“Giving back to the communities that have supported me along the way is so important to me. What better way to give back than to give back to our future, the kids. Helping to give kids the support they need to succeed and to live a healthy lifestyle is awesome.” In 2013, Rob Gronkowski started the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation with this motto. Since then, Gronk and his family have been doing some real-deal community work through their foundation.
Last year, Rob was the Grand Marshal for the Boston Marathon, helping to raise some funds. And this year, the Pats legend teamed up again with the Boston Marathon to do some community work. On Sunday, former NFL star Rob Gronkowski gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s Boston Marathon through his Instagram stories. But it wasn’t just a casual photo dump, Gronk had something big to share.
In one of the videos, a woman announces that they’ve raised $150,000, and the crowd of participants erupts in applause. You can hear the excitement and pride in the moment. Gronk captioned the clip, “Grateful for each and every one of our runners. $150K and counting is no joke. Thank you & let’s keep it going for the kids.” The $150K+ raised by Team Gronk Nation will go straight into something real and lasting. These funds will help bring the Gronk Playground to life on Boston’s iconic Esplanade. The playground is set to open this spring.
Not only that, the 35-year-old kicked off his Boston Marathon day with a wholesome move
Rob Gronkowski kicks things off with kindness
Rob Gronkowski, at this year’s Boston Marathon event, brought more than just energy. The former Patriots star took a moment to sign gear for the kids. He shared a few snapshots capturing the moment, where he could be seen signing footballs and jerseys for his young fans. “Signed some items for the kids,” Rob captioned one of the clips on his Instagram story.
Rob also gave fans a little taste of his energy with a fun behind-the-scenes video on his story. In one clip, the former TE is seen lining up juice shots and going all in, captioned, “Hit the world record for most juice shots at one time (laughing emoji).” Then, in the next video, he’s handing them out to his runners with the line, “Made sure my runners got their nutrients.”
Feb 8, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski talks about the Kick of Destiny during a press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Cheryl Evans-USA TODAY Sports
One thing’s clear: Rob Gronkowski has never shied away from showing up for the community. Just last month, the 35-year-old went the extra mile for kids battling cancer. He showed up at the One Mission Buzz Off for Kids with Cancer and shaved his head in a powerful show of support. “Kids fighting cancer don’t have a choice when they lose their hair,” Gronkowski said back in 2019. “So, I figured I’d join them and show my support.” Rob has been taking part in the One Mission Buzz Off for nine years now.
So, whether it’s running marathons or shaving his head, Rob Gronkowski keeps showing up -for the kids and the cause.
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