Nick Carboni shares what makes the “unGala” an impactful tool in supporting families facing childhood congenital heart disease.
Author: wcnc.com
Published: 6:01 PM EST February 23, 2026
Updated: 6:01 PM EST February 23, 2026
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CAROLINA SPORTS LIVE) — Nineteen years after going through the NFL combine, Greg Olsen is now hosting one of the biggest annual events on Charlotte’s social calendar.
Tonight marked the fifth annual un-Gala benefiting Olsen’s foundation, The HEARTest Yard. The event has been held at Steak 48 each year and has raised more than $1 million to support families of children with congenital heart disease.
Bryson Shupe, from Conover, was just as surprised on his trip to Green Bay when he reunited with his hero!
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Carolina Panthers legend Greg Olsen made the trip Sunday to call the game against Green Bay as a commentator. But before kickoff happened, a special surprise was in store for him.
Levine Children’s Hospital shared a touching video on Instagram, showing Olsen reunite with a boy named Bryson Shupe. The two embraced in the press box at Lambeau Field, reuniting eight years after the two first met.
The hospital said Shupe, who’s from Conover, was waiting for a heart transplant at the same time that Olsen’s own son, TJ, was. The two met during a visit, with Sir Purr in tow, sparking in Shupe a love for the Panthers.
Now a healthy 14-year-old, Shupe was sent on the trip set up by Levine Children’s and the Panthers, leading to the touching reunion between him and Olsen. Shupe even commented when they embraced that even he didn’t know this was happening.
TJ Olsen was born with a congenital heart condition that necessitated the transplant. In 2013, Greg Olsen and his wife, Kara, launched The HEARTest Yard, a foundation that offers support for pediatric cardiovascular patients.
Click to View Story – https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/heartwarming/greg-oslen-bryson-surprise-11-2-2025/275-86fa860c-15fa-4b23-881d-b18674998da9
By Luke Tucker
Published: Nov. 3, 2025 at 1:56 PM EST|
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBTV) – A boy reunited with a Carolina Panthers legend on Sunday, years after they began a medical journey together.
Fourteen-year-old Bryson Shupe was once a heart transplant patient at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte. At the same time, one of Greg Olsen’s sons was waiting on his own heart transplant.
In a social media post, Levine Children’s said that Bryson and Olsen connected during that shared journey, creating within the boy a “deep love” for the Panthers.
Eight years later — and as a healthy teenager — Bryson was surprised with a trip to Lambeau Field in Green Bay to watch his Panthers win a huge game against the Packers on Nov. 2.
Bryson not only got to go to the game, but was on the field for pregame warmups and got to meet some of his favorite players. He also got to reconnect with Olsen in the broadcast booth as he prepared to call the game for Fox Sports.
“Hey buddy!” Olsen said as he wrapped Bryson up in a hug. “What’s up man? How are you? How’s this for a day?”
Levine Children’s shared pictures of Bryson donning his custom No. 1 jersey up in the broadcast booth with Olsen, all around historic Lambeau Field, down on the field, and one shot with Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.
“The perfect game day for the sweetest kid❤️,” Levine Children’s wrote in a social media caption. “We’re so proud to see Bryson having the time of his life ❤️.”As for Bryson’s advice to other kids who may be going through a hard time of their own, he said to “Keep pounding … Keep your head up. Don’t be sad at all.”
Eastwood Homes hosts charity event for The HEARTest Yard
BY BRANDY TEMPLETON
Participants in the Eastwood Homes fundraiser for former Carolina Panthers great Greg Olsen’s foundation had fun racing on over-sized tricycles, eating BBQ and connecting with builders of the Peyton Creek community. Teams competed for bragging rights and a trophy. The event also featured a raffle with autographed NFL memorabilia.
The big winner was The HEARTest Yard, a program of the foundation that has raised more than $8 million for family support and service program for pediatric cardiovascular patients and their families in the Carolinas. The event raised $6,500 for the nonprofit.
The housing development is the first of its kind for the company, which traditionally offers build-on-your-lot options with homes starting in the mid $600’s.
CEO Clark Stewart runs the family-owned company, which is based in Charlotte. His father Joseph started the business in 1977.
“What better way to kick this community off than by giving back to charity,” he said.
“It’s a great cause that helps deal with all the emotional, physical, and financial pressures these families face while their child is being treated,” added spokeswoman Shaiel Cherches.
Sponsors included CPI Security, Century 21, EBJ Law Southpark, and Rad Chad’s Italian Ice, which donated a portion of its sales to The HEARTest Yard.
Local sports celebrities, including Greg Olsen and Kyle Busch, showcased at a charity event in Concord, raising funds for children’s causes in the Carolinas.
Author: Nick Carboni
Published: 11:57 PM EDT September 16, 2025
Updated: 12:02 AM EDT September 17, 2025
CONCORD, N.C. — Several big-name, local sports celebrities strutted their stuff in Concord on Tuesday night, all for several good causes.
Panthers legends Greg Olsen, Luke Kuechly and Jonathan Stewart, as well as top NASCAR drivers like Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Kyle Larson all took part in the charitable fashion show at Ten Tenths Motor Club.
It was the 15th year of the event, which has now raised more than $5 million to benefit the lives of children in need in the Carolinas.
The event was originally started by driver Martin Truex Jr., and the late Sherry Pollex.
The 2025 iteration benefitted Greg Olsen’s HEARTest Yard, the Kyle & Samantha Busch Bundle of Joy Fund and the Kyle Larson Foundation.
