On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, Mizzou Football hosted the second annual Night of Champions event for foster and adoptive families in the community. This event was one of our favorite memories from last year, and many children have been counting down the days for this year’s Night of Champions.
“One of our kids—every time I see him, he’s running up to me and asking, ‘When’s Night of Champions?’” Joe Knight, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries Director of Corporate Communications, said.
Two days before the event, Joe took dinner to this child’s family. “When I walked in the door, instead of saying hello, he just said, ‘Two days!’”
Forty-seven children attended the event, and they had a blast!
Children were each paired with a player who helped guide them through drills and activities throughout the evening.
“I was touched by the little things I saw throughout the evening,” Joanna Schaffer, Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries Development Manager, said. “There was one kid who was super nervous at the beginning of the event, but his player was really attentive and engaging. By the end of the night, he was running and dancing around.”
Throughout the event, players were constantly encouraging and kind. At the end of the event, every child caught a pass and ran it in for a touchdown. As they dived into the end zone, a group of players surrounded them, cheering and clapping loudly.
“Something sweet that I took away was how kind and supportive the players were,” said Natascha Anderson, Marketing and Development Manager. “The players and the kids fed off of each other’s energy.”
After completing the activities on the field, everyone went upstairs to enjoy a meal together and take photos with their player. Children were also given a football that players could sign.
This event was so impactful for many children, and we are so thankful to Mizzou Football, and especially to the players who made it such a memorable event.
“Events like these help players understand how their status can help someone else,” said Atiyyah Ellison, Director of Player Development at Mizzou Football. “I guarantee many of our players have been in that position where they had an older player or coach that cared and did the same thing for him, so they are just handing that down to the next generation.”
Thank you to Mizzou Football and For Others for your partnership and investment in Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries and the families we serve.
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