$ 2,000 donation provided child care and dinner at a local restaurant for 50 Gold Star wives , and treated them to a special night out on the town .
Three of the 32 nominees will be selected as finalists for the national award , renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears RB Walter Payton . Finalists will be announced in January 2018 . The winner will be announced in Minneapolis the night before Super Bowl LII . Jackson will wear a Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the season , in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field .
The NFL announced last month a Super Bowl Ticket Giveaway , a new initiative this season to surprise fans across the country with an invitation to attend Super Bowl LII in Minnesota . As a Man of the Year nominee , Jackson received two Super Bowl LII tickets to give away to community heroes . On Tuesday , Jackson visited Five Star Veterans Center in Jacksonville , a local nonprofit that provides safe and secure housing for displaced veterans . After touring the facility , Jackson surprised retired Marine Col . Len Loving , CEO of Five Star Veterans , with the two Super Bowl tickets . Jackson also personally donated $ 2,000 to cover any necessary travel expenses .
Jackson hosts a private screening of “ Thor : Ragnarok ” for military families .
Jackson visits with school children alongside Jacksonville Sheriff ’ s Office Patrol Officer and former Jaguars TE Ernest Wilford .