By: Engagement Insider
In his seven years as a tight end with the Philadelphia Eagles, Brent Celek’s numbers continue to grow. He ranks second among all Eagles tight ends in franchise history in both receptions with 291 and yards with 3,661 and is third in touchdowns with 22.
Those aren’t the only numbers that Celek has put up in his career in Philadelphia, however. There is the nearly $100,000 his foundation, Take Flight raised earlier this month and the 100,000 children they have helped over the past four years.
Celek’s Take Flight Foundation raised close to $100,000 with the Fourth Annual Celebrity Waiter Night of the Philadelphia Eagles, Oct. 3. Celek and his teammates helped serve 230 guests appetizers at a cocktail reception presented by M&T Bank and a three-course meal.
The proceeds go to benefit two local hospitals that specialize in care for children.
Celek’s attending teammates included fellow tight ends Zach Ertz and James Casey, linebacker Trent Cole, wide receiver Riley Cooper, quarterback QB Nick Foles, running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver Will Murphy and long snapper Jon Dorenbos. Former Eagles linebacker Ike Reese was one of the emcees for the event.
“We do this for the kids,” said Celek. “If we can put just one smile on the face of a suffering kid, then it’s worth it.”
That’s how Take Flight got started.
It was in 2010, after Celek’s third year in the league when he went to his agent with the idea that he wanted to help children.
“It just comes down to helping kids, especially kids in this area,’’ Celek said. “I have four younger brothers and sisters, so anything I can do to help kids, especially sick kids to put a smile on their face is the goal.
“When I came to Philly, you’re playing on a NFL team, obviously the fans are paying my salary and giving me everything I have today, my only thing is to want to give back. And the way I wanted to give back was through the kids. Something that is always disserving to me is when you see a kid with an illness or a sickness, they don’t deserve that. So again anything we can do to put a smile on their face while going through that, is what we try to do.’’
Take Flight provides opportunities, support and resources to children and families in need. The primary focus is to provide seriously ill and physically challenged children throughout the Greater Philadelphia area with daily support and life changing experiences.
From the time it began to this month’s event, the foundation has touched the lives of over 100,000 children in need.
Celek’s Take Flight Zone enriches the lives of seriously ill and physically challenged children by providing them and their families with access to iPads, notebook computers, PlayStations Portables, PSP games, DVD players, DVD's and games to help pass time during treatment and recovery.
Two signature hospitals in Philadelphia -- Temple Pediatric Care Our-Patient Clinic and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children In-Patent Wings—have been the beneficiaries.
Launched in May of 2012, Temple Pediatric will touch the lives of nearly 14,000 patients and their families each year. St. Christopher’s, which opened in March of 2011, touches the lives of nearly 25,000 patients a year.
“Eventually I want to grow and maybe expand,’’ Celek said mentioning his hometown of Cincinnati as the next spot. “But I wanted to start here in this area first. Keep it small and see how it goes.’’
Thus far it has done just fine. And the next project comes in a month when Take Flight will help feed families in need at Thanksgiving.
“I’m looking forward to that,’’ Celek said. “We’re going to help a lot of families in the area.’’
Through Take Flight’s partnership with ACME Markets, Operation Thanksgiving will provide over $20,000 worht of turkeys, hams and trimmings to 200 at-risk Philadelphia-area families with seriously or chronically ill children with a Thanksgiving Feast, a chance to meet Brent and get some autographed footballs.