(CINCINNATI, OH – Nov. 9, 2022) – Kansas City Chief and former Cincinnati Bearcat, Travis Kelce has announced that his Eighty-Seven & Running Foundation will make a substantial contribution to the University of Cincinnati Athletics Department by launching a Health and Wellness Endowment for Bearcats student-athletes.
 
The endowment will fund Cincinnati's Sports Psychology and Counseling Department, directly impacting and aiding all 450 student-athletes at Kelce's alma mater, expanding the staff and personnel for Director of Sports Psychology Lenecia Nickell in the process.
 
The grant ensures that all UC student-athletes will have permanent access to the care and services needed to be mentally and physically strong, confident and resilient.
 
"During my time at UC I developed a solid infrastructure of people around to help me navigate through daily life as a student-athlete," said Kelce. "The transition from high school to college was a difficult one; it was an emotional rollercoaster at times dealing with my academic responsibilities and holding my own on the field. There was little to no room for error in the classroom and on the field. Being able to have that support system in place is part of the reason why I decided to start this Endowment and give back to my alma mater and its athletic department. I'm at a place in my career where I'm able to share my experiences and lend resources to provide the university's student-athletes with the assistance they need to become the best versions of themselves they can be."
 
Kelce played at UC from 2009 to 2012, scoring eight touchdowns in his final season before heading to the NFL where he has starred for the Chiefs for the last decade, establishing himself as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.
 
"We are honored to have Travis Kelce launch this transformational endowment for our student-athletes," UC Director of Athletics John Cunningham said. "This is a really special gift from Travis because it comes from a former student-athlete for current and future student-athletes, but also because it will impact student-athletes for years to come. 
 
"Travis is a tremendous ambassador for the University of Cincinnati and we are grateful for his continued support for our athletes and our athletic department. Mental health is a crucial component of college athletics. Travis' gift will ensure that Cincinnati remains on the forefront of support for all UC athletes."
 
Kelce is a dedicated philanthropist who is passionate about helping the lives of youth who are facing adversity. He founded Eighty-Seven & Running in 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. The organization aims to help underserved youth strive to become productive citizens by creating motivating mentor programs that aid in exploring and developing their abilities while learning critical life skills.
 
 "Nurturing mental and physical health is crucial in developing successful futures for student-athletes, said André Eanes, Kelce's business Manager, and himself a former Cincinnati Bearcat.
 The University has constructed an incredible foundation to aid the physical needs of student-athletes, which is just as important as supporting their mental health as both are vital in optimizing wellbeing and excellence with performance in the classroom, on the field, and their life beyond sports."
 
About Eighty-Seven & Running
Eighty-Seven & Running helps underserved youth strive to become productive citizens by mentoring and motivating them to explore and develop their abilities while learning critical life skills. Founded in 2015, we have remained dedicated to providing resources and enrichment opportunities for youth and their communities through fundraising, athletic programs, mentoring, and outreach initiatives. Our mission is to empower disadvantaged youth to achieve success by providing resources and support to their communities and cultivating their talent in the areas of education, business, athletics, STEM, and the arts. We seek to change the outcomes of underserved youth in communities across the U.S. by creating access to opportunities, enrichment, and advancement.
 
About Cincinnati Athletics
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
 
UC student-athletes collectively posted a 3.369 overall GPA in the spring of 2021 with 77 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll, while six student-athletes collected CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades.
 
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our University and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.

For more information visit gobearcats.com.
 

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