Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras was named the winner of the 2023 Nationwide Charity Challenge, earning a $35,000 donation for the Village of Merici, a nonprofit supporting adults with developmental disabilities. The award recognizes NFL players making significant charitable impacts, and Karras stood out thanks to the overwhelming success of his “Cincy Hat” initiative, which combines fashion with purpose to drive community support.
Since its launch, the Cincy Hat project has raised over $800,000, with more than $325,000 donated directly to the Village of Merici. Karras personally kickstarted the campaign by matching $100,000 in donations and later gave an additional $120,000 on Giving Tuesday. His contributions have helped the Village expand its services by 60% in the past year, underscoring the powerful impact of one player’s vision and generosity.
