Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award Partners With Bernie's Book Bank

Today the Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award announced a formal partnership with Bernie's Book Bank, the leading provider of quality books to at-risk Chicagoland children.

This Long Snapper award is named after Patrick Mannelly, widely known as the best long snapper in the NFL. He was a four-year starter at long snapper and two-year starter at offensive line at Duke University before he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Mannelly is the longest tenured Chicago Bear after playing 16 seasons and a recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

"I am extremely honored to have my name on this award, but this is about the young men who have dedicated themselves to be great long snappers and they should be recognized," Mannelly shared. "With the partnership of Bernie's Book Bank, we look forward to honoring the top long snapper in D-1 college football. Bernie's Book Bank is a perfect complement to the Mannelly Award."

The Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award, founded by Kevin Gold, Patrick Mannelly and Chris Rubio, aims to provide rare recognition for the impactful role long snappers play in today's game. Long snappers are the ultimate unsung heroes of football. No successful field goal, extra point or punt can happen without a successful snap. Bernie's Book Bank plays a similar role ? no child can learn to read without books. The 501(c)(3) organization provides 360,000 local at-risk children with 12 quality books per year to empower them to read their way to a better life. Like the long snapper, the work of Bernie's Book Bank is behind the scenes, but an integral player in the literacy equation.

Bernie's Book Bank will host the inaugural Patrick Mannelly Award Ceremony on December 14, 2019 at the nonprofit's 35,000 sf facility just north of Chicago in Lake Bluff, IL. The event welcomes 245 guests, a number selected to honor the number of games Mannelly played for the Bears. Tickets go on sale October 1, 2019.

"Bernie's Book Bank is proud to partner with the Patrick Mannelly Award to honor athletes who embody the values of our mission: excellence, integrity, effectiveness, teamwork and balance. Bernie's Book Bank is the long snapper of literacy and together we celebrate this vital role that often goes unnoticed in football," shared Darrin Utynek, CEO of Bernie's Book Bank.

For more information about the Patrick Mannelly Award, visit https://patrickmannellyaward.com/

Founded as a 501(c)(3) in December of 2009, Bernie's Book Bank sources, processes and distributes quality children's books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk children throughout Chicagoland. Bernie's Book Bank delivers 12 quality books per year to empower at-risk children, ages birth through sixth grade, to read their way to a better life. Since 2009, Bernie's Book Bank has distributed more than 15.6 MILLION books. This year alone Bernie's Book Bank will provide 3.6 MILLION books to 360,000 local at-risk children. For more information about Bernie's Book Bank, visit www.berniesbookbank.org.