“I'm just happy that I've been able to influence”: How Travis Kelce used a fashion show to support Kansas City kids before becoming NFL superstar

Travis Kelce has spent years making plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, but his work off the field started taking shape early in his NFL career. In April 2016, the tight end came up with a different way to support children in Kansas City. He organised a fashion show that brought local models, children and his teammates together for a charity event. The idea was simple, but Kelce wanted to do more than just show up and lend his name to a cause.The event, called the Walk the Walk Fashion Benefit, took place at Tom's Town Distillery in downtown Kansas City. It supported Shadow Buddies and Operation Breakthrough, two organisations Kelce had already started working with. His nonprofit, Eighty-Seven & Running, also benefited from the event, according to Shadow Buddies Foundation. For a player still building his NFL career, it was an early example of how he wanted to use his growing platform to help his community.How Travis Kelce turned a fashion show into a charity event for Kansas City kidsThe Walk the Walk Fashion Benefit took place on April 6, 2016. Kelce developed the idea himself, bringing Kansas City fashion into a fundraising event with a purpose beyond the runway.Children from Operation Breakthrough joined local models to walk the runway, while guests enjoyed food, drinks and a private shopping experience. The event also drew local personalities and Kelce's Chiefs teammates James O'Shaughnessy, Brian Parker and Ross Travis. Tight ends coach Tom Melvin attended as well.Kelce explained his thinking in an interview published on the Kansas City Chiefs' official website on April 8, 2016."I wanted it to be something fun, something interactive," he said. "It's all for a great cause. I'm just happy that I've been able to influence this city and be a part of it. The city has brought me in as one of its own, and I just feel like this is my opportunity to give back and when I can, make a great influence."Kelce wanted to use his standing in Kansas City to bring people together and support organisations working with children.The proceeds went to Shadow Buddies and Operation Breakthrough, along with Kelce's Eighty-Seven & Running nonprofit. However, the available accounts do not disclose the total amount raised, so there is no confirmed figure to attach to the fundraiser.Why Shadow Buddies and Operation Breakthrough were part of Travis Kelce's planKelce's choice of beneficiaries was not random. Both organisations had supported his charitable mission, and he wanted to help them reach more people."[Shadow Buddies and Operation Breakthrough] were the first two that really got on board to what my mission was and what I wanted to be a part of," Kelce told the Chiefs' official website in the April 8, 2016 interview.He added, "Both Shadow Buddies and Operation Breakthrough have been awesome for me, for this community and for the surrounding communities. It's awesome just to be a part of them and be a face for them and they can be a face for me."Shadow Buddies creates doll-like companions that help children and families cope with illness and medical experiences. Operation Breakthrough works with children and families in Kansas City, providing educational and support services.There was also a connection to Chiefs history. Former Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez had helped establish the Shadow Buddies programme in the city, and Kelce continued that tradition through his involvement.The fashion benefit gave Kelce a chance to support both organisations while bringing his teammates and the wider community into the effort. He even joined the runway himself, dancing and skipping as guests cheered him on.Today, Kelce is known worldwide for his NFL career, but the 2016 event offers a look at an earlier side of the Chiefs star. He was already looking for ways to give back, and he chose a fashion show to bring that idea to life.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.