Tom Brady on Granting Make-A-Wish for Teen Whose Family Named Him and His Brother After the Patriots (Exclusive)

The day was an overall win for Tom Brady and his superfan named Boston.

While participating in an event organized by Fanatics and Make-A-Wish, the retired NFL star made a dream come true for the 15-year-old and his family, who named him and his brother after their love of the New England Patriots.

“Boston was one of the boys and Brady was his brother,” the seven-time Super Bowl winner told PEOPLE exclusively at an event held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday. “Just a good family,” he adds.

While Boston’s parents are Patriots fans, the teenager became a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan when Brady played for the Florida team between 2020 and 2022. He admires the decorated QB for his all-time career regular-season passing record — and, understandably so , , for his impressive collection of Super Bowl rings.

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Tom Brady plays football with Boston at an event hosted by Fanatics and Make-A-Wish.

Fanatics

The most important part of Boston’s wish was to “meet Tom Brady” because he’s “always wanted to meet him” — and without hesitation, the athlete was in full force.

“I think when we were young we had people we looked up to and we aspired to certain things because of our childhood idols,” Brady tells PEOPLE, noting that he “had a lot” of idols as a child. “I think it’s nice for some of these kids to meet some of their childhood idols.”

“My dad was in my house and then I had Steve Young and Joe Montana who were my two idols growing up,” Brady continues. “So they were probably the reason I fell in love with football.”

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Tom Brady high-fives a kid in the locker room at the Fanatics and Make-A-Wish event.

Fanatics

Not only did Brady spend one-on-one time with Boston and his family in the locker room, but he also led drills and skill games on the field. He also took time to sign autographs and take pictures while offering encouragement and words of wisdom to the children.

“I always say as much as people think we give to them, they really give to us — just in their spirit, their joy to be here and want their families to be a part of this with them,” Brady says of the brave children diagnosed with critical illnesses .

“I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have played a role in many of those wishes,” he adds. “Families are happy and that’s really what it’s all about.”

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Tom Brady mingles with fans at a Fanatics and Make-A-Wish event.

Fanatics

While Brady noted that he has had the opportunity to play a role in making many children’s wishes come true in the past, this was the first time he has done so since Michael Rubins’ Fanatics was named the first “Official Sports Partner” of Make-A-Wishes.

“Usually it doesn’t take much to get me to come and enjoy something he does because I love the way he thinks. He thinks big and better,” Brady says of Fanatics CEO Rubin, with whom he’s collaborated on charity ventures in the past, such as Merch Madness event in June.

“He said, ‘Hey, I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we get a lot of guys together and make it a really special day for the families and they get to meet some athletes that they really love?'” Brady recalled from Rubin’s court. “So it sounded like a great idea and I think we had a really successful day.”

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Jayson Tatum, Tom Brady and Aaron Judge participate in the Fanatics and Make-A-Wish event.

Fanatics

In addition to Brady, Yankees great Aaron Judge and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum also took part in fulfilling children’s wishes.

“I love Michael Rubin and what he did with the Fanatics,” Judge told PEOPLE exclusively at the event. “But this is really about the kids, getting the chance to spend the day with them, meet their families and hear their stories. It’s amazing.”

Make-A-Wish America President and CEO Leslie Motter tells PEOPLE that Fanatics was “an obvious partnership” — to which Rubin adds, “Sports bring people and communities together.”

Rubin continues, “I think it’s our responsibility to help make a difference. We’re honored to be working together. We’re using our strengths and innovation to really help make a huge impact on these kids’ lives.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education