To find the source of Tim Tebow’s inspiration, it takes three days, four planes and two hours of driving on roads so bumpy they
rattle the spine. The journey leads to Uncle Dick’s Home, an orphanage in the Philippines so remote it has no mailing address. More than 9,000 miles and a world away from Florida’s campus, Uncle Dick’s, a home for 48 orphans, is the best place to gauge Tebow’s reach as a college star and what it is he wants to accomplish with the platform his athletic success has afforded him. Tebow has inspired the orphans personally — they easily break into Florida’s signature cheer, the Gator Chomp — despite their not understanding football. One young boy is called Richard, after Tebow’s middle name. Tebow has also helped them financially. Some of the more than $300,000 Tebow has helped raise while at Florida has enabled the children to get their own beds, drink clean water and stock their shelves with groceries. “It’s such tangible things,” Tebow said. “Like getting a chainsaw so they don’t have to cut down everything with an ax.” Tebow, 22, has a chance during his senior year at Florida to establish himself as one of the most accomplished and recognizable athletes in collegiate sports history. But when Tebow talks about the long-term future, his ultimate hope is that football will provide a way for him to run a charitable empire. With the same passion he has when he speaks about his teammates, his coaches and winning a third national title, Tebow talks of wide-eyed dreams of opening orphanages, a prison ministry, youth ranches and granting wishes to underprivileged children.
“It’s just what my heart is, helping,” Tebow said. “That’s what I feel passionate about, is trying making a difference for people who can’t make a difference for themselves.”