Quarterback Matt Schaub took home the 3rd annual Spirit of the Bull award on Tuesday afternoon. The award highlights a player's commitment to excellence both on and off the field and acknowledges his charitable work in the Houston community. Schaub received the honor at the Westin Galleria during the Texans Team Luncheon, presented by Amegy Bank of Texas.
Along with his wife, Laurie, Schaub started the GR8 HOPE Foundation in 2011. The mission of the foundation is to provide resources and support to promote lasting improvements and bring healing to children with medical needs, hope for future generations, and happiness to the children and their families enduring medical challenges. Through their foundation, the Schaubs have started a fundraising campaign to make a $1 million gift to a local children's hospital to expand the emergency center. About 70,000 children will benefit annually from the expansion. In addition, the foundation has donated $108,000 to children's hospital to renovate a space that was made into a play area for kids of all ages. Plus, the Schaubs personally donated $250,000 to that children's hospital in June of 2013 alone.
Schaub graciously accepted his award on Tuesday and addressed the audience about the efforts the Texans collectively do to better the lives of Houstonians. As founder and CEO Bob McNair reminded the room, the players aren't told to be active in the community, but do so on their own.
"I'm definitely very honored and humbled by this recognition," Schaub said. "None of this really could be possible whatsoever without pretty much everyone in this room without the support Laurie and I have received with our foundation from the Houston community as well as all of my teammates and coaches."
