CHICAGO _ As the van pulled up Football Drive and the giant orange "C" on the guard shack became visible, 17-year-old Tim Johnson kept thinking the same thing.
"This can't be real," he said.
Johnson, a senior at Morgan Park High School on the South Side of Chicago, saw the Bears outdoor practice fields covered in snow. He saw the arched roof of the Walter Payton Center.
"This can't be real," he thought again.
And when it came time to stand on the sideline at the Bears' final practice of November, Johnson had one other thought as a pack of defenders jogged past.
"Khalil. Mack," he said with a wide grin. "Man. That is a big man. ... My heart was just beating. I have never been that close to professional football players before."
At Halas Hall, this was another routine Friday with the Bears finishing preparations for that weekend's game against the Giants. But for Johnson and 12 other Chicago teens who traveled to Lake Forest as part of a visit with "My Block, My Hood, My City," this was beyond belief.
"This is a blessing for me," said 18-year-old Trevon Walker, a senior at Phillips High School.
Maybe this was only a day trip from the inner city to the North Shore, a pop-in to see the NFC North's first-place team. But there was far more behind it, a glimpse into a partnership designed to broaden kids' horizons and instill hope.
Earlier this fall, as part of an initiative to increase their social justice outreach, the Bears, selected five nonprofit organizations to partner with. With guidance from the University of Chicago Crime Lab, Bears players identified valuable programs in under-resourced communities, targeting organizations with a focus on educating and empowering youth.
By the Hand Club for Kids; Kicks 4 the City; SAGA; YWCA Lake County.
My Block, My Hood, My City was also on the list, an organization that aims to lift kids in underprivileged neighborhoods in Chicago past the poverty and isolation they often experience.
For Jahmal Cole, the organization's founder and CEO, that starts with exposing kids to new opportunities and environments. "You have to help them see what's out there," Cole said.
That's where the Bears come in. Last March, after NFL owners agreed teams would match player donations to social justice causes of up to $250,000, the Bears formed a nine-person social justice committee. The five players on that committee _ Sam Acho, Trey Burton, Akiem Hicks, Mitch Trubisky and Chase Daniel _ spearheaded a fundraising effort among teammates in the locker room.
Front-office leaders, including general manager Ryan Pace, chipped in. So did the Bears coaches, including Matt Nagy. Combined with a contribution from the Bears organization and matching grants from the NFL and Bears Care, a total of $815,830 was donated to the five charities.
Most importantly, connections were established. From the start, the Bears were focused on creating lasting relationships.
"That was something that was very important to our players," Bears Chairman George McCaskey said. "And it was something I was incredibly impressed with. They didn't want to just write a check, pose for the photo and walk away. They wanted to target agencies and organizations where they could remain involved and be active in the programming."
Added Hicks: "We were never just looking at this as charity _ hey, here's a few dollars. It's more so having an ability to affect the minds and the culture and looking out for people's well-being."
