special place in my heart. Please support with a purchase!" - Ted Karras' message via thecincyhat.com
All of Bengals nation has been galvanized to support Karras' cause, and sure enough, he leads the way over 31 other WPMOY nominees. The winner is awarded up to $35,000 to the charity of his choice. We know exactly where Karras will put that money towards if he emerges victorious.
To vote for Karras, use the hashtag #WPMOYChallenge and include "Karras" or "@_teddy_k" anywhere within the tweet to post a vote to your X/Twitter account through January 8, 2024.
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