Travis Kelce quietly founded the anti-bullying book fund “You Matter, 87 Times” after attending the funeral of a 12-year-old who took his own life — inspiring thousands of students.
Not only attending the funeral, he funded 15,000 free books distributed to 5 Missouri schools. Each book included a handwritten letter reminding students they are not alone. The story of loss and hope was followed by millions online. 🕯️📖

You Matter, 87 Times

In a small Missouri town, the air was heavy with grief as the community gathered to mourn the loss of 12-year-old Ethan, a bright boy with a quiet smile who had taken his own life after enduring relentless bullying. Among the mourners at the funeral was an unexpected figure: Travis Kelce, the NFL superstar whose larger-than-life presence on the field belied his deep compassion off it. Ethan’s story, shared through a local news outlet, had reached Travis, piercing his heart. He didn’t know Ethan personally, but he felt a responsibility to honor him—not just with words, but with action that could prevent other kids from feeling so alone.

Travis stood silently at the funeral, his head bowed, listening to Ethan’s family speak of his love for books and his dreams of becoming a writer. The pain of his loss, caused by bullying that went unchecked, stayed with Travis. He thought of his own childhood, the taunts he’d faced, and the mentors who helped him rise above. Determined to turn grief into hope, Travis decided to act quietly, away from the spotlight. He founded the “You Matter, 87 Times” anti-bullying book fund, named after his jersey number, to provide resources and support to students struggling with bullying.

Working with a Missouri-based education nonprofit, Travis funded the distribution of 15,000 free books to five schools in the state, targeting areas where bullying was a growing concern. The books, carefully selected with input from counselors and teachers, included stories about resilience, self-worth, and kindness—titles like Wonder and The Invisible Boy that spoke to kids like Ethan. But Travis went further. Inside each book, he included a handwritten letter, penned by himself and a team of volunteers, with a simple message: “You are not alone. You matter, 87 times and more. Keep shining.” The letters were personal, heartfelt, and a reminder that someone cared.

Travis kept his involvement secret, wanting the focus to remain on the students. The nonprofit coordinated with school principals to distribute the books during assemblies, presenting them as gifts from an anonymous donor. At Jefferson Middle School, one of the five schools, 13-year-old Mia, who had faced bullying for her glasses and shy demeanor, received a copy of Wonder. She opened it to find the letter, its words hitting her like a lifeline. Across the five schools, thousands of students read the letters, some tucking them into their backpacks, others sharing them with friends. Teachers noticed a shift—kids started talking about kindness, forming anti-bullying clubs, and reaching out to peers who seemed isolated.

The initiative’s impact grew quietly over months. At Parkview Elementary, a group of students started a “You Matter” book club, reading the donated books and discussing how to support each other. At Lincoln High, a counselor used the books to spark conversations about mental health, helping students like Jamal, who had been teased for his weight, find confidence through group discussions. The letters, with their simple but powerful message, became talismans for kids navigating tough days. Parents reported their children coming home with newfound hope, clutching books that reminded them they were enough.

The secret couldn’t stay hidden forever. During a community event in Kansas City to celebrate the schools’ anti-bullying efforts, Travis was invited to speak. He took the stage in his No. 87 jersey, the crowd unaware of his role. “I’m here because of a kid named Ethan,” he began, his voice steady but emotional. “He deserved better, and so do all of you. I’m the one behind ‘You Matter, 87 Times,’ because I believe every kid should know they’re not alone.” The room fell silent, then erupted in applause. Students, teachers, and parents stood, many in tears, as Travis shared Ethan’s story and his own—moments of feeling like an outsider, and the people who helped him through.

Travis invited a group of students from the five schools to join him on stage. Mia, now a leader in her school’s anti-bullying club, stood beside him, holding her copy of Wonder. “This book and that letter saved me,” she said softly, her voice amplified by the microphone. Travis knelt beside her, giving her a gentle hug, and the crowd’s tears flowed freely. The moment—students and their NFL hero united in a shared mission—was a powerful symbol of hope. “You’re the real MVPs,” Travis told them. “Keep lifting each other up.”

The story exploded online. Posts on X captured the event—photos of Travis hugging Mia, videos of his speech, and scans of the handwritten letters. “Travis Kelce turned loss into love,” one post read. Another shared a picture of a student reading her letter, captioned, “This is what hope looks like.” The hashtag #YouMatter87 trended, with thousands sharing stories of how the books and letters had touched their lives. One parent wrote, “My son was bullied for years. That letter from Travis made him feel seen for the first time.” The movement inspired other communities to launch similar book funds, spreading Ethan’s legacy far beyond Missouri.

The impact on the five schools was profound. Bullying incidents dropped as students embraced the message of kindness. Peer mentorship programs flourished, and teachers incorporated the books into their curricula. Mia, inspired by Travis, started writing her own stories, hoping to become an author like Ethan dreamed of being. Jamal, now a confident sophomore, volunteered to speak at younger grades about standing up to bullies. The “You Matter, 87 Times” fund grew, with Travis pledging ongoing support and local businesses contributing to expand the program to more schools.

For Travis, the greatest reward was seeing kids like Mia and Jamal thrive. “This is for Ethan and every kid who feels invisible,” he told a reporter. “They need to know they matter.” He kept a photo from the funeral in his locker, a reminder of why he started the fund. Ethan’s family, touched by Travis’s efforts, attended the community event, thanking him with tearful hugs. “You gave our son’s life meaning,” Ethan’s mother said.

The “You Matter, 87 Times” fund became a beacon of hope in Missouri, proving that one person’s compassion could spark a movement. For thousands of students, the books and letters were more than gifts—they were lifelines, reminding them they were seen, valued, and never alone. And for millions online, Ethan’s story, woven with Travis’s kindness, was a call to action: to fight bullying with love, one book, one letter, one heart at a time.