Jason Kelce, Eagles players return for annual autism awareness event in Sea Isle (2024)

SEA ISLE CITY — Rhian Huhn loves the family-friendly events that are now part of Jason Kelce’s Team 62 at the Ocean Drive annual fundraiser.

Rhian and husband Jason Huhn have two children, Bryce and Kiersten.

“This is fantastic,” Rhian said Wednesday while attending a mid-day event benefiting the Eagles Autism Foundation.

“It’s hard to get a babysitter so sometimes the O.D. event is off the table for us,” she said. “The kids are just as excited to hopefully see some players and to be a part of this. It’s super well organized.”

The Excursion Park takeover was the first part of the two-day fundraiser that benefits the Eagles Autism Foundation via Kelce’s Team 62. Following the event at the park, Kelce and former and current Eagles made their way over to the Ocean Drive Bar to serve as celebrity bartenders for the fourth straight year.

The Huhn family, of Jamison, Pennsylvania, attended the first two years of the event. The couple went to the Ocean Drive in 2021 and brought the kids to the Paddy’s Green family event in 2022.

The Huhn’s son, Bryce, plays the trumpet back home. He was excited to participate in the drumline clinic because of his interest in music.

“It’s something to do the entire day instead of just sitting at home,” said Bryce, 11.

Kelce, a 2018 Super Bowl champion and six-time first-team All-Pro, retired from the NFL in March. But he hasn’t stopped taking part in Eagles events.

An Eagles logo was painted onto the grass in the center of the park, with a photo opportunity to stand in as the letter “I” in “Birds” right behind the logo.

The park event included clinics for children to take part in drumline, cheer and football skills in exchange for a $25 donation.

Lia Furness traveled from Jamison, Pennsylvania, with the Huhns. She brought her three children to the takeover at the park.

“They’re really cute,” Furness said of the clinics’ offerings. “They have different things. They have football skills, which my one son (Thomas) loves playing football, the drumline for my other son (Joseph) who plays instruments, and they have a cheerleading thing for my daughter (Lia). I think it’s well-rounded for everybody.”

Wednesday’s takeover was held from noon to 3 p.m. The line to sign up for clinics stretched across the park just after noon, with the football clinic being filled to capacity just after 12:30 p.m.

The Huhns and Furness said they were appreciative of the effort Kelce makes to raise funds for the foundation and interact with the fans at the park and Ocean Drive.

Kelce appeared at the park around 12:45 p.m., signing autographs and taking selfies with fans.

“I heard that they want him to run for mayor,” Furness joked.

At the Ocean Drive, Kelce was joined by current and former Eagles including Brandon Graham, Landon Dickerson, Jake Elliot, Dallas Goedert, Avonte Maddox, Sydney Brown, Connor Barwin, Beau Allen and Todd Herremans, Eagles chief security officer Dom “Big Dom” DiSandro, team cheerleaders and team mascot Swoop.

As the event grows in popularity each year, more fans arrive earlier at the Ocean Drive.

Cole Bradley, Pat Mullen and Syndey Hill, all of Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, and Dara Kaufman, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, waited outside for hours to get into the bar.

The four said they had been in line “at least since 9:30 or 10,” which was even earlier than they originally planned.

“We’re staying with a friend of my mom’s,” Hill said. “She woke us up at like 8:30 and was like ‘girls it’s on the news you better get up we gotta get going.’”

The four said they were nervous Kelce wouldn’t continue with the fundraiser now that he is retired. The fact that he has, shows his love for the team, the cause and Sea Isle.

After retiring in March, Kelce remains involved with the Eagles, Sea Isle and the Ocean Drive through the fundraiser.

“I don’t know that anything (different) goes on,” Kelce said. “You still stay involved in your communities. I mean I live here in Philadelphia still. This bar has been kind enough to let us use their facilities, their employees, and this entire establishment the last few years to put this event on. It’s been massively successful. It’s a lot of fun, so just keep doing it.”

The success of the fundraiser in the three years prior led to this year’s event expanding to two days.

On Thursday, the second annual New Heights Beer Bowl will be held at the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All proceeds from the two-day event benefit the Eagles Autism Foundation via Kelce’s Team 62. Last year’s event raised nearly $500,000, including $150,000 before it even opened to the public.