Chiefs Gonzalez a star off the field, too

Story by John Baccala and hotos by Leah Gallo

It is less than 48 hours before the biggest game of the season, but the game against the Broncos is far from the mind of Chiefs Tight End Tony Gonzalez. This night is about “Shadow Buddies,” one of two major charities supported by the Tony Gonzalez Foundation. So during this, the season of giving, Gonzalez opens his arms and his home to the Shadow Buddies Foundation.

“It’s something that’s shaped who I am as a person and something that I’m so glad to be a part of,” Gonzalez said.
Shadow Buddies are condition-specific dolls given to seriously ill and medically challenged children and adults to provide educational and emotional support. Marty Postlethwait of Olathe started the program ten years ago. Her son Miles was born with multiple congenital defects and has undergone 38 surgeries. Gonzalez got involved a year later, during his rookie season with the Chiefs.
“It’s continuing to grow and I’m glad to be a part of that,” Gonzalez said. “It’s something that’s not just going stop when I get done playing football; it’s going to be something I’ll be a part of until that day comes. It’s important to me, and the friendships I’ve established along the way have been outstanding, especially Miles.”

“It’s really nice that he [Miles] and Tony have really bonded,” Marty Postlethwait said. “I mean, Tony’s like a big brother to Miles.”
“That, to me, has been very special because Tony, being an athlete, being a role model in the community, has allowed Miles to experience those things that most people don’t experience.”

Civic organizations and hospitals, many of them through corporate sponsors, buy the dolls and distribute them at no cost to sick children. Almost every hospital in the Kansas City area and nearly two dozen hospitals across the country give Shadow Buddies to kids who are looking for friends “just like them.” Gonzalez is the only NFL player with his own Shadow Buddy doll, complete with the number “88” on its back.
“It’s [the Shadow Buddies program] really important to Tony,” Postlethwait said. “This is really nice to be able to just focus on kids that are sick during Christmas or during the holidays.”

On this night, Gonzalez’ focus is on the kids. But, he’s focused on football, too. You can’t split Tony the football player from Tony the role model. “It’s something you definitely have to train your mind to do, otherwise, you won’t be ready when you go out there on game day,” said the perennial Pro Bowl star.
“That’s what it’s all about; it’s not just about going out there and playing, it’s about doing stuff off the field and giving back, and this is a great way to spend a Friday night as far as I’m concerned.”

Gonzalez said he would also like to give something back to Kansas City’s Hispanic community. It’s important for him to reconnect with his Hispanic heritage. That’s why he spent a summer in Mexico, learning the language, learning about himself.

“I wanted to really experience it from my grandfather, but he died too young and that’s one of the reasons why I really wanted to learn the language,” Gonzalez said. “I think it’s important for me to give back to the community because let’s face it, there’s not too many Latin football players out there, big name Latin football players.”

“That’s one of the things I noticed when I first got to Kansas City. We’d go out to the schools and the inner city and they weren’t really reaching the Latin community, and that’s when I said, you know what, I want to help bridge that gap between the Latin community and the NFL. I’m glad to be a part of it.”

The Plaza Lights shined brightly outside Gonzalez’ condominium; Tony’s NFL star still gleamed. But on this night, both dimmed in comparison to the glow he brought to some very deserving children this holiday season.
For more information about Shadow Buddies, visit their Web site at www.ShadowBuddies.org.