SAN DIEGO – 
That honor went to Baltimore center Matt Birk.
But Rivers, one of three finalists, did get to attend an exclusive luncheon with Payton’s family as well as the chance to draw attention to his Rivers of Hope Foundation, and more specifically to the plight of abandoned or orphaned children.
Rivers also received $1,000 for his foundation as San Diego’s Man of the Year nominee and an additional $5,000 as a finalist.
Rivers and his wife Tiffany have helped raise almost $700,000 with the foundation, which runs an already-popular annual 5K and football camp. Rivers of Hope also helped fund a football field for San Pasqual Academy, a first-in-the nation residential education campus designed for foster teens.
The foundation also proliferates programs like The Birthday Club, Something Special Fund and Heart Gallery, which help raise awareness as well as the spirits of parentless children.
Rivers of Hope also ensures abandoned and orphaned children the chance to attend outings like a San Diego Padres game or a Sea World trip.
“You look at the long list of winners and it’s certainly a special group,” Rivers said of the award, which counts on-field play as well as community service. “We all want to win on the field and have a chance to win a championship. All those things are obviously goals, both individually and as a team. But there’s more to the game than what happens in between the lines.
“I think too it’s an honor in the community. When a player wins an award or you’re a finalist, the community they’re in, it’s really an award for them as well. It’s something San Diego County can be proud of because for foundations to thrive and be effective, the community has to rally behind it. It’s been a community effort for the first two years we’ve had this thing going.
“I said when we started that if you can match one child with a forever mom or dad, then it’d be worth it. There’s been many more than that. The reason for almost any guy that you ask is not to win the award or be recognized and honored for it. What it does ultimately is bring more attention to the kids.
“Being recognized is not what we’re doing foundations for. Certainly, there will be a lot more people that know about the Rivers of Hope, but anytime you bring attention to this cause it’s all for the children.”
