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Chicago Bears: Jared Allen Builds Homes for Wounded Soldiers

By Kyle Brutman

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Jared Allen is one of the league’s most successful defensive ends.

Entering his 12th year in the NFL–where he has played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears–Allen leads all active players with 134 career sacks, and has had at least 10 sacks in all but three of his NFL seasons.

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There’s no doubt that Allen has made his mark on the field.

However, off the field, he has also etched himself as one of the most charitable players in the league.

In Allen’s offseason, he takes time to give back to injured United States soldiers who are returning home from their tours overseas. He constructs custom homes for our hurt troops, serving as the main purpose for his foundation, Jared Allen‘s Homes for Wounded Warriors.

According to the foundation’s website, the mission statement of the Allen’s cause is as follows:

"“Our mission is to provide financial assistance and support to our injured United States military veterans by building and remodeling handicap accessible homes to suit their individual needs one wounded warrior at a time.”"

Allen, who sits as Chairman of JAH4WW, started the foundation in 2009 after a USO trip to Middle Eastern military bases. After the trip, Allen booted up the project as a means of giving thanks to those who fight for the United States.

Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Jared Allen (69) shakes hands with member of the US Air Force after the game at Soldier Field. Chicago Bears defeat the Minnesota Vikings 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

“We have an obligation to serve those who serve us when they come home,” Allen said in an article by Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com. “And what home to me is, is a place where I feel my most secure at my most vulnerable moments.”

Allen, who has also achieved success in becoming an entrepreneur with three different business opportunities, has helped multiple returning soldiers get homes that best accommodate them and their needs, from Marine Corporal Kyle Moser to Army Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg.

According to the foundation’s website, Moser–receiving a reputation as a “hard-working, intelligent, and ambitious leader”–lost both of his legs and sustained injuries to his right hand after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) while on foot patrol in November of 2011.

Knowing that Moser’s current house back on home soil was not handicap accessible and did not cater to his conditions, Allen put his project into action, building a “mortgage-free handicap accessible home” for him and his family.

Remsburg, serving in Afghanistan, was injured in a roadside bomb incident during his 10th tour. With shrapnel planted in his brain, Remsburg suffered a head wound that sent him into an over three-year-long coma.

Dozens of medical procedures combined with rehab helped Remsburg make an outstanding recovery, though he remained blind in his right eye and is paralyzed on some of the left side of his body.

Allen teamed up with Lead the Way and other foundations to help customize a new, mortgage-free and handicap accessible home for Remsburg. The home, which was finished in March of 2014, includes a wheel-in pool for rehab and a therapeutic spa, among other amenities that will help make Remsburg’s life become a whole lot easier.

These are just two examples of the many cases that Allen and his team have taken on.

Jared Allen is a legend on the field, standing as one of the NFL’s all-time top-10 sack leaders.

But off the gridiron, Allen is a true hero.

Next: Chicago Bears: 3 Defensive Keys to Making the Playoffs

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