ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, ART MONK WAS KNOWN FOR HIS HANDS. HE'S CAUGHT MORE PASSES THAN ANY OTHER PLAYER IN NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE HISTORY. BUT WHEN HE ISN'T PLAYING WIDE RECEIVER, ART MONK IS KNOWN FOR HIS HEART.
THE NFL 16 YEAR VETERAN IS A MAN OF FEW WORDS. HE HAD BEEN KNOWN TO GO THROUGH AN ENTIRE GAME WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING. AND ART MONK FINDS IT HARD TO SAY NO TO ANY REQUEST TO HELP CHILDREN.
THE FATHER OF THREE, MONK BELIEVES THAT EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO EVERY CHILD'S FUTURE. HE IS CO-SPONSOR OF THE "I HAVE A DREAM" PROGRAM FOR 60 STUDENTS FROM DC'S TERRELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM GUARANTEES A COLLEGE EDUCATION TO ALL OF THE KIDS AND PROVIDES TUTORS, TESTING, AND OTHER SUPPORT. "THROUGH THE PROGRAM THEY CAN SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL," ART SAYS.
ART HAS TUTORED AT THE WINSTON EDUCATIONAL CENTER AND HELPED THE BLACK STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND. HE ALSO PERSONALLY GIVES A SCHOLARSHIP AND TROPHY TO A DESERVING SENIOR FROM HIS HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER, IN WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK, WHO HAS EXCELLED IN BOTH ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS.
IN 1983 ART BEGAN HIS FOOTBALL CAMP FOR KIDS AGES 8-18 YEARS. DAILY INSTRUCTION AND LECTURES FROM ART AS WELL AS OTHER TOP NFL PLAYERS, NFL HIGHLIGHT FILMS, TEAM COMPETITION AND LIVE SCRIMMAGES RESULT IN A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.
ALL-PRO ART MONK IS A RECIPIENT OF THREE SUPERBOWL RINGS, THE TIMMIE AWARD, WASHINGTONIAN OF THE YEAR, QUARTERBACK CLUB AWARD, ALL MADDEN TEAM, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY HALL OF FAME, INDUCTED INTO THE "RING OF FAME" AT THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS FED X STADIUM AND A NOMINEE FOR THE HALL OF FAME, TO NAME ONLY A FEW OF THE MANY HONORS BESTOWED UPON THIS VERY HUMBLE GENTLEMEN.
HE IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN FOUNDATION AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN RAISING FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA FOR THOSE IN NEED. A BUILDING IN S.E. ANACOSTIA IS CURRENTLY UNDER RENOVATION AND WILL BE THE NEW Home OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN FOUNDATION AND AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AT A CELEBRITY ROAST TO CELEBRATE ART'S BREAKING OF THE NFL PASS-CATCHING RECORD, PRAISE WAS HEAPED UPON ART MONK AND AS USUAL, HE WAS DOING HIS BEST TO DUCK. PERHAPS THE GREATEST COMPLEMENT TO ART WAS A MESSAGE FROM HIS SON, JAMES. HE SIMPLY THANKED HIS FATHER FOR SHOWING UP AT EVERY ONE OF HIS SOCCER GAMES.
FOR A MAN WHO VALUES FAMILY ABOVE FAME AND REAL SERVICE TO CHILDREN ABOVE TALK, THE PRAISE FROM HIS SON MAY BE THE HIGHEST HONOR OF ALL.
