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EnglishWhat the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation Does
Updated
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation promotes the game of football and provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young athletes. Johnny Unitas started it in 1987, carrying his charity work beyond his playing career with the Baltimore Colts. The foundation is also the body behind the Golden Arm Award, which it presents annually to the top senior or upperclassmen quarterback in college football.
What the Foundation Was Set Up to Do
According to johnnyunitas.com, Unitas' off-field charity work matched the scale of his playing statistics and wins. He "carried the ideals of football forward into his community, striving to make an impact and bettering the lives of others." The foundation formalized that effort with two stated purposes:
- Promote the game of football — supporting the sport's positive role in college athletics and beyond.
- Provide financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young athletes.
The site frames the foundation as an educational one, which is why its full name includes "Educational Foundation" rather than referring only to the award.
How the Golden Arm Award Fits In
The Golden Arm Award is the foundation's most visible program, but it is not the foundation itself. The site describes the award as presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation to the top senior or upperclassmen quarterback in college football.
The site also explains why the award matters: fans and media often focus on touchdown passes, elusive runs, ferocious tackles and quarterback sacks, and "we lose sight of other important matters of college athletics." The award is presented as a counterweight — the foundation says it "encapsulates all that is positive in college sports."
| Element | What it is | Relationship to the foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation | Founded in 1987 by Johnny Unitas | The organization itself |
| Golden Arm Award | Annual honor for the top senior or upperclassmen college quarterback | Presented by the foundation |
| Financial assistance to young athletes | Stated charitable purpose | A foundation activity, not the award |
Why the Name "Golden Arm" Appears Everywhere
Unitas was nicknamed "The Golden Arm," and the foundation and award both carry that nickname. The site notes he was a record-setting quarterback and the NFL's most valuable player in 1959, 1964 and 1967, and that his record of throwing touchdown passes in 47 consecutive games (between 1956 and 1960) remained unsurpassed as of 2012. The foundation's name ties its charitable and educational work directly to that legacy.
Where to Find More
The foundation's work is described on johnnyunitas.com under the "Golden Arm Foundation" and "Golden Arm Award" sections. The same site also lists Johnny Unitas collectibles for sale and references a Hunt Auctions Super Bowl LVIII live auction featuring items from Unitas' personal collection, each accompanied by a letter of provenance from the Unitas family. Those are separate from the foundation's charitable mission, but they appear alongside it on the site.