KANSAS CITY CHIEFS tight end Travis Kelce has opened up about why he is determined to give back to his local community.
Kelce was nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award by his team this week.
The award is the league’s most prestigious honor, recognizing players who excel on the field and demonstrate a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.
Kelce is one of 32 nominees, with a player from each NFL team put forward annually.
The 35-year-old – who is regularly involved with Operation Breakthrough, a Kansas City-based nonprofit, as well as his own foundation, 87 and Running – discussed his love for giving back in an emotional video for the Chiefs on Thursday.
He said: “Growing up I had a beautiful childhood and that has everything to do with my parents, the family aspect that I grew up in.
“Cleveland Heights, Ohio, the east side of Cleveland, such a melting pot of social class, race and religion. I was able to relate to all those kids growing up and really appreciate everyone for who they were.
“I don’t care what you look like or where you come from, I’m going to be friendly and lend a helping hand. I just don’t know any other way.
“In 2015, I started my foundation 87 and Running. I created it because I really wanted to make sure that the city felt as much love from me as I do on Sundays.
“Operation Breakthrough, it’s unbelievable. Anybody that walks through there leaves there very appreciative of what that organisation does for the under-served of the Kansas City community.
“When I got that contract I knew that this was the moment that I could help them expand operation breakthrough through high school and give the high school kids even more of an opportunity to latch onto something that they might love.
“It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of and it’s awesome to see the kids really buy it. It’s made me a better person, it’s made me a better man knowing that I can influence the community and the kids in the community to do the right things.
“At the end of the day, that’s something I can hang my hat on.”
On Kelce’s nomination, Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said: “Over the past 12 years, Travis Kelce has grown into one of the most dynamic individuals in all of football, both on and off the field.
“He’s a three-time Super Bowl Champion, a nine- time Pro Bowler and one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.
“He’s also a tremendous leader, a role model for young people in Kansas City and an inspiration to football fans around the world.
“Through his new Ignition Lab, the growing Eighty-Seven & Running Foundation and his partnership with Operation Breakthrough, Travis has impacted the lives of thousands of young people in the Kansas City region and beyond.
“Very few athletes in the history of the game have balanced the same level of team success, individual accolades and community engagement.
“The Chiefs organization and the Kansas City community are proud to have Travis as the club’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.”
