Anthony “Tony” David Gonzalez was born February 27, 1976 in Torrance, California.  He studied at Huntington Beach High School, where he was an active football, baseball and basketball player.  During his senior year, Tony was a first-team All-America selection for both tight end and linebacker.  He was dubbed as Orange County and Sunset League MVP for his basketball skills.  On his high school graduation, he became recipient of the Orange County High School Athlete of the Year along with golfer Tiger Woods.  Tony then enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley and took up a major in communications.  He continued to score in football and basketball games for his college.  In 1997, he began his career with the NFL draft.

For 10 years, Tony Gonzalez played for the Kansas City Chiefs and ESPN even listed him as one of the sexiest athletes in the world.  In 1999, he served as a consultant for the movie Any Given Sunday.  He also appeared on Cribs and Celebrity Cooking Showdown.  Despite his successful career, his feet remain on the ground.  Tony's other great passion is helping out ill and medically challenged children.  The Tony Gonzalez Foundation, his very own organization, is active in supporting Shadow Buddies and The Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  Tony also has his own Shadow Buddy, a doll created and designed to be a friend to sick children.  His favorite giving back moment is his annual “Shop with a Jock” event, where he takes 100 underprivileged kids shopping for Christmas.

Tony Gonzalez is one of the judges on ABC's Oprah's Big Give.  A reality game show, it features 10 contestants who are given large sums of money.  The contestants compete against each other in finding “the most powerful, sensational, emotional and dramatic ways to give to others.”  Believing that competition brings out the best in people, Tony admits that what he loves about the show is the fact that the people are using that competitive edge to help others.


(Photo courtesy of ABC)