Pro Athletes Team Up with RealTruck to Gift Deserving Veterans Their Dream Truck

In honour of Veterans Day, RealTruck, the premier manufacturer and online retailer of aftermarket truck parts and accessories, has teamed up with pro athletes Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs), George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) and Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) to gift deserving veterans and first responders the truck of their dreams. 

As part of ‘The Trucket List’ activation, RealTruck AOR Tombras created a three-episode series, each focused on one star athlete and his chosen hometown hero recipient. Kelce, Kittle, and Prescott (all RealTruck investors and members of its strategic advisory team) worked with the brand to identify unsung heroes in their respective communities and helped create these one-of-a-kind trucks. RealTruck’s advisory team is made up of elite professional athletes who are also truck enthusiasts and stakeholders in the company. They provide valuable insights on how to position RealTruck's products to enthusiast consumers and expand the reach of the brand further into mainstream sports and lifestyle markets.

Travis surprised Craig Cummings, a firefighter who spends his free time mentoring at-risk youth in Kansas City with the ultimate tailgating truck. George, who spent his childhood looking up to 'Uncle Pat' Coen, a veteran turned high-school superintendent, presented his hero with a perfectly accessorised fishing truck. Dak, a mental-health advocate, met Derrick Ross, an Army veteran, in need of a customised adventure truck, and they formed a special bond.  

This first instalment of 'The Trucket List' is an extension of the 'In The Real' campaign launched by RealTruck and Tombras this year as the agency works to transform RealTruck from an e-commerce company to a lifestyle brand for truck and off-road enthusiasts. The entire goal of the campaign is to inspire people by showcasing what’s possible when you transform your truck to pursue a bucket list experience.

The campaign will live across RealTruck, Kelce, Kittle, and Prescott’s social channels in addition to YouTube, with paid and organic social starting Veterans Day. RealTruck is working with seven members of the RealTruck crew (influencers) to promote the campaign, including sports journalist Ian Rapoport, race car driver Trevor Bayne, fantasy football expert Joseph Robert, etc. 

Starting 11/17, one episode will drop per week on thetrucketlist.com, with episodes two and three airing 11/23 and 12/1, respectively. The three-part series was directed by award-winning Michael Zimbalist, who has written, produced, and directed four ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries, including Arnold’s Blueprint, The Two Escobars, Youngstown Boys, and The Myth of Garrincha. 

"In partnership with our athlete investors, we're amping up brand storytelling to inspire more people to reach for their dreams and check off their bucket list. The episodic video content shines a light on three extraordinary unsung heroes and shows how customized trucks can be life-changing. Our goal is to celebrate people who give much to their communities and ignite a world of possibilities for truck owners everywhere," said Tony Ambroza, chief growth officer at RealTruck.

“They say content is king to build a brand, and more over for a lifestyle brand.  That is why we chose to produce quality, long form content with an award-winning producer instead of traditional ads. This furthers our work to engage truck enthusiasts across the country and prove to consumers we are more than just an eCommerce site,” said Dooley Tombras, president at Tombras.