Eight years have gone by since Hunter Henry began his journey in the NFL, but for most of his life, Sundays used to look a lot different.
Waking up in Little Rock, Arkansas, the New England Patriots tight end would prepare to spend a full day of sharing the faith with his community. It began with Sunday school in a room full of his peers. Together, they would then transition into the sermon where he would watch his father, Mark, share the teachings of the Christian faith as the congregation's Pastor.
For Henry, his father served as a beacon of light – always present, a great example and leading life with his faith at the forefront of everything he does. Though he's had to sacrifice his presence in the church for his performance on the field, Henry choses to keep his faith and his father's influence in mind wherever he is.
"He's the biggest example of what a man is, I'm just very blessed to be able to have that in my life," said Henry. "Now Sundays look a little different, but it's still a priority in our life. Church comes first."
Among the teaching, service and safety his father provided for his community, Henry also witnessed him lead by example. The Henry family worked with Compassion International, a non-profit organization that "releases children from poverty in Jesus' name," according to their website.
Henry recalls the young girl his family sponsored in Guatemala in an effort to give her a better life by connecting her to God and her community. He had the "life changing" opportunity to visit her in high school, opening his eyes to a completely different way of thinking.
"It puts everything in perspective, how cushy our life can be, how easy things can be here," said Henry.
Henry moved through life with the memory of the young girl from Guatemala in his heart, waiting for the moment he could return the favor for giving him a new perspective. He worked his way to the NFL after two years at the University of Arkansas, and almost immediately reconnected with Compassion International.
"Once I had the means to support them on my own it was the first thing I wanted to run to," said Henry.
The past couple years have been spent growing a family of his own. Henry and his wife Parker welcomed two children, Ace and Rivi, beginning in 2022.
As most fathers do, Henry's heart grew with an overwhelming sense of responsibility. The extent of his commitment, though, goes far beyond his own home.
With his gratitude for the ability to provide for his own family, comes the understanding that not all children have the same opportunities to live an abundant life. With Compassion International Henry intends to pour his resources into as many pools as he can.
"They're my fruit basically, I have to pour into them, I have to give to them, and I have to be the example my dad was for me," said Henry. "I want to give my kids that but I want to give other kids that too."
Aside from his faith, Henry said, the driving force behind choosing Compassion International for his My Cause My Cleats contribution was the experience of his wife delivering two happy and healthy children into the world.
On those precious days, the Henrys were in a safe space surrounded by nurses and doctors doing everything they could to make their transition to parenthood as smooth as possible. Henry realizes though, that is not the case for many women and children around the world.
Among Compassion International's many programs is their Fight for First program. Created by professional athletes and their families, Fight for First aims to help mothers in poverty survive their pregnancy, and their children, the first year of their life.
Henry's goal is to spread awareness about the dangers women and their newborn children face in underserved communities, and maintain a foundation for them to grow in the crucial first year of their lives together.
"It's crazy that they don't have the resources and things we have to get their kid to their first birthday," said Henry. "It's pretty cool, especially now having kids, me and Parker can make a difference. All the money we raise goes to the survival centers that support them.
On Dec. 1, with his feet decorated in Compassion International Blue, Henry intends to make a difference on and off the field.
As a captain on the Patriots, Henry knows thousands of eyes are watching the example he leads at all times. Like his father, Henry plans to serve his community, his team and those who need it by reflecting the example his father set before him – with compassion, humility and his faith under center.
