ABOUT VONNIE

What do you get when you combine a 6’5” frame, with 285 lbs. of muscle, a gigantic smile, and even bigger heart? He is Vonnie Holliday, NFL veteran, who has played nearly 15 years in the league. Holliday burst onto the NFL scene in 1998 after being drafted 19th overall by the Green Bay Packers.

Such an influential force hailed from humble beginnings. Dimetry Giovanni Holliday was born on December 11, 1975 in Camden, SC. He was raised in a house, the only male, with 5 women including his mother, grandmother, an aunt, and two sisters. “My grandmother had a huge impact on my life. She raised me to be a responsible young man. More importantly, I was always taught not to embarrass myself or our family.”

Though he lived with all women, male role models were just a phone call away. He looked up to his uncles, cousins and other men in the community. They were always there with words of encouragement, advice, and discipline. The sense of “community” was instilled in Vonnie early on and acts as a driving force as he takes on the role of a mentor to young boys in similar situations.

In high school, Vonnie excelled in athletics. He was a multi-sport star athlete at Camden High School. In basketball, he earned All-Conference honors. He was also a three-time letterman in baseball, playing numerous infield positions. Though well rounded, it was football where Holliday found his calling. As a senior, Vonnie was a first team All-State selection and Class 3A Lineman of the Year. He also earned honors as an All-Conference tight end.

Recruited heavily, Vonnie and his mother thought that the University of North Carolina would be a great fit. As a Tar Heel, Holliday was one of only two “true” freshmen on the team. A four-year letterman, he appeared in 46 games, starting in 28. Voted co-captain his senior year, Holliday earned first-team All-ACC honors with his impressive 64 tackles and 5 sacks. Holliday graduated from UNC with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Vonnie continued his football success in the NFL. In his rookie season in Green Bay, he learned a lot through the tutelage of storied defensive lineman Reggie White. “I learned a lot about my position, football and life in general from Reggie.” In his first season as a Packer, Holliday was a consensus All-Rookie selection and finished second for AP’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. During his 5 year tenure in Green Bay, he amassed more than 200 tackles, more than 20 sacks, and numerous forced fumbles. His most impressive outing came in 2002 against the Buffalo Bills. He sacked Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe five times and forced three fumbles, a Packers single game record. While in Green Bay, Holliday started the “Kids Company” in Richmond, MI to benefit at risk youth in the area.

Holliday played the next two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, before being signed to a multi-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. He found a new home with the Dolphins at the defensive tackle position. During his tenure in Miami, Vonnie has put up big numbers, amassing 66 tackles, 7 sacks, and a fumble recovery in 2006 alone. Last season, the Dolphins signed Holliday to a four-year deal to ensure no other team would grab the coveted free agent.

Vonnie is not only a leader on the field, but he is a leader off the field as well giving to many causes throughout the community.

In 2008, Vonnie lost his sister-in-law to brain cancer. It is for that reason that he has a very vocal champion of brain tumor research. In June 2010, Vonnie, in partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue Atlanta and the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, sponsored an event to raise awareness of and funding for brain tumor research. He raised $10,000, which was donated in his sister-in-law’s name. This effort was one of the major reasons he was named one of the Top Black Philanthropists of 2010.

In addition to brain tumor research, Vonnie is a supporter of the Boys and Girls Club and is currently working with the Boys and Girls Club of Midlands (SC) to bring Boys and Girls Club programming to his hometown of Camden, SC.

During his tenure in Green Bay, Vonnie started the “Kids Company” in Richmond, WS, an organization that benefits at risk youth. As a Dolphin, Vonnie worked with the “Reach for the Stars” foundation, which benefits children with Cystic Fibrosis. He also donated his time by visiting children at the Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami. Vonnie’s community efforts and his strong character have helped him gain a reputation as a leader in the NFL and the community. As such, he was recently named to the 2010 -2011 NFLPA Board of Player Representatives, an honor he held while with the Miami Dolphins as well. Additionally, Vonnie served as co-captain for the Miami Dolphins during the 2008-2009 season of the UNC Tarheel during his senior year (1997-1998 season). Vonnie and his wife Eboni have two children – Kali and Joey.