Former NFL star JJ Watt and his wife, former Houston Dash soccer player Kealia Watt, recently hosted a “Watt’s House Youth Camp” at J. Frank Dobie High School. This special event was aimed at providing local young athletes an opportunity to learn and grow through football and soccer under the Watt duo. 

Among the attendees were 13 students from Pasadena Independent School District’s Bondy Intermediate School, carefully chosen by their football and soccer coaches, who excel in their sport and who they felt would truly appreciate and benefit from the overall experience. 

“The kids selected were so deserving,” said Bondy Intermediate’s Coach Jason Denham. “It was a tremendous day for the students.”

The young athletes spent the morning learning various drills and exercises designed to improve their athletic abilities and understanding of football and soccer. 

After a brief box lunch at the Dobie High School Field House, the Bondy students loaded onto a school bus, not knowing what was in store for them next.

The students disembarked at Dick’s House of Sport and were shuffled into a makeshift conference room at the back of the store. JJ Watt entered the room and began to speak.

“I have one last little fun thing after such a great time this morning,” said the Houston legend. “In my hand here, I have gift cards for each of you. You are getting a thousand dollars each to go around the store and buy whatever you want!”

Gasps and squeals of excitement filled the room as this new development sank in for the students. Bondy Assistant Principal Lisa Vavricka Wood even admitted to shedding a few tears at this news.

“I was originally told that Dick’s House of Sport would be surprising each of our students with a $250 gift card to shop with,” stated Assistant Principal Wood. “But then I found out that JJ heard how much they were giving the students and decided to add his own money to increase the amount of each gift card to $1,000!” 

JJ Watt took the time to walk around the store with each student as they shopped. Although the former NFL star would pause for the occasional photo with fans, he spent the majority of his time assisting the Bondy students in selecting the best athletic gear to suit their needs.

Another student, Keegan Schnettler, expressed selfless intentions to use his gift card to buy items for his family: “They just do so much for me.”

The JJ Watt Foundation has been a generous supporter of educational initiatives, having donated over $7 million to schools across the United States. Their contributions have additionally provided uniforms and essential equipment to numerous schools within the Pasadena Independent School District, including Bondy Intermediate. 

Assistant Principal Wood stated: “We are very grateful for their generosity and the work they do to support sports programs.” She highly encourages anyone who wishes to support the foundation’s mission to visit jjwfoundation.org. 

This event not only provided the students with fundamental athletic skills but also left a lasting impact on their lives, thanks to the kindness and generosity of the Watts. 

Coach Jason Denham remarked: “JJ Watt is a Saint to every Houstonian. What he has done for the youth in this community is unmatched and he is a Hall of Fame person above all his football accomplishments. It was an amazing experience to be able to see and share with such deserving students.”