Love and Charity on the Bachelorette

The 14th season of ‘The Bachelorette’ is in full swing! And while 28 men are competing for Becca Kufrin’s heart and hand in marriage, one past contestant by the name of Colton Underwood stood out for his positivity and his desire to give back and help others.

Underwood was born on January 26th, 1992 in Indianapolis, Indiana. After graduating from high school, he attended Illinois State. In 2014, the 26-year-old made his name known when he was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent but was waived after only a few short months. Currently, the American football tight end is a free agent.

What is Colton’s charity?

While Underwood may be known for his stature as an NFL player, he is also known for his giving nature – especially when it comes to causes close to his heart. His cousin, Harper, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth. Harper is only 4 years old and she spends hours every day taking medications, inhaling medicine, and undergoing treatment to clean out her airways – and this is when she is healthy. If Harper or any other individual living with CF gets sick, they have to devote more of their time, energy, and finances to undergoing various treatments in order to stay healthy. “Living with Cystic Fibrosis is like living with adversity every single day,” said Underwood.

Harper was Underwood’s inspiration for starting his own charity called the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation back in 2015. The Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing resources for research and support for those living with cystic fibrosis. The foundation aims to empower individuals with cystic fibrosis to live their lives to the fullest, while managing their health and clinically-related challenges.

In just three short years, the nonprofit organization has:

• Raised $60,000 from three football camps for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to support research studies and clinical trials
• Raised $10,000 at a Children’s Hospital for the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic to acquire aerodynamic bicycles and medical equipment for patients with cystic fibrosis
• Visited children’s hospitals with players from the NFL to brighten up patients’ day
• Teamed up with International Biophysics to provide 50 AffloVests to individuals with cystic fibrosis
• Greeted a total of 400 children at the Legacy Football Camps every year

Proceeds from the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation are primarily raised through football camps – which is what blends together Underwood’s passion for football and his desire to give back. All of the money raised goes to funding research studies and clinical trials, as well as purchasing medical equipment for patients and clinics. “I’m just so overwhelmed by not only what he does, but the response that he brings out in everyone,” said Shannon Hawksworth, Underwood’s aunt and Harper’s mother.

Read on to learn more about the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation and how it helps children with CF.

Photo: ABC via Daily Mail