Fred VanVleet became a key part of the Toronto Raptors last season and it earned him a new two-year, $18 million deal with the team this offseason.
Fresh off signing his new contract, the Rockford, Illinois native recently returned back home where he spent the day buying lunch for 100 different people at 15th & Chris in his hometown.
According to Taylor Eldridge of The Wichita Eagle, VanVleet showed up with Chad Anderson, a prominent car dealership owner in the area, as soon as he burger joint opened its doors at 11 am and spent most of the afternoon buying lunch for the first 100 customers.
“It says a lot about Fred to still be here in Rockford and giving back to his community,” 15th & Chris owner James Purifoy told the Eagle over the phone. “Some other people who have made it out from here, they find somewhere else to put their money. But Fred came down here himself, met with people, shook their hand, took some photos and bought their lunch.
“It just goes to show people here that if they follow their dreams and bet on themselves, then they can achieve what they want to achieve.”
There’s also a burger named after the Raptors guard at the popular burger joint called the “Bet on Yourself Burger”, which includes VanVleet’s favourite toppings; barbecue sauce, Swiss cheese, bacon, banana peppers, cilantro and a lime-cactus slaw that’s made in-house.
(H/T Kansas.com)
