EAGAN, Minn. — When Kyle Van Noy decided to share his adoption story, he never imagined the overwhelming positive response he would receive from fans.

The veteran pass rusher, who signed with the Vikings Sept. 2, last year opened up via The Players’ Tribune to reflect on his experience being adopted "by an incredible family" and not learning anything about his biological parents until the age of 31.

Van Noy understands the deep gratitude for a loving family; he also understands the questions and emotions that can accompany growing up with parents and siblings whose DNA you don't share.

So when the Vikings and Tradehome Shoes teamed up to bless 2,000 children who have experienced foster care, adoption or homelessness, Van Noy didn't hesitate to be part of it.

"This really hits home," he said. "It was so fun to see the happiness on kids' faces, getting to pick out those shoes. … Getting shoes that fit them properly, brand-new ones where they can feel that confidence, that's huge.

"It was an honor to be part of this," he added.

Van Noy joined 14 of his new teammates — including Andrew DePaola, Will Reichard, Donovan Jackson, Theo Jackson, Isaiah Rodgers and others — last week at TCO Stadium, where they helped measure the young people's feet and presented them with brand-new tennis shoes, socks and backpacks courtesy of Tradehome Shoes. The youth and their families also were treated to concessions.

"If you're able to do something like this where you're helping their confidence, giving them shoes and even just an environment where they don't have to worry about anything — they can just come and hang out for the afternoon … it does an awesome amount of good," Van Noy said.

The 2026 event marked the fifth of its kind.

Tradehome Shoes Vice President of Store Personnel Mark Jacobson matched the afternoon's energy, milling around and speaking with families, players and staff members alike. He was accompanied by his daughter, Kaia, who prompted the idea as a fourth grader who noticed a classmate wearing shoes with holes in them. She spoke with her father about her concern, and the rest is history.

"We had a record number of players out here, and you see the smiles on their faces — and then you watch the kids being able to interact with them, and they're actually getting fit by, probably, one of their heroes," Jacobson said. "Those memories are going to last forever. I just love the partnership with the Minnesota Vikings and the way it's been able to grow."

The annual event and its growth demonstrate significant, genuine generosity by Jacobson, who said it's really not a difficult decision.

"To me and to my family and to the company, you look at it as … it's about what you can do for others. It's about how you can give back," Jacobson said. "And in the end, we end up getting a lot more out of it than even the kids, because it's so fun to be able to see their reactions.

"That's what fills us up spiritually. That's what fills us up in so many different ways," Jacobson continued. "And that leaves behind a legacy, because you never know what sort of difference you're going to make in somebody's life."

Lyndsay and Mark Petrich attended the evening with six of their eight children. Having a blended family with adopted children, the event has been incredibly impactful for the past two years. Adrian, Lilly, Grayson, Charlene, Damian and Sabrina, ranging in ages from 5 to 12, were all smiles as they tested out their brand-new shoes.

Lyndsay noted the children had been asking since the start of school, "When do we get to back to the Vikings facility?"

"When you have eight kids, we go through shoes extremely quickly," Lyndsay said. "They love that they're name brand, they're cool and they fit in with their friends. It takes a huge burden off our family.

"I think it can be kind of an unseen thing, especially when they're adopted, and to have someone notice them and get a benefit or a fun thing out of it is really special," she added.

Jessica Miller is an adoptive parent herself and has a dual perspective as Foster Adopt Minnesota’s State Adoption Exchange Narrative Specialist.

Miller pointed out that youth who experience out-of-home placement — whether foster care, adoption or kinship care — have often experienced some level of trauma. An event like the one hosted by the Vikings and Tradehome Shoes can speak volumes to those youngsters.

"They have such unique stories, and sometimes they feel so alone and isolated," Miller said. "The opportunity for them to come here, they get to see other families that look like them, that feel like them, that have similar stories. And they also know the Minnesota Vikings and Tradehome Shoes value them and care about them. Everybody loves the Vikings. Everybody gets excited about the organization. But to know the Vikings see these families and these youth and want to honor that in their experiences is really incredible."

Minnesota school among 5 selected for NFL grant

Lincoln K-8 Choice School in Rochester, Minnesota, is one of just five schools across the country selected by the NFL and American Heart Association for a $10,000 grant.

The grants are designated for a gymnasium and physical activity equipment makeover.

The Vikings recently surprised staff members and students at a Lincoln school assembly, presenting them with a supersized check.

"This is a life-changing blessing for our school," said Lincoln gym teacher Wyatt Boberg. "To be able to change the lives of students and motivate them to move and live a healthy lifestyle, to buy active recess equipment and learn new sports in class and physical education."

Five schools and five individual students were recognized as part of a collaboration between the American Heart Association and the NFL Foundation to encourage young people to learn CPR. Students who participated in the Association's in-school programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ during the 2025-26 school year and learned hands-only CPR were eligible for incentive prize drawings from the league.

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