Tillman Honors Raises Nearly $900,000 for Scholars
The Pat Tillman Foundation honored Jake Plummer, Adam Popp, and Jonny Kim at its Chicago gala, with guests taking part in a bid auction.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Awards
The Pat Tillman Foundation hosted Tillman Honors on Wednesday night at the Union League Club of Chicago and raised nearly $900,000 to invest in Tillman Scholars. Jake Plummer received the Champion Award, Adam Popp received the Make Your Mark Award, and NASA astronaut Jonny Kim gave the keynote.
Why it matters
The fundraising supports the foundation's investment in military service members, veterans, and spouses as next-generation leaders. The event recognized individuals connected to the Tillman legacy across football, military service, and space exploration.
The gala generated nearly $900,000 for Tillman Scholars through a bid auction held during the event. No comparison to prior Tillman Honors totals was provided, and the breakdown of funds was not disclosed.
The players
Pat Tillman Foundation
The foundation invests in military service members, veterans, and spouses as next-generation leaders, honoring the legacy of NFL player Pat Tillman who left football to serve in the U.S. Army.
Jake Plummer
Plummer is a former NFL quarterback who played alongside Pat Tillman at Arizona State and with the Arizona Cardinals.
Jonny Kim
Kim is a NASA astronaut and former Navy SEAL who was a 2012 Tillman Scholar.
Katherine Steele
Steele is CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation and a 2014 Tillman Scholar.
The details
Tillman Honors was held at the Union League Club of Chicago, where guests took part in a bid auction. Honorees included Jake Plummer, Pat Tillman's former teammate at Arizona State and with the Arizona Cardinals, and Adam Popp, a 2016 Tillman Scholar who served twelve years as an Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technician.
Timeline
Wednesday night, November 4, 2026: Tillman Honors held at the Union League Club of Chicago
Culture Shift
The Tillman Honors gala extends the legacy of Pat Tillman, the NFL safety who left professional football to enlist in the U.S. Army after September 11, 2001, into a broader network of veteran leadership. Recognition of athletes, veterans, and astronauts together reflects a growing emphasis on public service as a form of achievement.
Readers interested in supporting Tillman Scholars can look to the foundation's fundraising efforts, which relied on guest participation in a bid auction at the Chicago event. The gala itself was a closed, invitation-based event hosted at the Union League Club.
The takeaway
Supporting military families and veterans through education funding can have lasting effects on leadership development. Readers who want to follow the work of the Pat Tillman Foundation can track its scholars and programs through the organization's public updates.
Further reading
Explore more awards coverage to see how other honors are recognized across the country.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