This year’s event featured the following stars:
- Kyle and Katelyn Larson, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Hendrick Motorsports
- Kyle and Samantha Busch, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Richard Childress Racing
- Greg and Kara Olsen, FOX Sports broadcaster and former Carolina Panther
- Max and Grace Reaves, COOK OUT Restaurants
- Ricky and Madyson Stenhouse, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Hyak Motorsports
- John Hunter Nemechek, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Legacy Motor Club
- Jonathan and Natalie Stewart, former Carolina Panther
- Todd and Marissa Gilliland, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Front Row Motorsports
- Joey and Brittany Logano, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Team Penske
“We’re so honored that the HEARTest Yard, our family’s foundation was asked to be a part of this event,” Olsen said. “We’re really excited to be part of a fun night and help a lot of kids who really deserve it.”
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The HEARTest Yard Foundation, founded by former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, is celebrating more than $1 million raised for MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.
The Olsen family started the foundation in 2013 after their son was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Since then, they have worked to raise money and awareness for children’s congenital heart disease.
“When you’re born with congenital heart disease, which is the most common birth defect that exists in humans, it doesn’t affect just the child. It affects the entire family around them,” said Andrew M. Atz, M.D., chairman of the Dr. Charles P. Darby Jr. Department of Pediatrics at MUSC.
Pediatric heart patients attended a check presentation Thursday afternoon, sharing gratitude for the foundation’s continued efforts.
“We are just thankful that people who are able to continue living normal lives outside of this, they remember that we are here, we are here fighting and advocating for our children. We are so graciously thankful for the donation that was made today, thankful that they didn’t forget about us,” said patient mother Dyketia Gregg.
Olsen tells News 4 that getting to meet and speak with the families and kids receiving care at MUSC inspires him to continue sharing support.
“We hear them, we see them, we know it’s difficult, but we are going to do everything in our power to make that journey just a little bit easier. After seeing our son was able to go through the amazing care that he got, how do we make sure that everyone could get that level of care, if not better, throughout the Carolinas,” Olsen said. “It really is a community that services these heart patients, and we are so proud that we’re able to make a small impact on improving their lives. It’s pretty incredible that we just continue to be able to meet families and meet people that really care so deeply about these heart babies.”
By QC Life Web Staff
January 30, 2025 at 2:32 pm EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QC Life) – He can play football, he can call games, but did you know Greg Olsen can make biscuits, too?
WBTV and The HEARTest Yard are teaming up with Bojangles to raise money to support heart care services and research in our communities.
We were joined by Jose Armario, executive director of the Bojangles Foundation and the CEO of Bojangles, along with Kari Plant, head nurse practitioner of The HEARTest Yard.
Starting February 3rd, visit any Bojangles location and purchase a heart-shaped Bo-Berry Biscuit. 10% of sales will benefit The HEARTest Yard and the Bojangles Foundation.
If you’re not in the mood for a Bo-Berry Biscuit (but how can you not?), you can also donate by rounding up your purchase at the register.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s a delicious way to celebrate Heart Month.
For more information on The HEARTest Yard, visit their website.
Click here for the Bojangles location nearest you.
Copyright 2025 WBTV. All rights reserved.
The Carolina Panthers legend sat down for a wide-ranging 1-on-1 conversation with WCNC Charlotte
“I’ll be honest. It’s hard sitting home on the couch watching the games,” he told WCNC Sports Director Nick Carboni. “I’ll be very honest, my goal getting into this wasn’t to call regional, 1 o’clock games and just be happy to be there. I’ve called the highest games, some of the biggest games in NFL history, some of the biggest audience in NFL history. To not do it anymore is hard, it’s not ideal.”
Brady has nine more years to go in his contract with FOX, but Olsen says there could be a path elsewhere to call more big games.
“Wherever it is, whatever network it’s on, whatever opportunity is there, my goal is to continue to show I’m as good if not better than anybody in this industry,” Olsen said. “I just need a chair.”
Olsen sat down with WCNC Charlotte for a wide-ranging interview at Steak 48, a popular south Charlotte restaurant that serves as the site of his annual HEARTest Yard Ungala.
The Feb. 24 event features prominent local and national sports celebrities with 100% of the proceeds going to the HEARTest Yard program.
For ticket information, click here.
“It doesn’t feel like you’re at a charity event,” Olsen said. “We fill this with our biggest supporters, family, friends, former teammates. People from all over the Carolinas that truly appreciate our program, the children’s hospital, the community. It’s a very unique event and one that we certainly don’t take for granted.”
That program is part of Olsen’s Receptions for Research, which supports families of children with congenital heart disease like Olsen’s son, T.J., who was treated at Levine’s Children’s Hospital.
Last year, the event raised $305,000, which equates to over 6,100 hours of in-home nursing care for a new heart baby.
“That was the entire motivation behind us starting the HEARTest Yard,” Olsen said. “How do we make sure that we leave it better than we found it. The hope for us is that kids born 10-20 years after T.J., they should have a significantly better experience and outcome.”
T.J. Olsen had a heart transplant nearly four years ago.
“He’s doing awesome,” Olsen said. “Playing basketball, playing baseball, running around and driving us crazy.”
Olsen and his family still call Charlotte home despite other NFL stints in Chicago and Seattle, and he pays close attention to the Panthers still.
He was very impressed with quarterback Bryce Young’s turnaround after being benched early in his second season.
“I think it’s one of the best stories in the NFL this season,” Olsen said. “He could have easily thrown in the towel and said I’m done here. But he didn’t. From everybody you talk to his attitude didn’t change. I think we saw the Bryce Young that we all watched and marveled at, at Alabama. That was the magic that made him the first overall pick. I think we saw flashes of it down the stretch.”
The HEARTest Yard is a proud partner of SHARE Charlotte, connecting our mission with the local community.