It’s a very Merry Christmas indeed for a handful of children on a Dick’s Sporting Goods shopping spree, thanks to ProCamps, Partners for Parks, and one very special Panthers alumnus.
Partners for Parks and ProCamps have worked for over 15 years to choose youngsters for the gift of pro sports, using both the generosity of local teams and the ProCamps clinics that have included names like Luke Keuchly, Steve Smith, and Kemba Walker.
Tuesday, 10 young people got the chance to shop at Dick’s with Panthers great Luke Kuechly, who shared time and sports advice generously with the young pals. The “Shop with a Pro” trips have been a longstanding tradition with Dick’s Sporting Goods, ProCamps, and Partners for Parks’ Alvin Woods, who helps select deserving kids for the spree based on his years of working with young athletes.
“We’ve always come through for them, and they know they can contact us,” says Woods.
As Kuechly – or Luuuuuke to Panthers fans everywhere – made his way around the store, he stopped and talked to each of the kids at length about their purchases. He shared his own stories about his influences (like Panthers’ Walter Peyton Man of the Year Thomas Davis) and pro tips about getting the best performance. Parents smiled and snapped photos of the linebacker with their kids.
“We love the looks on the kids’ faces, especially being a parent this time of year,” says Wade Leaphart, Community Marketing Manager for Dick’s Sporting Goods. “If you can build the surprise into it, it’s that much more special.” The kids sure were surprised to see Luke!
Nine-year-old Branden Perry’s mom certainly loved it! While her son shopped carefully for track shoes for the upcoming season, a pair of Croc’s (a popular choice among the kids), and a Marvel-logo golf ball, Lamanda Jackson, who works as a behavioral specialist in Union County Schools, smiled ear to ear.
“I love it. As a single mom of a son doing so many sports, it’s helpful,” she says. “It’s really amazing. Being a single mom you can’t afford everything.” She beamed as Kuechly gave Branden some one-on-one advice for running faster at the track. He even offered to share some more tips in the future.
After an hour of shopping, Kuechly posed for a group picture with the kids and answered some questions for the news crews. Even behind the mask, you could tell the smile never left his face.
“Kids are fun – they’re just so excited. Christmas is a great time of year!” cheered Kuechly. “It’s easy to come out here, meet kids, and have fun, and the smiles on their faces makes YOU happy. Sometimes I think we get more out of it than they do!”
The evening was an easy Pick-6 TD for Luke, and an awesome Pick-10 for Partners for Parks and the lucky 10 kids who shared it with him. Cheers!
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