On Sunday University of Tennessee graduate Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, will compete in his first Super Bowl. With all the hype surrounding the biggest sporting event of the year, it's easy to praise Manning for what he has done athletically for UT. He has secured multiple winning seasons, an SEC Championship and 33 UT football records, while at the same time maintaining the responsibilities of a full-time student. However, his dedication to the Knoxville community didn't stop with his progression into the NFL.

For all the thousands of passing yards Manning accumulated as a Vol, he has donated in equal or greater numbers to various Knoxville organizations. Last July Manning personally pledged $1 million to the UT athletics department. He also donates to many other organizations as part of his PeyBack Foundation.

PeyBack, formed in 1999, is a foundation that seeks to "promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting programs that provide leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk," according to www.peytonmanning.com. Manning serves as president of the foundation and is consistently financially supporting it. One such organization PeyBack supports is CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for abused and neglected children.

Cyndy Bailes, executive director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland, said that Manning's $2,500 donation "was a very significant donation for this organization. It enabled us to provide special backpacks for these children." Are donations such as these important for CASA organizations? "Absolutely," said Bailes.

Last November the PeyBack Foundation visited Beaumont Elementary School, where they handed out gloves, scarves, t-shirts and books. On the same day they drove down to the local Boys and Girls Club, and hosted a pizza party for its members. The PeyBack Foundation has also donated $5,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. Other donations of the PeyBack Foundation include $5,000 for both the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee and the Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly Camp & Retreat Center.

Manning's generosity also extends to his hometown city of New Orleans, where, with his brother Eli Manning, he helped the Red Cross in its Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Manning also donates money to important organizations in Indiana. His community service across the country was rewarded when he received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in February of 2006. It is the only NFL award that recognizes community service as well as football performance.

This Sunday Manning will play in the biggest game of his life, but no matter what the outcome is, he will continue to contribute and give back to this and many other communities.