KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Travis Kelce's influence can be felt on and off the field in Kansas City.
He earned a second Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nomination primarily because of his work with KC nonprofit Operation Breakthrough.
When Kelce first met the kids at Operation Breakthrough nearly a decade ago, no one expected the visit to turn into a decades-long relationship.
“Travis's first visit was something that was sponsored by the Chiefs, but he just kept coming back,” said Mary Esselman, Operation Breakthrough CEO.
He began by reading to preschoolers, but his contributions have expanded to funding programs that have helped hundreds of Kansas City kids.
“As he came to visit, he started wondering what happens to kids when they turn 14 and realized we didn't have programming,” Esselman said.
He then partnered with the organization to make the dream of high school programming a reality. Kelce bought the building for the Ignition Lab, which helps teens with workforce development and entrepreneurship skills.
“Kids really look up to Travis, but they also just see him as kind of an everyday person because they've had a chance to grow up with him,” Esselman said.
Javion Mahone is a senior at Hogan Prep Academy and student at Operation Breakthrough’s Ignition Lab. He’s known Kelce since elementary school.
“Every time we run into each other, it's like a normal conversation, just catching up with each other, really,” Mahone said.
Their bond led to Kelce gifting Mahone tickets to Super Bowl LIX.
“I was at a loss for words, really. Yeah, it was exciting,” Mahone said.
Kelce admired the example Mahone set for other students. Those at Operation Breakthrough said it’s an example Mahone learned from No. 87.
“We see, not only on the field but off the field, the difference that he's making,” Esselman said. “Not just financially at Operation Breakthrough, but personally; the development of our children and their families.”
Operation Breakthrough said it's not surprising to see Kelce nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. His first nomination came in 2020.
The winner of the award will be announced Thursday, Feb. 6.
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KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas. Share your story idea with Olivia.
