clarinews@clarinet.com (01/16/90)
HARTFORD, Conn. (UPI) -- Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon has been named the 1989 Travelers NFL Man of the Year for his excellence on the field and commitment to worthy causes in his community, officials said Monday. Moon will receive $25,000 from The Travelers Cos. Foundation for his Crescent Moon Foundation, which he formed last March to help disadvantaged youngsters and the homeless in Houston. ``Winning the (award) is one of the greatest honors I have achieved because it recognizes a player's contributions to society and salutes the spirit of volunteerism,'' Moon said. A six-year veteran with the Oilers, Moon was selected from 28 team nominees for the award by a national selection committee, including Jack Kemp, a former NFL quarterback and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The award is sponsored by The Travelers Cos. and administered by the Pro Football Hall of Fame to recognize players who work to improve their community and serve as a role model for youth. ``Because of the impact of the media, youngsters grow up wanting to emulate the players they watch on TV -- for their actions both on and off the field,'' Moon said. ``That's why it's important to be active in the community and reinforce goals for kids.'' Moon's foundation helps raise money for charities he is involved with in Houston and provides college scholarships. ``We have to do a better job of making sure our high school students can read well and excel in math,'' he said. ``If we don't do more in educating our youth, this nation could stand a great chance of faltering.'' Moon has received the National Urban Coalition Superstar Award for his work with the ``Say Yes to a Youngster's Future'' program -- a Houston Independent School District experimental education project designed to stimulate interest in mathematics and science. Moon works with the Kingdom Builders Community Center in Houston, which he helped create with a $200,000 personal donation. The center's 73 ministries support small businesses, youth activities, those with debilitating diseases and the elderly. Moon also works with local organizations in Houston to provide food and shelter for the city's homeless.