Our partnership with the Cincinnati Bengals allows us to offer impactful opportunities to our patients that we wouldn’t have otherwise.

We recently teamed up with the Bengals to offer an exclusive opportunity for patients and staff at Kettering Health Hamilton to meet a player. Additionally, the team hosted a private practice for cancer patients, survivors, and staff.

Continue reading to see more information and photos from each engagement.

Ted Karras spreads cheer to patients and staff during the holiday season

On December 5, Bengals center Ted Karras visited patients and staff at KH Hamilton to lift spirits and spread cheer to those in our hospital during the holiday season.

Ted gifted hats to patients receiving cancer treatment and those in Inpatient Rehab. He also visited the Mother/Baby Unit and provided patients with onesies. The apparel came from The Cincy Hat, a project that raises funds for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Employees were impressed by Ted’s generosity with our patients and honored by the chance to meet him themselves.

Amy Koch is an occupational therapist in the Inpatient Rehab Department who was working during Ted’s visit. “The patients here have experienced significant, life-changing medical events, requiring intensive therapy that keeps them away from home for up to weeks at a time,” she explained.

“Ted’s visit gave hope to our patients and lifted their spirits for days after. The hats he handed out serve as a reminder of hard work and success, and continually encourage our patients (even those who often struggle with motivation) during a challenging time in their lives.”

Ted is also the Bengals’ nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which is the league’s most prestigious honor acknowledging players who excel on the field and demonstrate a passion for creating a lasting positive impact beyond the game in their communities.

Amy shared a specific interaction between Ted and a patient in Inpatient Rehab who is a huge Bengals fan. She said Ted met him in the dining room with everyone else but also made an extra trip to this patient’s room to take photos. “That patient has a smile on his face every time we mention Ted’s visit, and I know the visit made a huge difference in how he sees himself and his condition.”

Ted’s character played out in real time even after the visit was over.

He was leaving KH Hamilton when he was flagged down by a patient who recognized him. Ted quickly realized the patient was deaf, so he communicated with him by typing back and forth on his phone. Before going their separate ways, Ted took the hat off his head and gifted it to the patient.

We’re grateful for the impactful moments­—both small and large—our patients have as a result of our partnership with the Bengals.

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Bengals host private practice for cancer patients, survivors, and staff

Just days before Ted’s visit, additional patients and staff were honored on the field at Paycor Stadium.

The Bengals hosted cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers for an exclusive private practice and lunch. This event was a part of Crucial Catch, the NFL’s campaign to intercept cancer in its earliest stages.

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