Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson spreads holiday cheer with ‘Shop with a Jock’
Dec 18, 2018, 6:33 AM | Updated: 7:33 am
Arizona Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson greets the 50 kids in attendance for the cornerback’s “Shop with a Jock” event on December 17, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
TEMPE, Ariz. — ‘Tis the season.
And in true holiday spirit, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson gave back in a big way Monday night.
As part of the All-Pro’s Foundation For Success, which provides low-income and inner-city youth opportunities and resources they might not normally have access to, Peterson brought in 50 kids from the Roosevelt School District in Phoenix for his annual “Shop with a Jock” shopping spree.
They have 45 minutes to shop! pic.twitter.com/ubY6Hwj6S8
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) December 18, 2018
For Peterson, events like this mean much more than just video games and bicycles.
“I had the opportunity to grow up around situations like I see around the area here in Arizona as far as kids not having the proper tools to be successful and as far as kids not really having that structure or an influential person in their lives to help motivate them,” Peterson said.
The man of the evening. #AZCardinals @P2 pic.twitter.com/nYNKmAhhp2
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) December 18, 2018
“When I had the opportunity to be on the platform I am on today, I thought it would be a great idea to my whole mission, my focus around helping kids reach their full potential,” he added of the foundation he started in 2012.
Armed with not $100, but $200 — a late surprise from the cornerback — in Walmart gift cards and a full stomach, each kid had 45 minutes to shop for whatever they wanted in the store.
“This is my favorite event every year, just seeing the kids run around Walmart with no real guidance, you know, just let them go out there and have fun and let them do what they want to do for the couple hours that we are here,” Peterson said before heading down the toy aisles. “[For them to] actually eat and enjoy and interact with their friends, it brings nothing but joy.”
And it was a team effort as Peterson wasn’t the only Cardinal to trade in the cleats for a cart.
Josh Rosen, Larry Fitzgerald, Tre Boston, Chad Kanoff, Dennis Gardeck, Corey Peters, Zack Golditch, Haason Reddick, Rees Odhiambo, Antoine Bethea, Leonard Johnson and Rodney Gunter — and Big Red — joined in on the festivities.
“It means a lot,” Peterson said when asked about having his teammates in attendance. “The guys always continue to support anything that I have going on and we do the same thing vice-versa if they had an event going on.
“It’s always great to see my teammates come out and show their support and also give back to the community as well.”
Paired up with three to four kids each, the players ventured out into the great beyond, looking for the next best toy.
“Not too often as a child you just to get have whatever you want,” Boston said. “To come out here and have fun, get them to relax and pick out what they really want. At first, they’re a little bit laid back … but once you get them to open up that’s really the best part.”
From giant stuffed animals to tablets, the carts quickly started to fill, with endless smiles from both players and kids.
It was only a matter of time before Tre Boston and the group hit the tech! #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/QxGjGiCLd3
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) December 18, 2018
“I had to talk them into buying a tablet,” Boston said jokingly. “They were going in for small stuff and I was just like ‘you know what, this is five, this is five, somebody’s got to get this tablet.’
“I thought they deserved it.”
Peterson even got a lesson or two in the toy department.
.@P2 getting some education on toys. pic.twitter.com/b7eg6xBEmc
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) December 18, 2018
“Whenever we put something on like this we always want to be a part of it, Tre loves the kids and anything that has to do with kids,” Boston said. “I’m here, I want to be supportive, I want to give my energy and support for the kids.”
Once the carts were filled to the brim, there’s only one thing let to do.
Checkout.
Checkout time. pic.twitter.com/dX5PtLJ7Qv
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) December 18, 2018
“I had a really awesome time helping kids Christmas shop a little bit,” Rosen said. “They were very excited, a lot of indecision, but we’re working through it and I think we came out to the finish line with some pretty good gifts. It was a lot of fun.”
