Raiders Players Bring Holiday Cheer to Southern Nevada with Heartfelt Community Outreach
In a season where wins and losses dominate headlines, the Las Vegas Raiders are reminding everyone that impact goes far beyond the field. This holiday season, several Raiders players stepped out of the locker room and into the community, bringing joy, hope, and a whole lot of heart to those who need it most in Southern Nevada.
Two separate outreach events showcased just how committed these players are to giving back - not just with words, but with time, presence, and genuine connection.
AJ Cole and Daniel Carlson Visit Children’s Medical Center
Punter AJ Cole and kicker Daniel Carlson teamed up with the Starlight Children’s Foundation to visit young patients at the Children’s Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital. But this wasn’t just a quick photo op or a ceremonial drop-off. This was about showing up - really showing up - for kids facing some of the toughest battles of their young lives.
“I think that everybody deserves to feel special around Christmas,” Cole said, standing in a hospital room filled with smiles, toys, and a little extra light. “I know these kids are going through a tough couple of weeks, tough couple of days, and so the opportunity we have and the platform we have makes it hopefully cool for us to come by and interact with these kids.”
Cole and Carlson weren’t just handing out toys - they were handing out moments of joy, encouragement, and a much-needed distraction from hospital routines. And for both players, this kind of outreach isn’t just a once-a-year gesture - it’s part of who they are.
“It’s important to me, it’s important to Daniel, to just try and do everything we can in the community to spread that love that we’ve felt,” Cole added. “Being able to give back around this time of year, especially, is really important.”
For Carlson, the visit hit even closer to home.
“A couple of the kids we got to meet were around my kids’ age,” he said. “It gives you a lot of perspective. A lot of gratitude for your kids’ health, but also gratitude for what those families are going through and how they’re staying optimistic and smiling.”
Carlson, a father himself, spoke with the kind of clarity that comes when life on the field intersects with life off of it.
“We get to play a kid’s game for a living,” he said. “Hopefully we can do something good with that platform and give back - lighting up a kid’s face for a few minutes and giving them a reason to smile.”
Ashton Jeanty Lends a Hand at Project 150
While Cole and Carlson were lifting spirits in hospital rooms, running back Ashton Jeanty was across town rolling up his sleeves with Project 150 - a local nonprofit that supports homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged high school students.
Jeanty spent the afternoon packing holiday meal boxes and hosting a meet-and-greet with students - a hands-on effort that delivered more than just food. It delivered inspiration.
“They obviously look up to me, they’re watching the games and all the things that I’m doing,” Jeanty said. “So it’s amazing to be able to inspire them and change their lives.”
And for Jeanty, the impact was mutual. Being face-to-face with students navigating real-life challenges reminded him of just how far he’s come - and how important it is to stay grounded.
“Seeing the children and coming from all these different places just shows me how blessed I am,” he said. “It makes me more grateful to have the opportunity that I do.”
His message to the students was simple, but powerful: “Anything is possible,” Jeanty said. “Anything that you want to work for, you can do all the things that the people you’re watching are doing.”
A Team Effort Off the Field
These moments - a toy handed to a child, a meal box packed for a family, a few words of encouragement shared with a student - may not show up on a stat sheet, but they matter. They matter deeply.
What Cole, Carlson, and Jeanty demonstrated is that being a Raider isn’t just about wearing the Silver and Black on Sundays. It’s about showing up for your community when the lights aren’t on, when the cameras aren’t rolling, and when people need it most.
This holiday season, the Raiders didn’t just talk about giving back - they lived it. And in doing so, they reminded us all of the power of presence, the value of empathy, and the kind of leadership that lasts long after the final whistle.