The world is definitely about more than football for Christian athlete Tim Tebow, based on the spotlight of the recent "Tim Tebow Celebrity Golf Classic" he hosted.
Tebow has raised more than $5.5 million through the years with his celebrity golf events to benefit children in need through his Tim Tebow Foundation initiatives, such as the Tebow Cure Hospital in the Philippines, the Night to Shine prom for teenagers with special needs and the W15H program that gives kids with fatal illnesses a chance to make their dreams come true.
He started in the foundation in 2012. Team Tebow has grown to more than 19,000 service-minded individuals who are committed to making a difference in their local communities.
Tim Tebow poses with Ms. Wheelchair Florida at his recent annual celebrity golf event.
"It's not about football. It's about what we're doing, through faith, hope and love and the people we serve all over the world," Tebow told The Florida Times-Union before his sixth annual Tim Tebow Celebrity Golf Classic that took place March 12. "That's going to be bigger than football every single day of my life."
This year, Tebow invited his former University of Florida football coach Urban Meyer, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze, former Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones, NFL Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, PGA Tour winners Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson; former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, and music group The Band Perry to participate in the celebrity golf event, reports The Christian Post.
"When I get older I want to be like Tim, and I am older than Tim," Horschel told the Times-Union. "He's done amazing things. Football is just one thing, but what he does in the real world, where things really matter, is amazing."
Wuerffel believes Tebow's future contributions will be meaningful. "Football is obviously the most known and recognized thing to a lot of people, but when you look at the platform he has, his greatest years are yet to come, whether he plays in a Super Bowl or never plays again," Wuerffel said.
Earlier this year, Tebow warned about placing too much importance on football, which can be perceived as idol worship by some. "We choose to idolize certain things, and love certain things," Tebow said according to the Montgomery Advisor while speaking at benefit for the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama. "I'm not saying it's wrong to love sports, I love them as much as anybody. But do we choose to really see what matters?"
One of Tebow's Facebook friends, Sean Rainwater were among many who shared congratulatory posts: "Thanks for all you do for people Tim, and for your Godly example."
Other fans encouraged Tebow to keep up the good work. Edith Behm said he is a wonderful role model for youth, "something that is badly needed." She said she knows he "takes a lot of heat from guys in the locker room, but when their careers are over, you will be the one who is the real winner!"
