Following years of feeling at home on a football field as running back for the New York Giants, Rashad Jennings has found a new home at Hallmark. After winning the coveted mirror-ball trophy on season 24 of Dancing with the Stars in 2017, the successful TV talk and sports show personality, author, speaker and philanthropist became involved with Hallmark Channel’s ever-popular annual Kitten Bowl – and it proved to be a move that opened the door to more opportunities than he could have imagined. One of those is his latest project for Hallmark Drama, Project Christmas Joy, a heartfelt special intent on instilling some Christmas spirit and enriching and rebuilding lives in the communities of Beauregard and Smith’s Station, Alabama, whose inhabitants were devastated by loss after two E4 tornadoes ravaged both towns this past March. Twenty-three people perished in the disaster, and over 100 homes were destroyed, so for Jennings, the chance to be a part of such an important event was, in itself, very powerful. “As soon as I heard the premise, it was a no-brainer and I was totally into it,” he shared in an exclusive MediaVillage interview. “Hallmark, especially during the holidays, is an organization anyone would be happy to be a part of ... [not to mention] taking on a Christmas project like this one!
“I’m an emotional creature,” he continued. “I love to highlight anything good. But I have to say some of doing this was tough. When you hear some of the stories from families … being there with them is very different from hearing stories from a distance. It’s reality; nothing about this is scripted, and you are hearing the stories live. It made them hold so much more meaning. For me, it was amazing to actually feel like a part of the community and its rebuild.”
In addition to decorating Providence Baptist Church (the community heart) and creating a night of holiday fellowship for the community,