National Football Foundation

The Westchester County (N.Y.) Chapter has enjoyed a close relationship with the National Football Foundation since its founding in 1973. With the NFF's national headquarters previously located in nearby Larchmont, N.Y., then-NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy wanted to make sure that the area had a robust chapter, and Steve Joyce, a standout high school student-athlete at the time, had a front row seat at the chapter's inaugural scholar-athlete banquet.
 
Named to the chapter's first Golden Dozen Student-Athlete Team in 1973, Joyce developed a strong bond with the NFF, and he has become a leader in perpetuating his experiences as a high school scholar-athlete for future generations. He joined the chapter's board of directors in 1997, and he won the NFF Westchester Chapter Distinguished American Award in 1999. He became chapter president in 2005. He currently leads the chapter, which distributes more than $20,000 in scholarships a year with an all-time total of more than $400,000.
 
"The Westchester Chapter of the National Football Foundation is intensely focused on celebrating the concept of the Scholar-Athlete in today's society," said Joyce. "Over the past 37 years, we have honored more than 900 young men for their fantastic accomplishments on the football field and in the classroom, and have provided over 100 of these Scholar-Athletes with financial assistance in pursuing their dreams through a college education. We are extremely proud of these efforts."
 
Joyce led Harrison High School to an undefeated, sectional championship as a starter at tight end, strong safety and punt returner in 1973. He then attended Colgate University, where he played two years of defensive back behind former Washington Redskin and current Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy. Joyce spent his final two years at Colgate broadcasting the Raiders games for the school's student radio station. Joyce graduated from Colgate Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in history in 1978. At Colgate, Joyce won a New York State Regents Scholarship, a Two/Ten Foundation Scholarship and was president of the KDR fraternity.
 
After college, Joyce worked for GE Capital for two decades, rising to CEO, president or executive vice president of several of its operating companies. In 1999, he left GE Capital to become managing director of CitiBank's internet banking business. Joyce has spent the past 10 years as president of Joyce Real Estate Corporation in Westchester County, New York.
 
Joyce also serves as the co-chairman for the Rye Turf Committee. The group raised over $1 million in private funds to install an artificial turf field and lights at Rye High School's Nugent Field. He also conducts community service with United Way, Rye Youth Council, RPJ Scholarship Fund, Little League Baseball and CYO Basketball.
 
"I'd like to recognize and thank all of the members of our Chapter Board of Directors, both past and present" said Joyce. "None of our board members have a vocational tie to football; they are all ex-players and scholars who dedicate their time to the NFF out of their love for the game of football and their commitment to scholarship. I accept this award today on their behalf."
 
A resident of Rye Brook, N.Y., Joyce and his wife, Susan, have two sons.