Four years ago, a chance encounter in a coffee line sparked a friendship. The
people involved in that conversation, John Tarpey, Vice President of Security for the Chicago
Bears, and Kaneland High School Football Student Manager Charlie Krupka, established a
"Bears Bond" that's unbreakable. They exchange messages before and after games,
celebrating victories or commiserating over losses, always with their eyes fixed on the future
Super Bowl that will surely be "next season."
Charlie, who recently received his varsity letter, has a passion for football that he hopes will
become a career. Easterseals has played an instrumental role in Charlie's journey, granting him
the physical independence he enjoys today. To show their support for Charlie and Easterseals,
John and his family custom-designed shoes that were presented to Charlie on the sidelines
before Sunday's Chicago Bears 'My Cause, My Cleats' game against the Detroit Lions.
These shoes are not just a fashion statement but a symbol of our unwavering support for
Charlie, and the noble cause of Easterseals DuPage and Fox Valley, a beacon of hope
providing pediatric therapy and mental health services.
The shoes are Nike Air Force 1, inspired by Charlie's Kaneland Knights football team. They
feature Charlie's number and likeness in his football jersey and the Easterseals DuPage logos.
Plus, they have a motivational quote from John Madden: "Don't worry about the horse being
blind; just load the wagon!"
We invite you to celebrate the heartwarming friendship between Charlie Krupka and John
Tarpey. If you'd like more information about Charlie and these causes, please visit
https://give.classy.org/charlie-bears.
