Throughout the 2020 offseason, the Super Bow champion Chiefs have done a masterful job regarding retaining their best players. Somehow, they inked quarterback Patrick Mahomes, defensive lineman Chris Jones, and tight end Travis Kelce to lucrative contract extensions and actually managed to increase their cap space along the way. In Kelce’s case, it was a four-year, $57.5 million extension that added no new money in 2020, and thus, no additional cap hit.
What was the first thing Kelce did after he received his renewed commitment from his team? He gave back to his community.
“I couldn’t begin to tell you how much this city means to me,” Kelce said in his statement. “You took me in seven years ago and made all my dreams come true! I can’t wait to give you another six years of everything I got when I take the field with my brothers.
“But I’m also recommitting myself to the work I have left to do on the field. The amazing kids I’ve seen grow up the last seven years in the inner-city of KC are now teenagers navigating a world that doesn’t always have their back.
“The vision is to give these teens in KC’s underserved neighborhoods a safe haven. A place where they’re exposed to interests and role models far beyond the field or court. Kids can’t concentrate if they don’t feel safe. They can’t envision a career they’ve never heard of or learn a skill they’ve never been taught.
“So together with Operation Breakthrough, we’re going to create this place.
“I am excited to announce I am purchasing the building that will be the future home of the “Ignition Lab: Powered by 87&Running” — a co-working space where these teens will have the support, resources, and opportunity to explore the careers in STEM, launch their own entrepreneurial ventures and gain real-world experience.
“As a kid I was mindful of how life looked different for everyone, but as a man I am profoundly aware of the difference in opportunity, exposure, and privilege I grew up with compared to others. Where you live, the situation you were born into or the color of your skin should have no impact on the dreams you can dream.
“And it’s a beautiful thing when a kid’s dream comes true.”
The U.S. Department of Education’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, including Computer Science program, has the following mission statement:
In an ever-changing, increasingly complex world, it’s more important than ever that our nation’s youth are prepared to bring knowledge and skills to solve problems, make sense of information, and know how to gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions. These are the kinds of skills that students develop in science, technology, engineering, and math—disciplines collectively known as STEM. If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers have the ability to understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students’ skills, content knowledge, and fluency in STEM fields is essential. We must also make sure that, no matter where children live, they have access to quality learning environments. A child’s zip code should not determine their STEM fluency.
In November 2019, the Department announced that it invested nearly $540 million to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, including computer science, through discretionary and research grants in Fiscal Year 2019.
Kelce, one of the most productive players at his position, caught 97 passes on 136 targets for 1,229 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season, adding 19 receptions on 22 targets for 207 yards and four touchdowns in the Chiefs’ postseason run that ended with the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in 50 years.
