“It is so very important for me to help support”: How Donna Kelce used Jason and Travis Kelce’s NFL fame to support their hometown schools through a T-shirt fundraise

Donna Kelce found a way to turn the attention around Jason and Travis Kelce's NFL rivalry into support for their hometown school community. In Oct. 2023, she teamed up with her sons and apparel brand HOMAGE to launch a T-shirt fundraiser for the Heights Schools Foundation in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. The design carried a message familiar to NFL fans, but the cause behind it was personal to the Kelce family.The shirt read “Mama Kelce: Rooting for the Offense,” a playful nod to Donna's refusal to choose between her sons. A portion of the proceeds supported the foundation, which provides scholarships, teacher grants and programmes for students and staff in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district. Donna Kelce used her sons' NFL spotlight to give back to their hometownThe Heights Schools Foundation announced the fundraiser on Oct. 24, 2023, after HOMAGE unveiled the design during the Oct. 22 Eagles-Dolphins game. Jason graduated from Heights High in 2006, while Travis graduated in 2008. Both went on to build successful NFL careers, with Jason playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis for the Kansas City Chiefs.For Donna, the fundraiser was about recognising the people who helped raise her sons. In comments to The Philadelphia Inquirer, published on Nov. 18, 2023, she explained why supporting the foundation meant so much to her.“It is so very important for me to help support Cleveland Heights School Foundation,” Donna said.She credited the teachers, coaches, students and parents who helped her and her husband, Ed Kelce, teach their sons lessons beyond the classroom. Donna specifically highlighted inclusion, embracing differences and equality.She also expressed hope that the foundation would continue helping students pursue opportunities they might not otherwise have.The fundraiser gave fans a way to support that mission while celebrating the Kelce family. The shirt featured a caricature of Donna in a design that captured her position as the mother of two competitive NFL players. Rather than picking a side, she backed both sons and their shared hometown.Donna Kelce refused to choose between Jason and Travis KelceThe shirt also reflected a running question Donna faced whenever her sons played against each other: which team would get her support?In a statement published by the Heights Schools Foundation on Oct. 24, 2023, Donna explained how the design reflected her feelings about Jason and Travis.“In our family there is no favorite child, although Jason and Travis may like to joke otherwise,” she said.Donna added that she was proud of both sons and wanted to use some of the attention surrounding their success to help others. She described the opportunity as a way to give back to the Cleveland Heights community, which had supported her family while the boys were growing up.HOMAGE founder and CEO Ryan Vesler also praised Donna's commitment to the community in the foundation's October 24 announcement. He said the company was honoured when she approached it about creating a shirt to benefit the Kelces' hometown.The fundraiser supported a school district where more than 71% of students received needs-based assistance. The foundation funds scholarships, teacher grants and educational programming for students and staff.The T-shirt campaign connected the Kelce family's NFL fame with a cause rooted in their childhood. For Donna, it offered a chance to celebrate both sons while supporting the community that helped prepare them for life beyond football.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.