NFL great Greg Olsen raises money to help families

South Charlotte Weekly:

CHARLOTTE – Carolina Panthers legend Greg Olsen has been supporting cancer causes for many years. 

He launched the Greg Olsen Foundation following his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis and The HEARTest Yard following his son, TJ, being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect.

“We feel like this is our mission,” Olsen told those attending The HEARTest Yard Ungala at Steak 48 in SouthPark. “We feel like this is our calling. We feel like we were given TJ’s diagnosis and tough journey for a reason. We realize that we are very fortunate that we had means that we could really provide him with the top level of care both in the home and out of the home as possible. It is our goal to make sure everybody has the same results.”

Greg and Kara Olsen welcomed a slew of pro sports celebrities to Steak 48 for The HEARTest Yard Ungala.

Several members of the Carolina Panthers attended the gala, including owner David Tepper; quarterback Andy Dalton; and legends Luke Kuechly, Muhsin Muhammad and Jonathan Stewart.

Others attending were NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, Charlotte Hornets executive Fred Whitfield, Speedway Sports CEO Marcus Smith, Bojangles CEO Jose Armario and Fox Sports executive Jacob Ullman. 

The event raised $305,000. The money raised represents more than 6,100 hours of in-home nursing care for babies diagnosed with congenital heart defects.