At 15 years old, Tim Tebow found his passion for something greater than sports and school when he returned to his birthplace in the Philippines and visited an orphanage for young children called Uncle Dick's Home.
"After spending time with those kids, from that point on I knew my ultimate goal in life wasn't about how many touchdowns I could score, whether I could make a lot of money or become famous - it was about taking all my blessings and trying to help these kids," Tebow said.
Carlos, 7, is one of the orphans at Uncle Dick's Home who is close to Tebow.
Carlos arrived a little more than four years ago at the orphanage after he was in his family's old truck driving down a dangerous mountain, and the brakes failed. In a courageous attempt to save Carlos, his mother threw him out the window, and the rest of his family drove off the cliff. Carlos, severely injured with broken bones and a deep slash across his forehead, was the only one to survive.
From losing his family in a matter of seconds, Carlos now has more than 50 brothers and sisters in his new family at Uncle Dick's Home.
"He went from such a tragic thing to the happiest, most joyful kid," Tebow said. "He'll run around with me all day and just make me so tired. To be able to bring that out in him and let him know he's special is an amazing thing."
Tebow's dream to help others and raise awareness lingered in his prayers on and off the field as he built a reputation as a fearless and faithful quarterback. And in 2008, his dream became a reality.
Tebow brought his mission to David Sinopoli, a UF alumnus, and former Student Body President Ryan Moseley, and the three came up with a powder puff football tournament.
In 2008, the birth of Student Government's First and 15 powder puff tournament raised awareness and $10,000 for children in Gainesville and Uncle Dick's Home. This year, the event raised more than $300,000.
"I knew it would end up growing this big, but I didn't think in year two we would be this far," Moseley said. "That's a credit to a guy like Tim."
A new component of the philanthropy called A Brighter Day brought 10 disadvantaged children from a local Boys & Girls Club to an Orlando-based theme park accompanied by Tebow and SG volunteers.
The smiling children held hands with Tebow as they walked through the theme park. After plummeting down a roller coaster, the ecstatic children pulled Tebow by the arms to go down the corkscrewing drops again.
"It's the best feeling in the world," Tebow said. "Brightening up a kid's day, I don't know if there's too much better than that, at least for me."
SG also incorporated other events like decorating playrooms at Shands at UF Pediatric Oncology Cancer Unit and hosting an ice cream party for the children Thursday.
The powder puff tournament took place on Flavet Field last Saturday, and the winners faced off in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium before the Orange and Blue Game where Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority was crowned the champion.
That evening a benefit dinner and silent auction hosted by the University Athletic Association in conjunction with SG was held to raise money for Shands at UF and Uncle Dick's Home. Tebow's red battle-stained jersey from the 2008 Florida State University game was auctioned as well as footballs and helmets.
"Because I'm a football player, people look up to me," he said in an emotional speech to the guests at dinner. "But if I was just football player, I wouldn't be successful. It's about making difference, and you all can. It's taking what you've been blessed with and the little effort to go see a kid and encourage him."
Tebow's goal is to show UF students that if they take the time to think about others and come together for a cause, anything is possible.
"If we care more about each other, the world is going to turn around and be a better place," he said. "That is what our world needs right now."
