Thursday morning, the Broncos held a special team meeting to make a handful of important announcements. Four games remain in a season that has, for most on the team, been the most difficult one of their careers. But before they took the field to prep for the final stretch, they took a moment to recognize more than what transpired on the field this year.

The Broncos named star linebacker Von Miller its 2017 Community Impact Award winner for his off-field contributions through Von’s Vision, his foundation created to provide low-income children with eye care and corrective eyewear.

Since Von’s Vision was established in 2012, Miller has raised $3.4 million (including $1.1 million in 2017) to provide eye exams, frames and lenses to children of low-income families. By the end of 2017, more than 6,000 students in Denver will have received free eye care through his foundation.

“It’s a wonderful award,” Miller said. “I didn’t need credit. I haven’t been looking for credit. But to get that — I can’t even downplay it. It’s amazing. That’s an award I hold close to my heart.”

The Broncos also selected second-year safeties Justin Simmons, Will Parks, long snapper Casey Kreiter and receiver Emmanuel Sanders as their four Community Ambassador Award winners for 2017.

Simmons made 16 community appearances this year, including six visits to local high school games, and has been a leader

for the Broncos’ with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.

Parks led all Broncos players in service hours this year by attending more than 20 community events, through local high school visits and team initiatives.

Kreiter helped the Broncos’ Tackle STEM program and participated in National STEM Day. He has also been a regular visitor to Children’s Hospital Colorado.

And Sanders launched his namesake foundation this year to provide children from financially disadvantaged families with support and resources. Earlier this year he led the Broncos in raising $87,000 for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in Houston.