AJ Dillon won $35,000 in his first fantasy football league, then donated every dollar to two charities(Getty)
Carolina Panthers running back AJ Dillon had never played fantasy football before joining a celebrity competition in 2021. Dillon won the Sleeper Bowl and received $35,000 in prize money. Instead, he gave $25,000 to a local cancer care team and another $10,000 to a child advocacy centre in Green Bay. Dillon’s fantasy football story started with a post on social media in August 2021. He found out about the victory shortly after the Packers defeated the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2022. The win came with $35,000 in prize money.
Because he hoped to stay in the area throughout the year, he told NBC 26 that he wanted to do something local.
The former Packers running back told his followers that he wanted to try fantasy football that season. “Somebody called me out like, ‘There’s no way he can beat us in fantasy,'” Dillon told NBC 26. Dillon said he had to put on his coaching hat as he worked through the setbacks.
But his first attempt turned out better than he could have expected. He decided not to keep any of it. Both donations had a personal reason behind them, and Dillon wanted to help people in the community he hoped to call home for years. Sleeper, a fantasy sports app, noticed the post and invited him to take part in its annual Sleeper Bowl. The competition included fantasy football experts and other well-known personalities. Dillon had no experience in the game, but he was happy to give it a try. He also had a competitive side and did not want to back down from the challenge. “You know, I’m a pretty competitive guy. His first season did not go without problems. Two of the running backs he selected, Christian McCaffrey and David Montgomery, dealt with injuries. Still, he managed to win the competition. The following day, he shared the news on social media and thanked the people who had helped him learn the game. Dillon already knew where he wanted the money to go. Dillon wanted to support organisations in Green Bay, where he was beginning to build a life outside football.
He chose two organisations and divided the $35,000 between them. The Cancer Team at Bellin Health received $25,000, while Willow Tree Cornerstone Child Advocacy Center received $10,000. Jeremy Darlow, Sleeper’s vice president of marketing, told NBC 26 that the company had not previously donated money from the competition to a charity. His future mother-in-law had been diagnosed with breast cancer during the 2021 off-season. The $25,000 donation also gave the centre additional support for its cancer care work. In October 2022, Dillon and his wife, Gabrielle, made another donation of $100,000 to the Bellin Health Cancer Team. The other $10,000 went to Willow Tree Cornerstone Child Advocacy Center, a nonprofit programme run by Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin. She shared that Willow Tree had conducted 551 child forensic interviews in 2021 alone. Dillon’s $35,000 fantasy football win gave him a chance to support two causes that meant something to him.
He said he was grateful for the care his mother-in-law had received and wanted to spend time with other patients going through treatment. He told Bellin Health that hearing their stories and meeting their families meant a lot to him. Kristie Sickel, the centre’s programme manager, said the donation also helped bring attention to child abuse, a subject that can be difficult for people to discuss.
The decision to donate the entire amount came from Dillon himself. Dillon wanted the winnings to support causes instead of taking the money home. Each organisation had a different connection to his life. The donation to Bellin Health was linked to his mother-in-law’s cancer treatment. His gift to Willow Tree came from his own childhood and the care he received from his family. Dillon’s largest donation went to the Cancer Team at Bellin Health. She received some of her treatments at the Green Bay health centre and was recovering well when Dillon spoke about the gift. He wanted to thank the medical team that had helped someone close to his family. The connection continued beyond the fantasy football winnings. The money came from the fantasy football win and a charitable partnership with U.S. Venture. Dillon also visited patients and staff during the October event. He hoped his visit would make their treatment day a little brighter. The centre works with children who have experienced abuse, neglect or other forms of maltreatment. Dillon explained that he grew up in a loving home with his mother and younger sister. He knew how much their care meant to him, and he felt sad that some children did not have the same experience. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines He wanted children who had been abused to know that people in their community cared about them and that they could find help. Willow Tree provides child forensic interviews, medical evaluations, counselling and support services. It also works with local law enforcement, district attorneys and child protection services during investigations involving children. He used the money to help cancer patients and children in Green Bay, rather than keeping the prize from his first season in the game. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.