“Help Hope Live chose me…that’ll be a cause I’m linked with for the rest of my life.”
KJ Henry chose Help Hope Live as his charity of choice for the 2023 My Cause, My Cleats initiative, bringing NFL players’ favorite nonprofit missions to the field with custom-designed cleats.
Photos provided by commanders.com.
Recipient of our 2023 Live Award for his work to highlight our mission and impact, KJ says Help Hope Live played one of “the biggest roles” in his community’s efforts to get his father, Keith, a life-saving kidney transplant.
Learning about his father’s critical health concerns, KJ says he moved from shock and sadness into action. As commanders.com reported:
Every step of the way, Help Hope Live was there to assist with setting up the fundraiser, organizing events, spreading awareness and more.
KJ and his family leaned on Help Hope Live’s one-on-one fundraising guidance, ultimately raising over $100,000 in Keith’s honor to assist with transplant-related expenses.
“They were really just hand in hand by our side the entire, just with anything we might need during a trying time.”
While Keith’s road to transplant culminated in a successful living donation from his wife’s cousin in 2022, that wasn’t the end of the road for KJ’s efforts to spotlight our mission of hope.
“I’m honored to represent them. They continue to do great work and make me proud…it’s my job to give that back and make sure I’m making them proud as well.”
KJ and his cleats took the field during the December 3 Commanders game:
Written by Emily Progin
