Texans’ inaugural Champions for Youth dinner dishes up nearly $190,000
Texans chairman and chief executive officer Cal McNair and his wife, Hannah McNair, kept smiling Thursday night at Steak 48.
They were happy to be joined by several players at the Texans’ inaugural Champions for Youth dinner. Proceeds benefit the team’s charitable foundation.
The dinner raised nearly $190,000 with All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins gifted a Rolex for raising the most money.
Among the players who attended the event in addition to coach Bill O’Brien and his wife, Colleen: quarterback Deshaun Watson, Hopkins, safety Justin
Reid, running back Lamar Miller, linebackers Whitney Mercilus and Dylan Cole, center Nick Martin, long snapper Jon Weeks, cornerback Johnathan Joseph, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, cornerback Johnson Bademosi and defensive linemen Brandon Dunn, D.J. Reader and Carlos Watkins and former Texans players Brian Cushing, Garrett Graham and Chester Pitts.
“It’s a wonderful event,” Cal McNair said. “Our players are all involved. It’s something we like to do, is be involved in kids’ lives. Really giving everyone an opportunity is what our wish is. We’re not there yet, but we try to make progress day by day.
“It is (players’) free time, and they do want to be a part of it. It’s what they believe in as well. We have a great group of men who enjoy giving back.”
Fans interacted with Texans players at the nonprofit event.
“We’re invested in our community, the future generations,” Hannah McNair said. “We’re really going to make a difference in these kids’ lives, so they can make a difference in the future.”
Since 2002, more than
$32 million has been raised through the Texans’ charitable efforts.
“Ever since I’ve set foot in Houston, they’ve always been supportive, they’ve always been doing the right thing,” Watson said of the McNair family. “They’ve done so much. It’s a blessing to be a part of it.”