Since the beginning of 2018, local boys Brock and Bryson Thompson have been raising money with the help of NFL, NBA and MLB stars. The mission of Helmets4Helmets is to support children helped by Jack’s Helping Hand, and other children who need medical equipment – like six-year-old Bryson, who has epilepsy and wears a helmet to protect his head from seizures.
Right from the start, some of the biggest names in the NFL got on board and sent autographed helmets for the boys to auction off, and the signed memorabilia has been coming in ever since. In the early days of the foundation, Verdin worked with Jack’s Helping Hand to get the word out locally, leading to coverage from KSBY, KEYT and the Tribune.
Verdin shared that content in a national pitching effort – and in May, San Luis Obispo was proud to be the hometown of the family that got featured on “The View” with a surprise from the one and only Kobe Bryant. Bryson’s story, and the family’s emotional feature on the show, was shared by ABC News, Yahoo Entertainment, USA Today, the New Orleans Saints, Bleacher Report, Lakers Nation, 247Sports and tens of thousands of social media users (none of whom had dry eyes).
That experience was unforgettable, but these boys aren’t done spreading the word about Helmets4Helmets to raise as much money as they can to support the mission of Jack’s Helping Hand. In August, the family was featured on national TV once again – this time, in a feature from WE Day California.
WE is a global organization that celebrates philanthropy and gives people the tools to give back to their communities. One way they do this is through WE Day, a gathering held several times a year in major cities across the US. WE Day champions the stories of youth who are changing the world, and supports the giving initiatives of young people across the globe.
WE Day California took place in Los Angeles and aired on ABC on August 17. The event was hosted by John Stamos and featured celebrities including Will Ferrell, Jennifer Aniston, Selena Gomez, the Chainsmokers and Dierks Bentley.
You can watch the show here. The entire hour is worth the watch, but you’ll see Brock and Bryson’s feature at 6:20. The family got to meet the founders of WE, who had a few amazing surprises up their sleeve to help the boys keep spreading the word about what they’re doing.
Are these boys inspiring or what? You can learn more about Brock and Bryson’s fundraiser at helmets4helmets.com. Be sure to check out and bid on the amazing items that are currently live in their online auction!