One little girl stands out in Doug Pelfrey's mind:

        “It was three years ago and she sat in the corner all night. When Santa came in, she said, "I hate Santa Claus.' I asked her why. She said, "because he's never been to my house.' ”

        Santa visited her that night. She went home with a toy, a new coat and warm gloves.

Doug Pelfrey, ex-Bengals kicker, sits in his office in Edgewood, Ky, next to the Byron Whizzer White Award he received last year for his work with kids. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        So did 40 other kids at that Kicks for Kids Christmas Party. And so will 49 more Monday night during Kicks' sixth annual party at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

        Kicks for Kids is a charity founded by the former Bengals kicker in 1995. Since then, it has raised $555,000 and every cent, except the salary of one paid employee, has gone directly to kids.

        The way Kicks originally worked was Mr. Pelfrey and Kicks executive director Ted Kluemper lined up corporations to donate a set amount of money — $50 to $250 — for every point Mr. Pelfrey scored. That added up to plenty. He is, after all, the second-highest scorer in Bengals history, right behind his friend Jim Breech, another former Bengals placekicker.

        The pile of money Mr. Pelfrey made from his size 10 booting footballs through goal posts went to buy gifts and clothing for kids “falling through the cracks.”

        “There are so many out there that other charities can't help for whatever reason,” he says. “Those are the ones we go after.”

Night of their lives
       

        Going after them, Mr. Kluemper says, means working with about 30 Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana service agencies to identify children who would have no Christmas otherwise. The kids are then invited to the dinner party at the zoo and given an adult chaperone (“one-on-one attention with an adult is something special for them”) who takes them on a personal tour of Festival of Lights in the new NFL jacket, hat and gloves that Kicks hands out.

        Oh, and by the time they get there, they've also written a letter telling Santa what they want. “We buy them their first choice, no matter what it is,” Mr. Pelfrey says.

        “We just shopped for everything the other day. We walked into Meijer's, one of our corporate sponsors, and went wild shopping 'til we had it all. We probably get more out of buying them than the kids do getting them.

        “I know Breech does. He shops with us and spends most of his time playing with toys. This year, we're getting a lot of bikes, scooters, boom boxes, stereos and Barbie's battery-powered jeep. That's the one the Breecher liked playing with.

        “But shopping's the easy part. The wishes we can't fill are the ones that eat away at you. Sometimes we'll get one like "Make my mom get better' or "Find me a home.' Those are the ones that break your heart.”

        Nowadays, with Mr. Pelfrey's toe sidelined, Kicks has a couple of extra sources of income: Kicking for Dollars, the original money-maker, is still in effect but modified. Kicks gets $549 for every point the Bengals score.

        It also raises funds at a Celebrity Golf Classic and a Twilight River Run, plus has a batch of corporate sponsors kicking in an annual donation.

        Lining all that up takes time: Before he was cut from the Bengals, Mr. Pelfrey worked 15-20 hours a week at it. Today, it's closer to 40, but it probably won't be next year. He has a prediction.

        “I will be back in the NFL next year. I still kick every day and make 85 to 90 percent of them. There's a reason I'm not playing, I just don't know the reason. When I find it, I'm back.”

Family and football
       

        In the meantime, the 30-year-old Northern Kentucky native (a Scott High School and University of Kentucky grad who does indeed bleed blue) is enjoying life in Edgewood with his wife and 9-month-old daughter.

        “I miss football. And I'm still a Bengals fan with a lot of friends on the team, but this break has given me a chance to spend time with my family.”

        Family. That word comes up a lot. It also explains why Mr. Pelfrey is so heavily involved with kids and charities. “Growing up, my parents did everything possible for me. If I needed money for camp, dad worked an extra job. If I needed sports equipment, they found the money somewhere. I knew they loved me. As I get older, I realize how blessed I was. I also realize that not all kids grow up that way.

        “In a way, that background led to Kicks for Kids.”

        In another way, Mr. Breech led the way. “I patterned my career after him. He's been a mentor, a friend, a role model for me. And he's always been all for the kids.”

        Which is why Mr. Breech will be there Monday for the party. So will a whole batch of Mr. Pelfrey's former teammates, though he's never sure who's coming 'til they get there. “Boomer (Esiason) comes if he's in town. Anthony (Munoz) usually comes. And as many players as can get away.

        “The kids love that, but you know what matters even more than the fact that they're pro players? The fact that here's an adult who actually cares about them and is willing to spend time with them.

        “It's something to see. The introverted kids come out. The extroverted ones get moreso.

        “I guess that's why I do it.”

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