ROCK HILL, S.C. — A championship kicker with a heart of gold was honored Wednesday morning in Rock Hill.
South Pointe High School football kicker Chip DiStasio was surprised with a special honor by the Come-See-Me Festival. They awarded DiStasio with their Community Service Merit Award at his school.
"I was surprised for sure," DiStasio said.
DiStasio had organized the Kick With Chip campaign, where people could make financial pledges based on the kicks he made for the Stallions 4A state championship team. He raised over $5,000 in pledges.
The local festival made Chip its youngest winner of their annual award. His mother said that's what makes this honor extra special.
"Chip has grown up going to the Come See Me festival his entire life," his mother Stephanie said. "To be recognized by the festival itself for the work that he’s doing here with the school is just a big honor."
The money raised went to support Back the Pack, a program that feeds about 800 students weekly in Rock Hill Schools.
"It was great just to know that my work was recognized," Chip said.
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