FORTVILLE — As one of the nation’s top kicking prospects, Mt. Vernon senior Trevor Bond often garners attention for his accuracy, hang time and the distances generated behind his powerful right leg.
Yet, it’s his heart that reveals his true, and immeasurable, attribute.
While chasing down his lifelong dream of kicking at the college level, Bond had an equally as important task in mind this fall — a mission that took root last season.
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As a junior, Bond launched his Kick Children’s Cancer with Trevor Bond initiative with the assistance of his parents, Maria and Victor Bond. Prior to and during his 2016 campaign, Trevor Bond gathered pledges and donations through a website, powered by kick-it.org.
While attending the Kohl’s Kicking National Scholarship Camp in Wales, Wisconsin, last summer, Bond was introduced to Kick-It, a program of Flashes of Hope, designed to sponsor events or individuals dedicated to assisting in the on-going funding for children’s cancer research.
Bond jumped at the chance to become a Kick-It Champion, and it helped him raise more than $1,600 the first year. Far from finished, Bond continued his pursuit this season, raising another $1,151 to fight pediatric cancer.
“Last year, we raised more than $1,600, and I’m really proud of that,” Bond remarked. “Thankfully, we have enough good people in this community who are willing to donate, and it’s all thanks to them that this can happen.”
In 2016, Bond’s fundraising campaign was driven by sponsorship dollars for his on-field performance and one-time donations. Despite missing a large portion of the football season due to an injury as a junior, the community stepped up to support his philanthropic pursuit.
This year, however, all proceeds raised were exclusively from donations, which began rolling in prior to the football season, Bond said. The campaign ended once the Mt. Vernon Marauders season closed last Friday, but it helped Bond nearly meet his goals.
“Last year, I thought, what if the season wasn’t over? What if I could kick a little bit more and get more points? This year, I wanted to come out and try my hardest, and it was a little harder this time since I couldn’t get pledges,” Bond said. “But it taught me how to work harder. It taught me to be more grateful for what I have in front of me. There are good things that come out of every situation.”
His results on the field mirrored his efforts. Bond finished the season as the Marauders second-leading scorer with 36 points. He converted 5 of 7 field goal attempts and split the uprights with a 47-yarder in the season opener on Aug. 18.
He was 21-for-22 in extra-point attempts to conclude his career 47 of 54 and 8-for-10 in field goals.
Bond’s production carried over from a solid performance at the Kohl’s Midwest Showcase Camp in Chicago this past May. In April, he was recognized as the Ray Guy Prokicker.com Top Prospect Award winner for 2017 and was invited to the National Top Prospect Camp in Richmond, Kentucky this past July.
Humbled by the attention, Bond remained grounded entering his senior year, focusing on others first.
“I wasn’t surprised at all that he continued his campaign this year,” Maria Bond said. “His uncle passed from cancer and he had a soccer teammate’s brother at Mt. Vernon, who was battling cancer last year. He had an opportunity to help fight cancer in some small way, and he jumped at the chance.”
Trevor Bond is always giving back. While attending Mt. Vernon, he’s been involved with Marauder Mentoring and has been one of five D.A.R.E. representatives for the high school.
“Anyone who know this young man knows that he embodies all that we represent at (Mt. Vernon), selfless, humble, kind, and just a genuine individual!” Mt. Vernon Superintendent Dr. Shane Robbins wrote on Twitter.
