Air date: October 25, 2015
TODAY’s inspiring Together We Make Football series looks at the founders of the HEARTest Yard Foundation, who united Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and fan Greg Galloway to help provide at-home nursing care for families whose babies were born with congenital heart defects.
By: Jenny Vrentas
Of the five undefeated teams in the NFL, the Panthers may be the one getting the least amount of buzz. Maybe that’s because their four wins came against Jacksonville, Houston, New Orleans and Tampa Bay; or maybe it’s because they’re in one of the league’s smaller markets. But a lack of attention never bothered Greg Olsen, the productive tight end who wasn’t named to a Pro Bowl until his eighth season. As one of the team’s leaders, and Cam Newton’s favorite target, Olsen just wants to keep it going. Next up: A rematch of last season’s playoff game in Seattle. The nine-year veteran talked to The MMQB about this season’s fast start, getting open and a very special birthday last week.
Two Charlotte sports figures who share the #88 are teaming up to help local charities.
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. kicked off their “Weekend with the 88s” fundraiser which offers the chance to win a one-of-a-kind sports experience for one lucky raffle winner and a guest.
The Dale Jr. Foundation and The Greg Olsen Foundation and its HEARTest Yard campaign are selling 8,888 raffle tickets for $18.88. The raffle ends on October 11, 2015 and the winner will be drawn on October 12, 2015.
Olsen started his foundation, Receptions for Research, in honor of his mother, who is a breast cancer survivor.
In 2012, Olsen and his wife, Kara, learned they were expecting twins. One of the twins was perfectly healthy, while the other had a prenatal diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a severe congenital heart defect.
They were so moved by the help they received from the hospital staff and community that they knew they had to use their voice to help other families going through the same situation. They decided to add another branch to the foundation called The HEARTest Yard.
“Hearing from those families and being able to give them some sort of support and give them some sort of hope is what countless families did for us two, three years ago when we were in their same shoes.” Olsen said. “To be able to provide that hope and provide a little foresight into what they’re going to experience, it feels good.”
The HEARTest Yard initiative is a family service program administered in conjunction with Levine Children’s Hospital. It provides families of babies affected by congenital heart disease with services including in-home, private nursing care, physical therapy, and speech therapy among other benefits.
“We encourage people to reach out. We are willing to use our voice to help them,” Olsen said. “We know what shoes they’re in. It’s a tough road, but because people did it for us, you can help them, and we are trying to be those people.”
NASCAR’s No. 88 driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Carolina Panthers No. 88 tight end Greg Olsen have teamed up to raise money for the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. The fundraising event called, “Weekend with the 88s,” will offer one lucky winner and their guest an unprecedented experience in sports spectating.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to team up with Greg and his foundation again this year,” Earnhardt, Jr. said. “The schedule works out perfect for a fan to be able to come to our race in Martinsville, then get to go watch Greg and the Panthers play Monday Night Football. It’s a unique experience for the fans and helps us raise money and awareness for Levine Children’s Hospital.”
Ashley Furniture HomeStore licensee Broad River Furniture here and NFL player Greg Olsen have signed a two year agreement naming Olsen spokesperson for the retailer’s designated Beds for Kids charity.
The deal also calls for Broad River to support The HEARTest Yard, a charity Olsen and his wife Kara founded in partnership with Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte to support families of babies affected by congenital heart disease.
Beds for Kids is a Charlotte–based non-profit Broad River has sponsored since 2011 that is dedicated to providing beds to children in need.
Under the agreement, the 16-store Broad River will produce and air a Beds for Kids TV spot starring Olsen, an All-Pro tight end for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. The retailer also will produce a spot focusing on The HEARTest Yard and will donate all proceeds from an Ashley Cares event in its stores to Olsen’s charity for each year of the agreement.
Former Chicago Bears tight end Greg Olsen is participating in another Kicks for a Cure Charity Kickball tournament in Grant Park, 337 E. Randolph St., on Saturday.
The 12th Annual Kicks for a Cure charity event is being hosted by C.H. Robinson, benefiting Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation. Last year, $180,000 was raised for the foundation at the event.
This is the annual event’s twelfth year; it’s Olsen’s fifth year being on board. The event is the world’s largest charity kickball tournament. So far, 70 kickball teams have signed up to play in Grant Park’s 16 softball fields. More than 1,800 attendees are expected to attend the family-friendly event that is from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The teams are at capacity, but people can still attend and watch. The day pass is $50 and includes food, drinks and access to the beer tent. The spectator pass can be purchased online or on-site using cash or credit.
Olsen said he entered a team with some of his friends and this year Bill and Giuliana Rancic, who have their own reality-TV show on E! News are participating. Both Matt Forte and Brian Urlacher have participated in the past.
All proceeds will go toward Olsen’s foundation, which has the mission of helping doctors and researchers get the resources they need to improve the lives of those living with cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Olsen said this is important to him because his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was going into his junior year of high school. Today, she is a breast cancer survivor, but he hasn’t forgotten the challenging journey he and his family embarked with his mother.
“It was hard, it was a trying year,” he said about the first year after she was diagnosed in 2001. “It was difficult seeing my mother go through something like that. [My brother and I] were young, but yet old enough to see the struggles and understand the impact it had on our family and the impact it had, especially on her.”
He said he and his brother would always talk about making a difference if the opportunity presented itself. His foundation launched in 2009. The motivation behind it was his mother. His foundation raises funds for mainly local cancer organizations and charities, with breast cancer as the focus.
Dozens of Panthers fans were treated to a meet-and-greet with tight end Greg Olsen and linebackers Luke Kuechly and A.J. Klein Saturday morning.
The event, held at Champions Sports Performance in Cornelius, helped raise money for The HEARTest Yard fund of Olsen’s Receptions for Research foundation.
After their son T.J. was born with a congenital heart defect in 2012, Olsen and his wife teamed with Levine’s Children’s Hospital to start The HEARTest Yard.
The fund helps assist families of babies affected by congenital heart disease with services like in-home private nursing care, physical therapy and speech therapy.
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen is encouraging fans to get heart-healthy Saturday morning at Champions Sports Performance in Cornelius, and it’s all for a good cause.
Starting at 9 a.m., Olsen and a few of his teammates will be available for a meet-and-greet, with an organized workout starting at 10 a.m.
Adults and children are welcome. Olsen is asking for is a donation to his foundation, Receptions for Research.
“I think it will be fun and a cool way to raise money for the foundation,” Olsen said by phone Friday.
It’s a cause near to Olsen’s heart. Shortly after his son, TJ, was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Olsen and his wife, Kara, partnered with Levine Children’s Hospital to form the HEARTest Yard initiative.
The goal of the HEARTest yard is to help families with children affected by congenital heart defects adjust to their new lives, providing services like in-home care, physical therapy and speech therapy. “Our program is very tangible. It’s very easy to relate to,” he said. “You can see the money go to work you can see what your money does for these kids. The services we’re providing for these families are life-changing.” Olsen has been giving back to the Charlotte area since he first joined the Panthers in 2011. Earlier this month, the Pro Bowler signed a three-year contract extension to remain with the team.
“Charlotte is home for us, it’s going to be home for us, we’re going to raise our kids here,” he said. “The community has been amazingly supportive of us and has really embraced us since we got here. We couldn’t be happier. We couldn’t feel more at home and it’s a big driving force behind our willingness to make a difference in this community.” Champions Sports Performance is located at 18831 Statesville Rd. For more information call 704-439-1111.
