CHARLOTTE — Joy was ringing throughout Bank of America Stadium on Tuesday night. From exclamations of glee as children entered the stadium through "snow," to shouts of surprise when Bryce Young stepped forward to hand them a gift, to giggles echoing down the hallway as kid after kid compared toys, coats, shoes, and more. 

The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, Carolina Panthers, and Coca-Cola Consolidated hosted the 7th Annual "Joy to the Carolinas" on Tuesday night, welcoming more than 1,000 kids from across the Carolinas through the doors. 

"We always give all year long, but there's something about the holidays," said Nicole Tepper. "There's a lot of stress on the families and just a lot of stress in general, so to be able to give them this for one night is so fun."

David and Nicole welcomed more than 250 volunteers, and over 60 current Carolina Panthers players and 15 Legends. Volunteers came together from Tepper Sports & Entertainment, including CEO Kristi Coleman, Coca-Cola Consolidated led by CEO J. Frank Harrison, Belk, Harris Teeter, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, to serve dinner and distribute gifts, shoes, coats, and more to deserving children.

"We told these guys they're ambassadors of joy," said David Tepper. "And for these kids, the players are a part of their Christmas presents, just their presence." 

For some, that meant waiting in line to get autographs from quarterback Bryce Young, or a picture with Rico Dowdle, Tetairoa McMillan, or any number of other Panthers on hand. For others, it meant sending Robert Hunt and Taylor Moton into a fit of laughter when a kid asked why he'd stand in a long line just to get a signature from some guy in a blue No. 9 jersey when he could be heading towards the toy table.

"It's definitely a blessing," said Young of the entire evening. "Huge shout out to the Teppers, to Tepper Sports, just for putting a night like this together. That's what it's all about, being able to give back to the community. It's really cool just to have these interactions. The Carolinas mean so much to us. They support us through so much, and to be able to have an opportunity like this to give back, it's super special." 

Recipients were identified through Second Harvest's Kids Cafe Program and joined from regional Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, YWCAs, and community center programs. The chance to welcome through the door for a night of holiday fun and joy was why so many around the Carolinas wanted to be involved.

"There's honestly nothing that makes me happier than seeing kids with smiles on their faces," said Kay Carter, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. "Not only are they getting something great to eat, but they're getting shoes and jackets, and we're just really, really grateful to The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation and the Carolina Panthers for making this possible.

"It just is what the holidays should always be about, right? Joy on the faces of children."

Events like Joy to the Carolinas are what made Coca-Cola Consolidated so passionate about renewing its partnership with the Panthers this year. 

"It really is a testament to both companies having community leadership and stewardship as part of our pillar and wanting to make sure that we are serving this community in a big way," said Heather Hucks, VP of Consumer Connections for Coca-Cola Consolidated, noting the entire leadership team from both Coca-Cola Consolidated, Tepper Sports & Entertainment and the Panthers, on hand to serve. 

"To do that, everybody has to come to the table, and so that's kind of what you're seeing here tonight."

Everyone coming to the table also meant a majority of the Panthers' locker room, coaching staff, and football operations staff were on hand, spending their off day during an intense season to give back to their community. 

"It's the tip of the hat to Dave Canales and Dan Morgan and company for what we're building here in Carolina and the culture and getting all these guys out here," said David Tepper, pointing out Canales and his entire family, General Manager Dan Morgan and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Brandt Tillis, captains like Derrick Brown and Young, veterans such as D.J. Wonnum and Chuba Hubbard, first year Panthers players like Christian Rozeboom, rookies such as McMillan and Mitchell Evans, Carolina natives like Dowdle, and so many more—including many who brought their children along to serve—doing their part to volunteer.

"I just think it just shows, when you see these guys up there, you can just look for yourself and see that's the team and they're up there doing this thing together and building this thing together, not only on the field but out here in the community, and they're truly enjoying themselves, giving back. So just that sort of enthusiasm, joy is not just on the field, but it's everything with these guys." 

It is the most players, coaches, and staff volunteers the event has ever had, according to Tepper's recollection. 

"I think there's a direct correlation to why there are so many players here this year and why players are eager to show up and help. There's an understanding of a winning culture goes much more than just points on a scoreboard. It is everything that you do," said offensive lineman Austin Corbett.

"It's easy, just the impact that we can see directly on the community. And, it's amazing everything that Dave and Nicole do for this city and the Carolinas as a whole, and just can't thank them enough for bringing me here and allowing me to be a part of it."

Corbett was recently named the Panthers' Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, a title he earned for nights like Tuesday, when he, his wife, and their kids were all on hand, pitching in wherever needed. 

"My wife and I talk about it all the time, like we know we don't live a normal life by any stretch of the imagination. And we understand that we have privileges that a lot of people don't, and we've been benefited and very well taken care of, and we understand that," said Corbett. 

"So any chance that we can get out and just bring them here and show them we have to give back, we have to do our part, and that's what we've been called to do and it's any chance that we get to serve and we're going to bring them and we're going to show them and we're just going to hammer those roots into them as much as we can."

That, more than anything, was the hope of David and Nicole Tepper when Joy to the Carolinas first began seven years ago, a hope and mission that has come to life more and more each year: a chance to make an impact on the Carolinas and motivate others to do the same. 

 "I mean, it's why we started it, honestly," explained Nicole Tepper. "So, to be able to set them up with coats and toys and food and an experience that they'll probably never forget – and hopefully we're able to show the players or people here that are volunteering to pay it forward – that's really the whole story."