During a night of celebration and goodwill in downtown Fort Worth, fans, boosters and donors filled a Brazilian steakhouse to help in the inaugural Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation Fundraiser.
The event raised $80,000 in donations, including a $5,000 check from event host Texas De Brazil.
The money was raised through ticket sales, check donations and auctions, both live and silent. Items included in the auction were signed jerseys, Cincinnati Bengals tickets and vacation trips.
The proceeds from the auctions and the event tickets will go to the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation, as the foundation has its network expanded to the Fort Worth market.
"The ultimate goal of our foundation is to work with kids in the hospitals, kids who are sick and kids with special needs," Andy Dalton, the former TCU and current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, said. "We want to provide something to them to look forward to and put a smile on their face. Hopefully, overall, we can make them feel better."
Dalton and his wife Jordan founded the charity in 2011 with the hope to provide seriously ill and physically challenged children throughout Greater Cincinnati with daily support and life changing experiences. The charity recently expanded to Fort Worth and does extensive work with Cook Children's Hospitals.
Dalton explained how he wanted to improve the hospitals for children who are undergoing different treatments, such as chemotherapy.
"There's a perfect spot in [the hospitals] where we can add computers, iPads, games and other things to keep their minds off the treatments," Dalton said.
The foundation provides "opportunities, support and resources to children and families in need in Cincinnati and Fort Worth," according to the charity's website. The foundation website also states its goal is to touch the lives of more than 50,000 children by 2014.
Past initiatives from the foundation have included all-expense paid trips to theme parks for chronically ill children and giving financial assistance to Cincinnati families in need during the holiday season.
Andy's wife and the co-leader of the foundation, Jordan Dalton, said coming to Fort Worth was a natural extension of the charity, as the couple resides in the area during the off-season and expects to retire to Fort Worth after Andy's football career is finished.
The Daltons said an expansion to the Houston region may be in long-term plans for the charity. Andy Dalton played high school football in Katy, Texas, a city just outside of the Houston area.
For now, the Daltons said they will focus on their charity efforts in Fort Worth and Cincinnati. Dalton said he says he plans to hold another similar fundraiser in Fort Worth again next year.
