Denilson of Arsenal an Example of the Side of Footballers All Too Often Ignored

Nicklas Bendtner falling out of a nightclub at three AM in the morning with his jeans around his ankles.

Half the Tottenham team seemingly incapable of finding anyone else to sleep with but Danielle Lloyd.

The flash cars, big houses, lavish lifestyles, swish holidays, continuous nights on the tiles.

So go the stories about footballers that fill space not on the back but front sections of today's tabloids.

Despite what the papers would have you believe, footballers in general are probably good blokes who want to give back to the community.

How come we barely hear in the media about the good work these professionals do? How they give back to the community in which they were raised and those in which they now live?

Each season, Arsenal FC select a charity of choice where they raise funds throughout the given year for a chosen association. The motto states, "Be a Gooner, Be a Giver," and fans are encouraged to donate while players and the manager give up both time and money.

Last season (2008-2009), all proceeds raised from charity events, car auctions, and players donating a day's wages went to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Furthermore, the players and Arsene Wenger spent a lot of time with the sick children in their ward, which no doubt brought them unending joy.

One of those to do so was young midfielder Denilson.

The Brazilian was born in Sao Paulo in 1988. His childhood was spent in extreme poverty, and his mother died when he was just 10.

Denilson's father quit life as a footballer to help raise his children and keep them away from a life of drug dealing and crime.

Jose's passion for football and helping others wore off on his son, who first signed for Sao Paulo in 2005 before moving to Arsenal a year later.

Aside from those charity events that he attends as part of Arsenal FC, this summer he will travel back to his homeland with Porto forward Hulk to raise money for underprivileged kids.

He wants to give them the chance of seeing there are positives in life and that crime isn't the only answer.

Another ex-player who wants others to learn from his past experiences is Ghanaian Nii Lampety, who has opened a school in Accra so children can learn at the very least to read and write.

Only in recent years has Lampety realised that he lost out on money in transfers and signing on fees, as he was unable to read the contract put in front of him. It was only when he moved to Aston Villa he was made aware that he should have had a greater income.

The work being done by Arsenal, Denilson, Hulk, and Lampety is only a small drop in a big ocean.

Others that do charity work include:

Nwankwo Kanu: UNICEF Ambassador and founder of the Nwankwo Kanu Heart Foundation. 

The current Portsmouth player has long suffered from a heart ailment and in 2000 established the foundation to raise money to help underprivileged children and adults in Africa to obtain the cardiac surgical operations needed.

http://www.kanuheartfoundationng.com/

Ivan Klasnic: Donate an organ, life hat trick

The talented young Croatian has suffered one failed kidney transplant from his mother, but his body accepted one given by his father. He is now part of a campaign in his homeland to encourage organ donation whilst also taking time to visit ill children.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Involved in various charity work, including AIDS projects.

The Manchester United midfielder may divide opinion on and off the pitch, but he too does his share of charity work. He is part of the UNICEF campaign, and his main aim is to raise money and awareness of a HIV prevention scheme.

Frederic Kanoute: Founder of the Frederic Kanoute Foundation

Devout Muslim Kanoute is involved in helping the community in Seville and his home Mali. In 2007, he saved Seville's only mosque from being shut down, paying out over half a million of his own money to do so.

At first he refused to wear a Seville shirt with their sponsors 888.com on the front, as their gambling business was against his religion. However, he came to an agreement with the club that he would wear the shirt if a donation was made to an Islamic charity. His own foundation aids Orphans in Mali.

While many footballers earn an extravagant amount of money, most are only too willing to give something in return.

Photo copyright: Be a Gooner, Be a Giver

Find out more at http://www.beagoonerbeagiver.org/