The GoFundMe Charity Of A Star RB Gets Full Support From Carolina Panthers Owner David Tepper And He Plans To Grow It Into A Children’s Fund In Carolina

While many NFL stars chase social media spotlight, the Carolina Panthers are living a completely different kind of story. A GoFundMe campaign that started from a celebration fine by a star running back has now unexpectedly gained the full backing of team owner, billionaire David Tepper, who is reportedly preparing to turn it into a long term project for children in Carolina.

And it all began with a touchdown celebration that was supposed to be just for fun.

From Celebration Fine To A GoFundMe Campaign That Blew Up

A running back for the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 season has been having a breakout year, turning the Panthers offense into one of the most dangerous rushing attacks in the NFC South. The biggest highlight is not just his bursts, his cuts or his touchdowns, but a celebration moment that made the entire NFL take notice.

In the Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers, after scoring a touchdown, he did a "two pump" celebration inspired by a famous comedy sketch. It was fun for the fans, but the NFL did not see it that way. The move was deemed a violation of celebration rules and he was fined immediately.

Instead of arguing or complaining, he decided to turn the fine into an opportunity.

The running back launched a GoFundMe campaign. At first, many people thought he simply wanted to offset the fine. But when GoFundMe representatives reached out, he made a surprising decision and announced that all the money raised would be donated to Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, an organization that supports children in North Carolina.

The campaign quickly went viral. Panthers fans and the wider NFL community poured in support. One of the most notable donations came from actor Keegan Michael Key, who is tied to the original comedy sketch. The total amount raised passed the 40,000 dollar mark in a short time, turning an on field penalty into a powerful story off the field.

Only at that point did fans really recognize the name behind the campaign. It was Rico Dowdle, the breakout star RB of the Carolina Panthers.

Dowdle just smiled and dropped a short but loaded line: "No pump, no fine."

Jason Elola — a loving husband and father of nine — was tragically killed in a road-rage incident in Castro Valley. His family now faces unimaginable loss and financial hardship. 💚

Support here: https://t.co/aOW4xZKj6s
Read more: https://t.co/QbJvN3FxcH

— GoFundMe (@gofundme) November 13, 2025

David Tepper Steps In: Not Just Money, But Vision

According to people around the team, the GoFundMe campaign and the way Dowdle handled the situation made a huge impression on Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper.

Tepper, born in 1957, is a hedge fund billionaire and the founder of Appaloosa Management. He bought the Panthers from Jerry Richardson in 2018 for about 2.3 billion dollars and has since been known as an owner willing to spend big on the team, even though some of his football decisions and management choices have drawn criticism.

But in this GoFundMe story, David Tepper shows a different side. He is not just seeing Dowdle as a productive RB, but as a positive symbol for the community.

Reports say Tepper has expressed strong support for the GoFundMe charity for children and does not want it to remain just a one off campaign. Instead, he wants to turn it into a long term project with the Panthers imprint on it.

"I am not here to celebrate the penalty or the gesture. I am here to support what came after it, a player owning his mistake and turning it into real help for kids in Carolina." David Tepper said.

The idea being discussed is to develop the GoFundMe effort into a dedicated children’s support fund in Carolina, where the Panthers organization, players and fans can all join hands to support:

• Children in difficult circumstances

From an initial amount of over 40,000 dollars, Tepper is believed to want to scale it up into a program that can last for many years and be tied to the identity of the team and the Carolina community.

Rico Dowdle: From Flagged Celebration To Community Symbol

On the field, Rico Dowdle is having a breakout season, with rushing yardage and efficiency that rank high across the NFL, helping the Panthers significantly improve their ground game. Off the field, he is writing a different kind of story, turning a viral moment into meaningful action.

In the Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Dowdle once again served as the lead RB, with 18 carries for 53 yards and 3 receptions for 10 yards. He scored on the opening drive, but this time, learning from the fine, he celebrated with a lighter, spoof style gesture that nodded to Key and Peele without breaking the rules.

No more "two pump", no more fine, but the story has gone far beyond anything a simple celebration could deliver.

If Tepper truly turns this GoFundMe campaign into a major fund for children in Carolina, Dowdle will be remembered not just as a good running back, but as the one who sparked a powerful charity program.

#Panthers RB Rico Dowdle with an elite “zero pumps” celebration. 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/AhnZxWAiBO

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 9, 2025

From Panthers To Carolina: When Football Touches The Future Of Children

The story of Rico Dowdle, David Tepper and the GoFundMe fund for children in Carolina shows something important. Football is not only about schemes, scores and contracts. It can also be a bridge between the field and the community.

• A celebration that drew a fine

Panthers fans are sharing this story as a new point of pride for Carolina. It is not just "Keep Pounding" on the field anymore. It is "Keep Caring" in real life.

If the project is officially launched, David Tepper’s name will be tied to a new kind of legacy for the Panthers. Not only investing in facilities and the roster, but investing in the future of children in Carolina, starting from one GoFundMe campaign and the heart of a running back who once got fined for celebrating but scored a perfect win in the eyes of the community.