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Professional athletes do all sorts of work with various charities, but sometimes it is as much just for show as anything else. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is involved with a place called Camp Taylor, which is a camp set up for kids with heart defects. The camp founders had a child with a heart defect who struggled at times, feeling different from other kids. The camp provides a chance for these kids to meet others like them.
Kap got involved with the charity because of his own adopted family's background. The Modesto Bee put together an article yesterday on how Kap got involved. The Kaepernicks had two infant boys die because of heart defects. When Colin was drafted, and got a check for something (I'm guessing some early endorsement or trading card payment), he told his parents he wanted to "donate this check somewhere where it'll help kids with heart defects."
He donated the money, but he has gone further, becoming an active part of the camp. He has an annual golf tournament to raise money for them (it is tomorrow, thus the timing of the Bee article), but he also does much more with the kids. The Camp Taylor twitter account has tweeted out a variety of pictures of Kap with the kids at the camp, and also outside Candlestick Park. I thought I would embed some of those tweets below.
If you want to donate to Camp Taylor, at the official website, click on "Ways to Help". They have specific needs beyond just cash donations.
Heart campers @Camp_Taylor are oblivious to his tattoos @Kaepernick7 they love his kind heart & his sweet time ❤ pic.twitter.com/HUP1RUbJ
— Camp Taylor (@Camp_Taylor) November 30, 2012
@Kaepernick7 Colin & his tats studied the @Camp_Taylor play book on congenital heart disease learning w/ r ❤ campers! pic.twitter.com/xTuvBJRo
— Camp Taylor (@Camp_Taylor) November 30, 2012
@Kaepernick7 with our sweet @Camp_Taylor heart camper after the game today! #AgainstAllOdds #49ers pic.twitter.com/T59JtgEU
— Camp Taylor (@Camp_Taylor) December 10, 2012
@Kaepernick7 sharing his winning ❤ w/ @Camp_Taylor camper after game!! 12 days post ❤ surgery! #AgainstAllOdds! pic.twitter.com/9aJEd2CU
— Camp Taylor (@Camp_Taylor) December 10, 2012
Thank you @Kaepernick7 4 Radiating sunshine on the ❤'s of @Camp_Taylor children! #AgainstAllOdds #49ers #CHD pic.twitter.com/JMi51uub
— Camp Taylor (@Camp_Taylor) December 10, 2012
Merry Christmas @Kaepernick7 Many blessings 2 celebrate! Thank u 4 your #❤strong #AAOdds strength 4 @Camp_Taylor kids pic.twitter.com/NFgcHHMX
— Camp Taylor (@Camp_Taylor) December 24, 2012
@Camp_Taylor ❤kids together cheering 4 @Kaepernick7 !! pic.twitter.com/X2l0zLer
— Camp Taylor (@Camp_Taylor) February 4, 2013