Bronco tight end brings holiday cheer to students

During the holiday season, the significant support needs (SSN) classroom at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) was filled with holiday spirit as students welcomed a very special guest, Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram, along with his wife Emily. The couple spent the afternoon decorating Christmas cookies and graham cracker houses with students, marking the first school visit as part of the mission of the Evan Engram Foundation. Three Unified Sports students from Buffalo Ridge Elementary were also in attendance.

“I was super blessed to be at TTE working with kids,” said Evan. “The perspective they have on life and what they deal with every day is adversity, that’s a real challenge. I commit myself to the impact I leave on people, on or off the field, that’s where the real legacy lies.”

Students could not believe the surprise visitor was a professional football player. Once the excitement settled in, Evan took time to connect with each student, posing for photos, signing jerseys and helmets, and playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who would get to ask the next question. Students asked if he would rather go back to age 30 or 31 and what his favorite dinosaur is (T-Rex).

“When looking for organizations to partner with on behalf of my students, I look for groups whose mission centers on enriching lives and working with children,” said SSN teacher Jennifer Di Capo. “I knew my students would truly enjoy having a professional football player come into their classroom and take time to just be with them.”

The students helped to make the frosting and enjoyed the decorating, practicing their fine motor skills. They also had fun sneaking extra cookies and candies. The experience became part of the writing activities that week, allowing them to reflect on the visit through their classroom work.

Throughout his football career, Evan has been recognized for working with youth and individuals with disabilities. His foundation, which launched last year, is dedicated to empowering youth and helping them discover their potential. To learn more, follow The Evan Engram Foundation on Instagram, @EvanEngramFoundation.