Travis Kelce has spent years making headlines for his achievements with the Kansas City Chiefs, but one of his most meaningful contributions came far away from the football field. The NFL star stepped forward when 79-year-old Gloria White faced the possibility of losing the comfort of her longtime home. Through his Eighty-Seven & Running Foundation, Kelce provided a $30,000 grant that helped fund major repairs to her house. The contribution did more than fix a damaged property. It gave a longtime Kansas City resident a chance to continue living in the place filled with decades of memories.
Travis Kelce’s $30,000 donation helps Gloria White stay in her home
Gloria White had spent 56 years in her eastern Kansas City home, raising her family and welcoming children from the neighbourhood into her backyard. However, age and health challenges had made everyday life increasingly difficult. She suffered from arthritis and joint pain, which affected her mobility and made several parts of the house unsafe.The problems were not limited to minor maintenance. Sewage had leaked into her basement, the steps leading downstairs were broken, and the property needed significant plumbing work. Her roof, gutters, bathroom and kitchen also required attention.White initially contacted Rebuilding Together Kansas City, a nonprofit organisation that helps vulnerable residents live safely in their homes. The organisation then partnered with Kelce’s foundation to make the necessary improvements possible.According to Rebuilding Together Kansas City, Eighty-Seven & Running provided a $30,000 grant towards the project. The repairs were completed in early December 2023, covering everything from plumbing problems to important safety modifications.The project included a new roof, bathroom and kitchen improvements, grab bars, additional railings and repairs to the home’s major plumbing systems. These changes helped White move around more comfortably and reduced the risks she faced inside her house.
Gloria White shares emotional reaction to Travis Kelce’s gesture
Rebuilding Together Kansas City executive director Scott Hickox appreciated Kelce’s involvement and explained how much the partnership meant to the community.“For Travis to care enough and his foundation to care enough about his community and what’s happening in our city, it meant the world”.For White, the improvements meant something far more personal than a renovated kitchen or repaired roof. They allowed her to hold on to the home where she had spent most of her adult life.She also expressed her gratitude for the unexpected support, saying, “I thank God so much for the work they did here at my house,” she said. “You never know which way your blessing will come, but it will be at the right time.”White’s story also reflects the community spirit she had built over the years. She had regularly welcomed neighbourhood children into her backyard and encouraged them to follow their ambitions.“I’ve had all races of kids in my backyard. I’ve taught them; don’t ever think you can’t wait; keep on and you pursue it,” White said.For Kelce, the $30,000 contribution through his foundation became an opportunity to support someone who had spent decades giving back to her neighbourhood. His gesture helped ensure that White could continue making memories in the home she never wanted to leave.