Why Travis Kelce’s 87 & Running isn’t as popular as Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies (Image via Getty: Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes)
Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Foundation appears to have attained mightier mainstream commendation While Kelce’s 87 & Running continues to make a substantial impact. Travis Kelce founded Eighty-Seven & Running in 2015 with a sincere mission shaped by his childhood experiences in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He came back and founded the 87 & Running organization for his community. The 87 & Running Foundation focuses on empowering disadvantaged and underserved youth to gain access to opportunities, enrichment, and advancement in education, business, athletics, STEM, and the arts. Its work includes programs such as the Operation Breakthrough Ignition Lab in Kansas City, which provides teenagers aged 14-18 from under-resourced neighborhoods with cutting-edge equipment, a safe environment, essential resources, committed mentorship, and opportunities to explore STEM potential and unleash their entrepreneurship. That genre-focused approach could be one reason 87 & Running can sometimes receive less general-public recognition. Patrick Mahomes’ Foundation was founded four years after 87 & Running’s inception, in 2019. The sixth annual gala, held in October 2025, was promoted as a major Kansas City philanthropic event. The event raised $1.5 million for 27 Kansas City charities from more than 900 supporters. 87 & Running has been operating longer than the 15 and the Mahomies foundation. 15. Kelce’s 87 & Running has a similarly purposeful mission, but its substantial work often speaks for itself rather than taking the center stage or monopolizing the limelight.
Because of this, Kelce witnessed that some of his close friends did not have the same family structure he was blessed with and were not able to enjoy the same experiences as he did.
It has a straightforward branding advantage: the number “15” is inseparable from Patrick Mahomes himself. The phrase “15 and the Mahomies” instantly connects his Kansas City Chiefs jersey number with his widespread supporters, creating an unforgettable identity that naturally extends beyond football. The quarterback may have taken the idea of “15” from “87 & Running. “87” is Travis Kelce’s jersey number.
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes have become two of the most prominent faces of the Kansas City Chiefs, but their charitable foundations have developed very distinguished standards of public visibility. The difference has less to do with the value of their work and more with branding, reach, and public exposure. He grew up in a community transcending normal economic and cultural boundaries, where rich and poor, black and white, and different religious affiliations merged into one big melting pot. Some of his role models did not come back to the community to support their hometown. He wanted to do that. Its identity is tightly tied to youth development and opportunity rather than a broad collection of highly visible celebrity events. But we all know that an NFL quarterback is the soul of the gridiron; he is powerfully placed in a stronger position than a hybrid pass catcher like a tight end. Anyhow, Mahomes’ Foundation is wholeheartedly dedicated to improving children’s lives by supporting initiatives involving education, health, wellness, underserved communities, and other charitable causes. It has also built highly visible partnerships, including a national collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Other charitable partners include Children’s Mercy, Make A Wish, Youth Volunteer Corps, Kids Feeding Kids, Black College Football Hall of Fame, Special Olympics, Variety, the children’s charity of Kansas City, among others. The Foundation’s annual gala, ever since its inception, has further strengthened its impactful profile. It would be extremely unfair to take lower visibility for lower impact. Kelce’s organization actively continues to invest in meaningful programs designed to give youth access to unattainable opportunities they might otherwise lack. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines The only supposed difference is ultimately one of public branding. Mahomes’ Foundation benefits from an instantly distinct name, extremely visible partnerships, and a charitable identity closely connected to his Chiefs jersey No. For Kelce, that could be the takeaway point. His Foundation’s success isn’t measured by how loudly its name is recognized, but by how many youths it truly impacts. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.