Daniel Snyder, a long-time resident of the Washington, D.C. area, has always made it his mission to care for his community in tangible ways while supporting his enduring love for professional football. Today, Dan Snyder, the current owner of the Washington Football Team, lives in Potomac, Maryland, with his wife and children. However, his philanthropic efforts extend far beyond his hometown and even beyond the United States.
Early Love for Football
Spending his childhood around the D.C. area allowed Dan Snyder to develop an early love for the then-named Washington Redskins. He and his father frequently attended games and paid close attention to football statistics, trades and team news. This early love of the game pushed Snyder forward into eventually purchasing the Washington Football Team in 1999. Owning the team for over 20 years has given him the opportunity to lead the team to new horizons while building it into one of the most valuable franchises in the world.
Continuous Dedication to Charitable Work
However, Snyder’s dedication to the Washington Football Team extends far beyond winning records. He has also worked diligently to improve and increase the charitable work that the team provides throughout the community. Shortly after purchasing the team, Snyder began the Washington Charitable Foundation in 2000, which was dedicated to developing youth efforts throughout the D.C. area.
This charity focuses not only on educating area youth but also on providing a multitude of community outreach events and increasing the health care and wellness initiatives that the youngest members of the community need for better quality of life. Some examples of major initiatives include in-school workshops, literacy events and in-school laundry facilities. To date, the Washington Charitable Foundation has provided over $29 million of youth services throughout the community.
Philanthropy Around the Nation and the World
Snyder’s philanthropic efforts may begin close to home, but they certainly extend much farther than his own community. For example, he helped with relief efforts in 2016 following Hurricane Matthew, which brought great suffering to many areas of the Caribbean. Dan Snyder worked quickly to provide emergency supplies to the Bahamas and even enlisted two of his own football players of Haitian descent to deliver health care supplies to a hospital in Haiti. His record of charitable giving began years ago. For example, he provided supplies and relief efforts following the 2004 tsunami affecting southern Asia and closer to home following Hurricane Katrina the following year. See This Article for additional information.
A Vision for Change
In addition, Daniel Snyder continues to work diligently to bring about real change in the United States. He is dedicated to ending racial injustice in the country, and he donated $250,000 to a grassroots organization to do just that in 2020. He has also donated money to an area food bank to help needy families during the COVID-19 pandemic. His support of the military is also obvious. Rather than hosting only a month-long salute to the military, the Washington Football Team now uses a year-round program to support the military, including hosting re-enlistment ceremonies at team locations and holding numerous military appreciation events.
Striving for Excellence With the Washington Football Team
Daniel Snyder’s clear goal continues to be the overall success of the Washington Football Team and his dedication to the National Football League as a whole. His years of business experience have led to his appointments to the Media, Business Ventures, International, Stadium, Hall of Fame and Digital Media Committees of the NFL. He has also improved the retail sector of the Washington Football Team, opening team stores in both Virginia and Maryland.
The Washington Football Team is committed to supporting the surrounding areas in Virginia. Snyder announced that the team would keep its local corporate headquarters in the area while moving its training camp to Richmond, Virginia, in 2013.
Snyder is proud of the overall success of the Washington Football Team. Since he has become owner, nearly 30 team players have appeared in the Pro Bowl, and nine have gone All-Pro. The team plays at FedExField, which can seat 82,000 people. Daniel Snyder works diligently to improve the in-stadium experience for all team fans by regularly adding new signage, flat-screen TVs, luxury suites, improved parking options, upgraded Wi-Fi and enormous end zone video displays.
Numerous Other Business Ventures
While Daniel Snyder is most known today for his ownership of the Washington Football Team and his many philanthropic endeavors, he is still known for being a savvy businessman. In 1985, he began Snyder Communications, Inc. and was then named the youngest CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company quickly grew, making over $1 billion annually. Snyder is also founder of inVentiv Health and Red Zebra Broadcasting, LLC. He continues to remain active in numerous business opportunities.
Additional reference: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/daily/may99/26/skinsbid26.htm
