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Charles Tillman is one of the most highly-acclaimed and most notable defensive players of the last two decades. Over 13 seasons, Tillman forced 44 fumbles with his trademark “Peanut Punch” and collected 38 interceptions. The two-time Pro Bowl selection and All-Pro began his career in Chicago as the Bears’ second-round selection in the 2003 NFL Draft out of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Following 12 years in the Windy City, Tillman signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers and was part of the team that made it to Super Bowl 50 despite suffering a torn ACL about a month before the big game. In addition to his on-field accolades, Tillman became as highly-touted off the field through his community efforts. In recognition of his commitment to the community, Tillman received the 2014 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, the highest honor a player can achieve off the field.
The Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation was founded in 2005 by Charles and Jackie Tillman to provide opportunities and resources to children and their families in-need, primarily in Chicago and Charlotte (where Tillman played). Their programs include Charles’ Locker which provides dedicated spaces at hospitals that include iPads, computers, DVD players, game systems, toys, etc. to help pass the time during recovery and treatment for patients and their families, Field of Dreams which fulfills sports-related “wishes” from chronically and critically-ill children, Holiday Celebration where Charles and his family visit their hospitals to spread holiday cheer and delivery gifts, TendHER Heart Luncheon which gathers more than 150 mothers of critically and chronically ill children to be pampered for the day and enjoy a special brunch, and the Tiana Fund which provides financial assistance to economically at-risk families who have critically or chronically ill children undergoing treatment.
A dedicated family man and incredible father, Charles and his wife Jackie have four children – Talya, Tiana, Tysen, and Tessa. In 2008, Charles received a message during practice and immediately rushed to the hospital. His three-month old daughter Tiana was in the emergency room surrounded by doctors and he was told that she may not make it through the night. Tiana was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and needed a heart transplant. As a proud Christian man, Tillman struggled with the idea of praying for a heart to become available for his daughter, as this meant another child passing away. After three months of living on a heart and lungs machine, Tiana received a heart – after eight hours of surgery, she came out stable and has never looked back. The Tillman’s met the family of the child whose heart was given to Tianna on Oprah in 2011.
