The NFLPA announced today that veteran Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway has won the Byron "Whizzer" White Award, given to the NFL player who best "serves his team, community and country."

Greenway, who has spent his entire career with the Vikings, founded his Lead the Way Foundation in 2008. The foundation, which serves families in Minnesota and his home state of South Dakota, provides resources and opportunities to chronically and critically ill children and their families.

Greenway, the team's Man of the Year for 2014, is involved in other charitable endeavors, too.

Greenway was nominated by his teammates and edged out four other finalists — Dustin Colquitt, Malcolm Jenkins, Jameel McClain and Charles Tillman — to win the award, along with a $100,000 donation from the NFLPA to his Lead the Way Foundation.

"I can't tell you what an honor this is. There are so many good guys in this league, and it is such an honor to be part of this group of men," Greenway said today while receiving the award in Maui. "This foundation is something that my wife Jenni and I wanted to do as an example for our children, to use this platform of the NFL to do better and do more."

Greenway is the second Vikings player to win the award since it was established in 1967. Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter also won it back in 1999.