JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Twelve kids officially signed a certificate to join the 2024 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Dream Team, thanks to a partnership between Gator Bowl Charities and Dreams Come True.
The kids, aged 6-17, are battling life-threatening conditions while embodying strength, courage, joy and pride.
"Dreams Come True allows those amazing opportunities where you can form those core memories, those values, and work on and really focus on the family," Mike Ladd, a father of a dreamer, said. "And to see that family now expand outside of our household to a community, to a football game, it's just absolutely amazing to see the community come forward like that and have that kind of heart."
The dreamers include Te'Von Berry Jr., Jared Cook, Kennedy Harris, Jase Holden, Kasey Ladd, Leonard Love, Luke Masiak, Kylee Mathis, Brynley Richardson, Seth Rowe, Marshawn Wilson and Leonard Wortham.
The Dream Team will serve as TaxSlayer Gator Bowl ambassadors and participate in events throughout the college football season, including a scouting trip to Gainesville for a game at the University of Florida and a meet-and-greet with select players from the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl participating teams.
At the end of the regular season, the dreamers will graduate out of their blue jerseys to TaxSlayer Gator Bowl green jackets, making them honorary Dream Team members.