The core players of the Kansas City Chiefs love their adoptive city and their community. After Patrick Mahomes, who right after his contract, invested in the Royals, Travis Kelce just announced a big project after his four-year extension of his own last week.
Both Kelce and Mahomes wanted to give back to Kansas City and the people of Kansas City who have always been supportive, through the good and bad of the past several years.
To do so, Travis Kelce is creating the “Ignition Lab”, purchasing a building which will be home for underprivileged teenagers who will have the support, resources, and opportunity to explore careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), launch their own entrepreneurial ventures and gain real-world experience.
In an open letter put directly on social medias, the star tight end explained: “The vision is to give these teens in KC’s underserved neighborhoods a safe haven. A place where they’re exposed to interests and role models far beyond the field or court. Kids can’t concentrate if they don’t feel safe. They can’t envision a career they’ve never heard of or learn a skill they’ve never been taught.”
“As a kid I was mindful of how life looked different for everyone, but as a man I am profoundly aware of the difference in opportunity, exposure, and privilege I grew up with compared to others. Where you live, the situation you were born into or the color of your skin should have no impact on the dreams you can dream.”
“And it’s a beautiful thing when a kid’s dream comes true.”
In collaboration with “Operation Breakthrough” whose mission is helping Kansas City families since 1971 and his own foundation 87 & Running, a new project is born: “The Ignition Lab”.
Operation Breakthrough provides a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid and education.
87 and Running, Travis Kelce’s foundation focuses on “empowering disadvantaged youth to achieve success by providing resources and support to their communities and cultivating their talent in the areas of education, business, athletics, STEM, and the arts.”
His work on and off the field for Kansas City is remarkable.
Through the years, many people often try to compare Kelce to Tony Gonzalez. Here’s what Kelce had to say about it in his press conference following his extension:
“Everyone has always tried to compare me to Tony since I got here just because of the position. He’s a Hall of Famer man. The reason he’s a Hall of Famer is because he did it the right way every single time. He was out here in this community trying to make it better and trying to show everybody his face by getting out from under the face mask and make a difference. That’s what I’m trying to do every single year. I’m teaming up with Operation Breakthrough on some more things, so we have some news coming with that.”
As Kelce already did have one of his dream come true winning the Super Bowl, he is a positive force for all the Kansas City teens and youth who do not always see a bright future for themselves. He just wants to make a difference and this was the perfect way to kick off his next six years with the local team.
