On Saturday, a beloved figure from Pittsburgh Steelers history brought festive spirit to the area.
Jerome Bettis, through his Bus Stops Here Foundation, visited several neighborhoods to distribute presents.
At the Boys and Girls Club in Carnegie, an organization with which he has strong connections, Channel 11 documented the event.
Chris Watts, who leads the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, explained that Bettis was once a "club kid" himself during his youth.
"That experience never left him," Watts said. "And so, of course, during his time with the Steelers, in ways big and even behind the scenes, he supported the Boys and Girls Clubs here. And despite his incredible professional career, after his playing career, he still cares about Pittsburgh people and comes back often, and his foundation truly cares about the community, and he’s stepped up in so many ways."
Watts mentioned a collaboration with Bettis's foundation to create a cyber bus, a mobile classroom scheduled to debut in spring.
Bettis expressed that his aim with the toy drive and community gathering was to ensure children enjoy the holidays.
"I remember as a kid, Christmas was a very important and pivotal part of the year," he said. "So, to celebrate it, to get gifts and all those things, it means so much. So we want to provide just a little bit of joy at this time of the year, and we really believe that it will make a huge impact."
Tiana Ballinger, a Carnegie resident, described the celebration as "very special" for her family. As a devoted fan of Bettis, she values the Boys and Girls Club for helping her children socialize and stay engaged.
