Stephon Gilmore's purpose extends far beyond the outer edges of a football field.

The cornerback on Dec. 3 extended two hours of his afternoon for a joyous holiday event with approximately 100 kids, many of them Vikings fans, ages 5-14 at Hospitality House in North Minneapolis.

"I always told my parents, 'If I ever make it, I'll definitely give back,' " Gilmore said.

"I just remember growing up and people coming back to my hometown and speaking, and it just did something to me," he added. "I always wanted to be that guy. You just never know how you can help a kid or how you can brighten a kid's day up. That just never gets old. That's all these kids need right now."

Young people fidgeted through lines for holiday desserts and drawstring bags with Vikings merchandise, designed wintry ornaments, posed for photos and asked for autographs, and conversed with Gilmore.

Originally, the gathering was intended to be held at a suburban shopping store. Gilmore, however, took to the idea of it occurring at home base, enabling him to make a difference in a place the children value.

Youth packed the gymnasium at Hospitality House. There were a handful of adults present, as well, and some older kids, including a graduate last year of North High School who was serving as one of the staff.

Terry Pettis, 18, said he met nearly everyone he knows through the community safe haven.

"It's been a really good building block to submit for the pathway in my life," he remarked.

Gilmore reminded Pettis of inspiration he felt when former Robbinsdale Cooper and NBA player Rashad Vaughn visited Hospitality House when Pettis was growing up.

"Seeing stuff like this kind of helps motivate you to become a better person in the future," Pettis said. "I want to be somebody the kids look up to and that kids rally around and provide a set image of success."

Seventh-grader Mikayla Johnson-Barnes added that she feels "actually destined to be something and be successful" and "not end up on the street" because of the life skills she has learned at Hospitality House.

Toward the end of his appearance, Gilmore passed out gifts for each person. His benevolence drew genuine admiration from Executive Director of Hospitality House Youth Development Charles Moses.

"When we pitched the idea about hosting an event here at Hospitality House where the kids know and love, on the North Side, Stephon Gilmore didn't bat an eye, nor did his people bat an eye, and so I think it's extra special today," Moses noted. "The fact that he came to spend time with them – but he came to spend time with them in a place they're comfortable, in a place that they know is like a second home."

Moses conveyed that there's no way to contextualize the significance of Gilmore's generosity.

"Just his heart kind of lining back to the inner-city, his heart lining back to spaces that he may have come from, and his willingness to come in and set apart a large amount of his day, especially after a hamstring injury, speaks volumes about him and his value system and what he puts first and foremost," Moses said.

Gilmore, 34, signed in August with the Vikings. This marked his first solo appearance in his newest community, and it was one that resonated with him greatly because he was brought up in a church.

Hospitality House supports a group that has 80 percent of kids either from a single-parent household or one being led by a grandparent. The primary difference between Hospitality House and other after-school programs is its Christian message. Backing Gilmore at the event was a marketing campaign focused on the life and teachings of Jesus called He Gets Us, which Gilmore has acted as an ambassador for since the 2023 season

"I wouldn't be where I'm at right now if I didn't have great faith," Gilmore shared with earnestness. "If you build your foundation off that, I think you can go a long way because you always can lean on it."

"It's about these beautiful, wonderful children," Moses said, putting words to the weight of Gilmore's impact. "The sky's the limit on their potential. I just strongly encourage individuals and organizations to strive to keep the main thing the main thing. Acts of kindness can go further than our eyes can see."