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DeSean Jackson gives $50,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project

On a day that has us all remembering what happened in 2001, Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson will be spending some time at the Fort Dix army base in New Jersey for a very good cause -- he's donating $50,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project, which provides aid to military members who have suffered injuries, wounds and illnesses in the service of their country since September 11, 2001. Jackson will present the check at the base and meet with a group of wounded veterans.

From a statement Jackson recently released:

The Wounded Warrior Project is a great organization and this is something that I feel very grateful and blessed to be able to do. My cousin, Jimmy Jackson, was a Sergeant E5 and won two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars after serving in Vietnam.

After seeing what he's dealt with throughout his life, this is a cause that really hits home for me. The people in the military put their lives on the line for us every day. I think it's important to recognize the great service they provide for this country, especially at this time of year.

I'm excited to meet some of the soldiers and let them know how much I appreciate what they do. They are true heroes.

Jackson isn't the only NFL player with a serious interest in helping this cause. From the NFL:

In May 2011, former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi, former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, and former Philadelphia Eagles & St. Louis Rams tight end Chad Lewis teamed with four wounded warriors through the Wounded Warrior Project to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. The eight day climb to Uhuru Peak was intended to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

Affectionately known as Team Hard Target, NFL players, coaches and staff teamed with wounded warriors Bryan Wagner from Exeter, CA and Ben Lunak from Grand Forks, N.D., each of whom lost a leg in service to his country, Mike Wilson from Annapolis, Md. who struggles daily with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and Nancy Schiliro from Hartsdale, NY who lost an eye in service to her country.

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, whose grandfather, uncle and youngest brother have served or currently serve in the military, has a longstanding interest in helping those who have been injured in battle. His Homes for Wounded Warriors Foundation provides new and modified homes for returning veterans with disabilities, and in typical Jared Allen fashion, he's had some pretty interesting events to raise money for the cause, including a Night-Ops Golf Tournament in Allen's offseason home of Scottsdale, Ariz., that went far beyond anything that would have been accepted at Bushwood Country Club.

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Allen got the idea after a 2009 USO tour of Iraq and Kuwait. When he returned home, a friend told of the struggle many veterans have when trying to find housing once back in America.

"Unfortunately, people get hurt in war," Allen said at the event. "When they come home, we're going to be there to fix their house or get them a new house. We want to make them feel comfortable and have one less thing to worry about."

On this day of remembrance, that's a nice goal for anyone and everyone.

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