Andy Dalton, at Your Service: Serving Passes, Tables and Lives

When a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness or physical disability, life is suddenly and permanently changed for both the child and family. The illness or disability creates a new world in which surgeries and treatments become routine and the hospital morphs into a home. The new normal sometimes makes it difficult for the child and family to recall what life was like before the diagnosis. The Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation was created to help them remember.

The charitable foundation of Andy Dalton, the Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl quarterback, and his wife, Jordan, was created to provide resources and experiences that bring a sense of normalcy to the lives of chronically ill or physically disabled children and their families.

“When kids are diagnosed with these illnesses and disabilities, the stress is not just on them, but on the parents and siblings as well,” says Dalton. “Our goal is to try to bring some sense of normalcy to these families who may be in circumstances and situations that are not so normal to them.”

The Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation helps these families through its five signature community outreach programs:

• Andy & Jordan’s Hub is a locker stocked with electronics to serve as entertainment and educational resources to help pass time during treatment and recovery. 
• King for a Day is an all-expense-paid trip to Kings Island, including fast lane passes and snack vouchers.
• Date Night provides an evening for parents to enjoy a dinner date and focus on their marriage while the Daltons and volunteers take care of the kids. 
• Holiday Hearts spreads cheer to families spending their holidays in the hospital.
• The latest initiative, the Pass It On Fund, will provide grants to help fund medical expenses for families in need.

The Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation is on track to touch the lives of more than one million children through these programs by the end of this year. Though money is raised in various ways, the largest annual fundraiser is its Celebrity Waiter Night.

For the fourth consecutive year, Dalton and his Bengals teammates will trade in their helmets and uniforms for trays and aprons to serve more than 250 guests a four-course dinner by Chef Todd Kelly of Orchids at Palm Court. 

Guests will spend the evening at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hall of Mirrors mingling with players like A.J. Green and Andrew Whitworth during a cocktail reception presented by Warm Realty + Development and bidding on sports memorabilia, unique Bengals experiences and luxury vacation trips in both silent and live auctions.

“Celebrity Waiter Night is a really fun event for our guests and, actually, for Andy’s teammates, too,” says Amy Grieme, executive director of the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation. “It’s a chance to see their favorite Cincinnati Bengals without their helmets and in a more intimate environment and, most importantly, it’s a chance for them to see Andy’s heart and support his cause.”

For more information about the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation or to purchase sponsorships or tickets for Celebrity Waiter Night, visit andydalton.org.