Not a great week for the National Football League, this is an #understatement. That being said, with all the bad stuff going on, we felt it necessary to point out some of the “good.” And this NFL Daddy continues to do it right, on and off the field…
Charles Tillman is a stud. Otherwise known as “Peanut”, Tillman is a 2x Pro Bowler Cornerback for the Chicago Bears. And although he suffered a season ending injury just days ago, (even more reason to talk about this man)…he has heart, a lot of it. Charles has four wonderful children…and a story.
Hopefully you haven’t experienced this, but if you have, you know the feeling. Have you ever had one of your small children in a hospital, hooked up to IV’s or some sort of machine? Perhaps they understand why they are there, perhaps they do not. Perhaps they are in pain, perhaps they are just bored beyond belief. Perhaps they (as do you) need a distraction.
In May of 2008, Charles’ three-month-old daughter, Tiana, was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. In July 2008, at the age of six months old she received a heart transplant and today is doing amazingly well. Charles and family spent countless hours in hospitals…powerless yet hopeful. Tiana (and parents) had many days when they simply needed a distraction, a laugh, anything to separate themselves from their horrible reality. This experience inspired Charles to start the “Charles’ Locker” Program (part of his larger Cornerstone Foundation) which enriches the lives of chronically and critically ill children by providing them and their families with access to iPads, notebook computers, DVD players, portable Play Station game systems, and other electronic handheld games, to pass the time during recovery and treatment. Charles’ Lockers are now in more than 5 hospitals, having impacted more than a million children! Can you say Hip Daddy? We can. And after being criticized for possibly choosing to attend the birth of his child vs. playing in a big NFL game, he simply tweeted “God, Family, Football…” (alas, in the end, he was at both.) Priorities people…priorities.
Finally, Charles has been ‘giving back’ for years now, with the hardware to prove it….including being chosen for the 2013 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award honoring a player’s volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. Charles Tillman is no doubt a Hip Daddy, and all Daddys should know about him- you might just find yourself inspired.
So, just for a moment, let’s shine the light on those NFL Dads doing good on AND off the gridiron…the NFL needs it. Thank you Peanut. #GoDad.
