NFL Hall of Fame Kicker Nick Lowery Brings Hope to the Homeless in Phoenix

By Tricia Love Trujillo

In a world that often applauds the quick win, Nick Lowery measures greatness in decades, by what endures, by who is lifted, and by how faithfully we keep showing up. For nearly twenty years, his nonprofit Champions for the Homeless has turned the holidays in Phoenix into a living expression of love, meeting people where they are and reminding them they matter. Held several times a year at St. Vincent de Paul in downtown Phoenix, these gatherings bring together athletes, musicians, families, and community leaders. There is music and laughter, warm meals and practical help such as fresh clothes, shoes, haircuts, and chiropractic care, but the true gift is human connection, the sacred experience of being seen.

Through his organization, in every encounter, Nick and the volunteers are being the hands and feet of Christ to the homeless and displaced in his city, carrying love beyond words and into action. His life is proof that when we serve others, we are serving Him.

A Champion On and Off the Field

Nick Lowery’s life reads like a masterclass in perseverance. Over an extraordinary 18-year NFL career, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs, he became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and a seven-time All-Pro. He holds multiple records and remains one of the most accurate placekickers in NFL history. But for all his athletic success, what truly defines him is what came next.

“Most people have the idea, the vision, that they might do something good,” he said with a warm smile during our recent conversation. “But few start something. And if you start, you are already ahead of the game.”

That perspective comes from experience. Early in his career, he faced rejection repeatedly, being cut by eight teams eleven times before finally earning his place in the league. “Imagine this is a timeline,” he said, gesturing with his hands. “What if you stayed with it for ten years? You work through the disappointments, the people who said they would be there but were not. Ten years? Now you are finding momentum and maturity. God’s gifts begin to erupt, this intuition you never had before. It is so beautiful, so powerful.”

For Nick, this long-term commitment, what he calls staying with it for a generation, has become a guiding principle. “At five years, you have endured disappointment. At ten, you have found your rhythm. At fifteen, you start passing the baton. But at twenty? You have changed the world.”

Faith, Teamwork, and Transformation

In Nick’s eyes, the greatest lesson football ever taught him was not about winning, but about teamwork and humility. “As athletes, we come from a culture that can be narcissistic,” he admitted. “But when you surround yourself with people who lift you higher, it is a different kind of achievement. It is so much richer.”

That philosophy shapes every aspect of Champions for the Homeless. The events are not charity, they are collaborations of heart. Nick works alongside long-standing partners at St. Vincent de Paul, many of whom have served with him for nearly two decades. “Find people who are stable, who have a track record,” he said. “That is how you build something that lasts.”

Champions for the Homeless has provided thousands with food, clothing, shoes, haircuts, and music. But the most powerful transformation happens within the volunteers themselves. “It helped me more than I think it helped the people that I was serving,” Nick said. “My heart was changed so much. I grew that day.”

He paused before adding, “It is unbelievable how grateful people are who have had everything taken away from them, and what a gift that is back to us.” It is a mirror of what Scripture teaches, that in giving, we receive, and in serving “the least of these,” we encounter Christ Himself.

Empathy and Connection

There is a tenderness that comes through when Nick speaks about empathy. “Because in the end, that intuition, that is where the empathy is, the connection, the things that grow our hearts, that stick with us,” he reflected. “So that when we leave this earth, we have no regrets because we healed ourselves first, and then helped others.”

At the core of Champions for the Homeless is this exchange of healing. What begins as an act of service often becomes a ministry of renewal. Volunteers and guests alike walk away reminded that they are seen, valued, and loved. It is a quiet form of revival, one conversation, one handshake, one meal at a time.

Passing the Baton

After nearly twenty years of faithful service, Nick has begun to see a new generation of leaders rise within his organization. The ripple effect, the legacy of mentorship, is what gives the program its strength. Each act of compassion inspires another. Each volunteer becomes a vessel for change. Through it all, Nick continues to lead by example, modeling what it means to disciple others through consistent love and faith in action.

On Loss and Purpose

For Nick, purpose has often been shaped by pain. When reflecting on his journey, he shared how personal loss has deepened his compassion and focus. “Not out of sadness, it is sad,” he said softly, “but out of the power and the focus that we can use from that sadness.”

His words speak to something universal. Grief, when surrendered to God, becomes fuel for purpose. It reminds us to love deeper, serve stronger, and live with greater intention. This truth, now shared as part of his ongoing work, continues to touch hearts even as this conversation is published years later.

A Legacy Rooted in Service

Nick’s passion for giving back extends beyond the holidays. A longtime advocate for national service, he worked alongside leaders including President Bill Clinton to help advance AmeriCorps and youth civic engagement during its early years. His belief in service as the highest form of leadership has guided every chapter of his life. Recognized with the NFL Players Association’s prestigious Justice Byron “Whizzer” White Award for his commitment to social justice and equality, Nick continues to use his influence to uplift others and promote unity.

Still, he insists that true greatness is found in simplicity. “For me, a gift is simply to make it easier,” he said. “That is what it is about, creating opportunities.”

His gratitude is genuine and contagious. Speaking on the release of this feature, Nick shared his appreciation for the chance to spotlight Champions for the Homeless in L.A. STYLE Magazine, a publication that continues to amplify purpose-driven leaders and stories of impact. “I have been so blessed,” he said. “To have a stage through L.A. STYLE Magazine and through this community, and others who continue to support the mission.”

It is the humility of a man who understands that every platform is temporary, but every act of love echoes in eternity.

Carrying the Mission Forward

This Thanksgiving, Champions for the Homeless will once again gather hundreds of volunteers at St. Vincent de Paul in downtown Phoenix. There will be laughter, music, and heartfelt service, but above all, there will be love, the kind that heals wounds, restores hope, and reminds us that no one is forgotten.

Nick’s invitation to the community is simple but profound, to join him. Whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading the word, every person can play a part in carrying this mission forward. “Everyone in this room has power,” he said. “If we work together, we can change absolutely everything, abundantly and exceedingly above what we imagine.”

As Phoenix prepares for another season of gratitude, Nick Lowery’s message feels especially timely. The true meaning of Thanksgiving is not found at the table. It is found in the act of showing up, serving others, and extending the love of Christ to those who need it most.

To volunteer, donate, or support the upcoming Champions for the Homeless Thanksgiving event, visit www.nickloweryfoundation.org. Because greatness does not require a stadium. It only requires a willing heart and the courage to keep showing up.