Winter Olympics star reveals Travis Kelce made incredible gesture before he landed latest NFL honour

On New Years Eve, Laila Edwards received the call that many athletes dream of.

The call was the invitation to represent and compete with the US Womens’ Hockey team at the Winter Olympics.

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The 21-year-old University of Wisconsin athlete made history in 2023 as the first black woman to make the U.S. Hockey team, and now she gets the opportunity to represent her country at the Olympics.

Edwards grew up in Cleveland Heights, the same hometown as Travis & Jason Kelce, who are both projected to make the NFL Hall of Fame in the future.

The brothers’ are quick to celebrate their upbringing in Ohio, it is even the inspiration behind the pair’s lucrative ‘New Heights’ podcast.

They have proven on multiple occasions their desire to uplift other talent from the area and celebrated Edwards’ history-making announcement broke in 2023.

“When I first made the national team, they shouted me out on their podcast for being the first Black woman to play on team,” Edwards told PEOPLE. “I thought I would message them, thanking them, they’ll never see it.

“And then Travis and I had a full conversation over DM, and that was super cool… he was a really down-to-earth, humble guy who was super supportive and had really good things to say.

“They shouted me out again recently for making the Olympic team.”

The brothers have gone a step further this time, donating to Edwards’ GoFundMe, which was set up to allow her family to travel and watch her compete for her country.

“They’ve helped out with my family’s GoFundMe to go over there and support me. 

“My family put up a GoFundMe, and [Travis] donated… he’s been in touch a little bit on how else he can help.

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“So I mean, those are just really good guys. They’re really good people, too, outside of their athletic abilities.

“Travis was saying that Jason and Kylie are big fans of mine, and I’m hoping to meet them all in Italy,” she said.

“Hockey isn’t a cheap sport to play or travel for families. The Kelce brothers’ contributions will go a long way. “Ice is expensive,” Edwards declared.

“Then you’ve got to pay for a coach, the equipment. I can’t even put into words how much money they’ve put into this and left work early to take me to a game, take me to practice.”

Travis was named winner of the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in December, just days after he made the donation to Edwards’ family.

It’s not the first time the brothers have gone above and beyond in helping athletes within the community.

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Travis Kelce nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year

In 2015, Travis set up the Eighty-Seven & Running foundation, with the goal of empowering underprivileged youth, and his charitable work has seen nominated by the Chiefs for a third time as the team’s contender for the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

He also helped rebuild the home of decorated field and track star Gloria White, a Kansas-City resident of 56 years, living in a house that required over 16 different repairs.

With Jason embracing retirement, which includes signing a massive three-year $24 million contract with ESPN, the future is not yet as clear for Travis.

At 36-years-old, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end has been open about the tough toll of 13 seasons in the NFL.

But the return of Eric Bieniemy to the Chiefs coaching staff might just persuade Kelce to give it one more year.

No matter Travis’ next career move, his latest act of generosity adds fuel to his growing legacy as a star not only on the field but off the field.

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