George Kittle (16BA) seems to be everywhere these days. In April, the San Francisco 49ers star made a cameo at WrestleMania 39. The University of Iowa alumnus took the stage at a recent Napa Valley festival alongside actor Keanu Reeves. And this month, he’s hosting his annual Tight End University summit in Nashville with fellow NFL players.
In between those high-profile events, Kittle found time to return to Iowa City in May to visit with some of his youngest fans. Joined by wife and fellow UI alum Claire Till Kittle (16BA), George Kittle played video games, signed autographs, and brought smiles to the faces of patients and their families at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
”Hi, my name’s George.” Big thanks to former Hawkeye and current @49ers tight end George Kittle for spreading some joy with our patients and families yesterday!@gkittle46 | @hawkeyefootball pic.twitter.com/agEzSd3toN
— UI Stead Family Children's Hospital (@UIchildrens) May 20, 2023
Kittle was back in Iowa for his youth football camp in May at Kinnick Stadium that raised $25,000 for UI Dance Marathon, the student-led organization that supports pediatric cancer patients. Just like on fall game days, Kittle and hundreds of campers took a break from football to wave to patients at the nearby children’s hospital.
Thank you to Octane Football for an incredible donation of $25,000 to UI Dance Marathon! Today, one of our DM kiddos,...
Posted by University of Iowa Dance Marathon on Saturday, May 20, 2023
Kittle has been a longtime supporter of UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, dating back to his playing days at Iowa, when he helped lead the Hawkeyes to a Rose Bowl as a senior in 2015. Kittle and former teammate and current Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback C.J. Beathard (16BS) returned to Iowa to visit patients at the hospital in 2019.
Our patients had some special visitors yesterday afternoon! 🏈 Former Hawkeye Football players and current San Francisco...
Posted by University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital on Saturday, September 28, 2019
In 2020, Kittle, whose nickname is the People’s Tight End, auctioned off a specially made championship belt that was signed by several NFL tight ends, with proceeds benefiting the children’s hospital.
This belt has been signed by George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Zach Ertz, Darren Waller, Noah Fant, Mike Gesicki, Taysom Hill, Tyler Higbee and Darren Fells.
— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsay_rhodes) February 12, 2020
And it could be YOURS!https://t.co/mD6SzCrriK
All proceeds go to the Iowa Children’s Hospital. pic.twitter.com/x5PuU7dhy3
Interested in teaming up with UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital? Learn more about how you can help pediatric patient care and research at Iowa.