Adam Thielen Recognized By NFL For Stadium Lights Donation

(KDLM) – For the second time in his career, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has been named a weekly NFLPA Community MVP.

Adam and his wife Caitlin, through their foundation, recently raised and donated more than $100,000 to Brooklyn Center High School to replace the old lighting in the football stadium. The stadium lights shut off in the second quarter of the season opener in 2018, and Xcel Energy told the school that the 30-year-old lighting system was unsafe to turn back on. The school has only been able to host day games for football and soccer.

The Thielen Foundation launched a #ChangeThroughSport campaign to raise money to help bring the stadium lights back to Brooklyn Center High School.

“It’s not about sports, it’s about community and about these kids and giving them a purpose and a reason to come out and play sports,” Thielen said. “When they do play a sport and they’re excited about it because they have resources and things to help them be great, that also helps them translate to their family life or their school life.”

Thielen was recognized for his contributions to the project by being named this week’s NFLPA Community MVP.

Thielen also received NFLPA Community MVP recognition in 2019 after he donated $50,000 in athletic resources for at-risk student-athletes, also to the Brooklyn Center school district.

Thielen and his foundation launched the #ChangeThruSport campaign in 2020, which provides financial support, sports equipment, and apparel to youth football programs. The Thielen Foundation’s mission is to create programs that will equip and empower kids to reach their full potential in life.