“It’s something that my mother taught me at a young age”: How Travis Kelce put his mom Donna’s lesson into action with a $1,500 surprise that gave 10 children a day to remember

Travis Kelce gave 10 young sports fans a shopping trip to remember in July 2018. The popular Kansas City Chiefs TE handed each child a $150 gift card and spent time helping them pick out new sports gear at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Leawood, Kansas. However, the afternoon offered more than a chance to shop. Kelce also shared the lesson behind his generosity, crediting his mother for teaching him to use his influence to make people happy.The event followed Kelce’s football camp on Saturday, July 14, 2018. He teamed up with Operation Breakthrough and Dick’s Sporting Goods to bring the idea to life. Instead of simply handing out gift cards, Kelce joined the children inside the store and helped make their shopping experience special. Travis Kelce’s $150 gift cards gave 10 kids more than new sports gearKelce spent around an hour walking through the store with the children. He helped them find shoes that fit and reacted positively to the shirts they picked. Some children even added No. 87 Chiefs jerseys to their baskets.The tight end also sat on the floor with some of the children to help them work out how much money they had left or whether they had exceeded their budgets. He stayed with them as they waited in line to pay, making the afternoon a personal experience rather than a quick charitable appearance.During a Kansas City star interview at the 2018 shopping event, Kelce explained why the experience meant so much to him.“It’s something that my mother taught me at a young age that when you have the ability to be an influence and make people happy, to go ahead and do that,” he said.His words offered a glimpse into the personal lesson behind the shopping trip. Kelce wanted the children to enjoy themselves, but he also understood the value of using his position to give back to the community that supported him.Why giving back to Kansas City is personal for Travis KelceKelce also spoke about his connection with Kansas City during the event. The Chiefs star said the city had accepted him despite his sometimes unpredictable behaviour on the field.“I love KC man; they have embraced me for who I was. Even my knucklehead ways on the field,” Kelce said at Dick’s Sporting Goods.He added that he appreciated the community and wanted to return the support he had received. His partnership with Operation Breakthrough and Dick’s Sporting Goods gave him a way to do that while connecting directly with local children.Dick’s Sporting Goods community marketing manager for Kansas City and Nebraska, Shane Cloepfil, also praised Kelce’s work with young athletes. He said that Kelce had become a positive figure in youth sports and that the experience meant a great deal to the children.The July 2018 shopping trip showed a personal side of Kelce beyond his NFL career. For those 10 kids, the afternoon brought new sports gear, time with a Chiefs star and a memory built around a lesson he learned from his mother.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.