"It's a foundation designed all around kids": How Patrick and Brittany Mahomes are raising their own children while quietly changing the lives of thousands more

Patrick Mahomes throws touchdowns for a living. But what he and Brittany have built off the field is harder to measure and, arguably, more lasting. Since launching the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation in 2019, the couple has quietly grown it into one of the most active NFL-backed charities in the country. They have distributed more than 134 charitable grants, over $2.9 million in grant funding, and donated more than 140,000 meals. The 6th Annual Gala in October 2025 alone raised $1,508,000 for 27 Kansas City charities. This is not celebrity philanthropy by press release. It is personal.How did Patrick and Brittany Mahomes start their charity foundation?The foundation's origin is simpler than its scale suggests. When Mahomes announced the foundation on The Tonight Show, he said plainly: "It's a foundation that's designed all around kids. Kids from either underserved communities that don't have the same opportunities I had when I was young, or kids that are in the hospital who have chronic illnesses or have suffered major injuries. Because those kids are the ones that train harder than me by 100 times every single day."That was 2019. Six years later, the mission has not shifted. What has changed is the reach.The Boys and Girls Clubs partnership, announced in October 2023, was a turning point. The foundation committed $1.625 million over multiple years to support clubs in Greater Kansas City, Lubbock, Tyler, and Whitehouse, Texas -- communities that personally shaped both Patrick and Brittany. The connection for Brittany was not symbolic. Patrick said in the announcement: "Kids who attend a Club, like Brittany once did, are provided with the necessary tools and resources to help this generation not only thrive but lead with compassion and purpose."Brittany put it plainly herself. "This meaningful partnership will expand opportunities for kids everywhere, and the places that have positively impacted Patrick and me," she said. "We are committed to doing all we can to uplift others."That is not a talking point. Brittany grew up in those spaces. This partnership was her full circle.What programs does the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation run for children?The foundation does not operate as a check-writing operation. It runs structured programs designed to build habits, not just fund moments.Read for 15 is a virtual program encouraging children to develop a love for reading, where kids, classrooms, and parents take a 15-week pledge. Volunteer for 15 is a partnership with Youth Volunteer Corps that pushes youth aged 11 to 18 to complete 15 hours of community service.The numbers behind Volunteer for 15 are striking. According to Youth Volunteer Corps, thanks to Patrick's leadership, 2,110 young people dedicated 92,714 hours of service across 194 cities in five countries in one year alone.Then came the scholarship program in June 2025. The foundation, in partnership with Bold.org, announced three new scholarships covering Kansas City, Tyler County, and Lubbock County, awarding $10,000 to five high school seniors in each region — a total of $150,000 for the Class of 2025. Mahomes was direct about why. "Giving back to the communities that have shaped me has always been incredibly important," he said. "These scholarships are about lifting students up and showing them that their dreams are within reach."These are not one-time donations. They are investments structured to outlast any single NFL season.How much money have Patrick and Brittany Mahomes raised through their annual charity gala?The annual gala has become the foundation's flagship event, and it keeps growing. The 5th Annual Gala in 2024 raised $1,077,000 for 20 Kansas City charities, drawing over 850 supporters. One year later, that figure jumped to $1,508,000 benefiting 27 charities at the 6th Annual Gala in October 2025.After the 2024 event, Brittany posted on Instagram: "@15andmahomies just keeps getting better. Thank you to everyone who continues to show up and help us make an impact in the world."The foundation itself captured the night's meaning well. "Together, we are changing lives. Let's keep it rolling," the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation wrote.In October 2024, a Boys and Girls Club facility in Independence, Missouri was officially renamed the "15 and the Mahomies Unit," marking the first physical tribute to the foundation's long-term investment in the community. Jason Roth, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, summed up what that investment actually means on the ground. "It's about the stability of the clubs being here every day, having a warm meal, having wonderful staff and tutors, and just a stable ground for young people to be in when they need somewhere to go," he said.A renamed building. Thousands of volunteer hours. $150,000 in scholarships. A gala that keeps breaking its own record. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes are raising three children of their own while building something for thousands of others. The scorecard off the field is becoming just as hard to argue with as the one on it.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.