NW Atlanta News

The Atlanta Falcons have made a significant contribution to the Emory Department of Orthopaedics, donating over $231,000. The donation was delivered by players Kyle Pitts, Justin Simmons, A.J. Terrell, and Tyler Allgeier, along with team mascot Freddie Falcon. They presented the funds to Dr. Scott Boden, director of Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center at Emory Healthcare.

During their visit, the Falcons' representatives engaged with staff by distributing T-shirts and rally towels, taking photos, and organizing a raffle for four tickets to an upcoming home game against the Dallas Cowboys. Justin Simmons expressed his appreciation for meeting those who work behind the scenes: "I think it's fun to meet the people that put in all the work behind the scenes," he said. "You can tell how excited they were."

Emory Healthcare has been associated with the Atlanta Falcons as their official team healthcare provider for over ten years. In 2021, one of Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center's regional clinics was established at the Falcons' training facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

Dr. Boden highlighted the importance of this donation: "We're grateful for the Atlanta Falcons donation," he stated during Monday's event. "This donation will help to fund ongoing research into new treatments to promote faster healing of cartilage, muscle and bone, as well as ground-breaking research into sports performance and injury prevention."

Simmons also emphasized the significance of such contributions: "It means everything," he remarked about giving back through this initiative. He noted that while immediate benefits might be small increments, long-term advancements in research and development are crucial: "I think that's the long game. It's really exciting to see where this is heading because we know how important it is to stay on top of your body and all the work that needs to be put into it."