The Dunstan Group has long been a fan of putting branded merchandise to work for a good cause. A recent collaboration with Greg Olsen’s HEARTest Yard Foundation is no exception.
Panthers fans may already know the story of HEARTest Yard Foundation, created by Panthers Tight End Greg Olsen and his family after their son, TJ, was born with a congenital heart defect. The foundation provides financial assistance to families of children born with heart defects, and this year, they cut the ribbon on a new HEARTest Yard Congenital Heart Center at Levine Children’s Hospital. Olsen’s HEARTest Yard Foundation donated $2.5 million for the new 25,000 square-foot pediatric cardiac center.
Olsen shared that the project “represents the gratitude our family feels towards the entire community.”
Olsen thanks “a tremendous group of donors” for making the new heart center possible, including corporate sponsors, individuals, and anyone who took part in one of the HEARTest Yard’s many fundraisers. Olsen’s foundation is synonymous with a 5k, Panthers beanie sales, cookies, and the HEARTest Yard Golf Tournament on May 3rd — where The Dunstan Group provided the co-branded phone caddy and hosted a tent on tournament day as a co-sponsor.
“It’s always great to be a part of such a good cause,” says Scott Dunstan, Founder and President of The Dunstan Group. “We all know what a huge contribution Greg Olsen has made to Panthers victories, but his work off the football field is shared for an even greater purpose — and that will make a lasting impact on children across the Charlotte region.”
Olsen shared his thoughts about the tournament, the cardiac center, the HEARTest Yard, and life as a “heart dad” on the BrandBuilders Podcast. It’s one of their best yet — Olsen is funny and engaging as he tells TJ’s story, and how he and his wife Kara coped with the process of having a son born with a congenital heart defect. It’s apparent Olsen’s heart is in the Charlotte community.
“We’re so indebted, we feel such a connection to our community, that we love being out in it, we love being a part of it, and even though i’m done playing, this will be home,” says Olsen. His gratitude towards Levine Children’s Hospital shows in his charitable efforts. “We’ll find ways to give back to the community that’s given so much to us.”
You can hear more from Olsen as he explains how he and Kara came up with the idea for HEARTest Yard, and how you can help him continue his new mission, in his episode of the BrandBuilder’s Podcast: http://dunstangroup.blubrry.net/2021/04/22/greg-olsen/
