The Chris Draft Family Foundation travelled to Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII to join the Player Networking Event (PNE), an exclusively owned property of Troupe21 & Associates, created to help current and former athletes transition from sports.  

The Player Networking Event, a sanctioned NFL Super Bowl event, traditionally highlights player-owned or affiliated business, and the networking extravaganza attracts active and former players who voluntarily attend to network with businesses and corporation in hopes of developing future opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.  For the first time in the nine-year history of the event, the PNE made an effort to include player charitable foundations.  As athletes transition from sports into second careers, the networking event is designed to help players find meaningful post-football opportunities.  According to Guy Troupe, President and CEO of Troupe21 and Associates, "Our experience shows us that athletes are well intended in their efforts to give back, but their organizations typically are not seeded to last beyond their playing days. Our hope is that NFL players will begin to study the endowment practices of the more successful foundations and emulate the model." 

Three-time sponsor of the PNE, Scholar-Ballers, Inc, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between education, sport and entertainment by creating a new identity in America and global culture.  PNE and Scholar Ballers, Inc. joined together to present the Philanthropy/Community Outreach Award to the Chris Draft Family Foundation for his  significant achievement as the President and Founder of the Chris Draft Family Foundation.  Draft was described as a "'doer' with vision and consistent involvement in the activities of his foundation and community."  The award signifies the formation of a partnership between  organizations that seek to support athletes as achievers off-the-field, stressing academic triumph as a fundamental component for success in as athletes and good citizens. 

As the premier player charitable foundation, the Chris Draft Family Foundation shared information about Foundation initiatives and special programs during the networking event.  Visitors to the Foundation's display were able to meet staff members and learn about the different events the Foundation sponsors across the country, and receive information regarding how they can work with the Foundation in their own community. 

Each year the PNE evaluates many organizations for inclusion in the NFL Sanctioned Event, and has plans to work with each team's Player Development Director and survey the NFL Charity listings to include more player foundations during next year's event in Miami.