2008 Holiday card from the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation

The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation, named for and founded by the late legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton and his family, helps abused, neglected, and underprivileged children in Illinois through a variety of activities. Around the holidays, the foundation runs an annual toy and fundraising drive to provide financial assistance and gifts to over 20,000 children. It also hosts an annual “Sweetness Run” (“Sweetness” was Payton’s nickname as a player, both for his on-field ability and off-field demeanor) to raise funds for the cause. In the Fall, the foundation gathers and donates school supplies; this year they provided over 500 filled backpacks to needy students.

Payton retired from the NFL in 1987 as the all-time leading rusher and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. He had only missed one game during his 13-year career with the Bears, and he helped lead the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory in 1985. Payton succumbed to cancer in 1999.  During his life, he exhibited a generous and altruistic spirit, and it is in his name and spirit that his family continues his charity work through the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation.