This season, the Beaumont, Texas, native has made bi-weekly visits to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, visits to the Ronald McDonald House, and he also participated in the Calgary Colts Learn to Play Camp at McMahon Stadium this past July.

When suiting up in opposing stadiums, the pass catcher always takes time to chat with young fans before the game, even if they’re sporting a different colour jersey.

The 29-year-old is devoted to showing his face in the community and making a real connection with those who cross his path.

“Well, one thing about football players is everybody knows a name and a helmet, right,” Begelton explained. “But they really don’t know a face. They don’t know the personality.

“To have the opportunity to get out and show people that football players are actually humans, too, and we’re not just tools, that we’re people, and that we love to give back and interact is always a blessing to have that opportunity.”

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On Sunday afternoon, the six-year CFL vet tossed the ball around with some youngsters who have never played football before as part of the Kids Play Foundation football camp.

“The Kids Play camp had a lot of diversity out here with kids who had never really played the game or seen a game,” said the veteran receiver. “Just seeing their curiosity and how many questions they were able to ask and how in tune they were, it put a smile on my face. It made it super fun that they were actually into it.

“Just seeing a smile on people’s faces makes my day brighter. Why not be in the community if your smile can generate smiles on everyone else, and bounce off each other?”

There isn’t another professional sports league that can match the CFL when it comes to player access and face-to-face player interaction. Begelton, who’s spent time in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, cherishes that fact about our Canadian game.

“That’s why I love this league,” he smiled. “It’s the fact that we are able to be out in the world. We’re people as well and we want to build and network without any boundaries. We want to show people that we’re part of this world as well.”

Having the ability to make personal connections with Calgarians motivates Begelton to promote Canadian football and attract a new generation of fans.

“Football is all about building the next generation,” he explained. “Anything is about building the next generation, but especially football in Canada. You (need to) get kids interested in the game because hockey is the top sport here, you put a stick in a kid’s hand and that’s the route they go. But they don’t really know anything about football.

“The other thing is this generation really doesn’t play outside. So, that’s also a kicker. To get them out here is really good, not necessarily force them because you don’t want to force a kid to do anything but having them out here is more than enough to say it’s a blessing.”