It may take some time for the Seattle Seahawks to recover from a tough loss Sunday at Kansas City, but some of the teams best defensive players were all smiles Monday night greeting fans as part of a fundraiser for one of their own.

Last year Earl Thomas III founded the Guardian Angel Foundation to help local children and teens in the aftermath of disaster so they don’t have the live through the same struggle he did.

Monday night, the foundation held its first Steaks and Seahawks dinner fundraiser at Daniel’s Broiler’s Bellevue location raising more than $230,000 through ticket sales and auction, which will go to help fund programs such as Project Christmas Miracle, Earl’s Equip and Winter Coverage.

Hundreds of people filled the restaurant while Thomas and his fellow teammates, Bruce Irvin, Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright served appetizers.

Thomas told the Reporter their support was “special.”

“God has given me so much so it’s important to give back,” Thomas said. “Having these guys here make this even greater.”

Fellow Legion of Boom member Sherman told the Reporter he considers Thomas like a brother and supporting each other is what they do.

“It’s an important foundation,” he said. “And I wanted to help any way I could. He’s like family to me and I wanted to support my brother.”

Irvin, Smith and Wright each echoed similar statements knowing what helping kids in need mean to Thomas after what happened to him and his family.

When he was a junior in high school his hometown of Orange, Texas was one of several towns washed out in the wake of Hurricane Rita.

Although Thomas and his family escaped the storm unharmed, the home they left behind, along with everything inside. In the proceeding months Thomas and his family shared a room in a nearby Super 8 motel before moving in with his grandfather, Earl Sr.

It was an experience that will live with him forever, but not one others should have to, Thomas told the Reporter.

“There are situations that are out of our control … natural disasters, and that’s what we want to help out with,” Thomas said. “I’ve been through it, I’ve lived it and I don’t want other kids to have to go through that.”

So after visiting foundations setup by his coach Pete Carroll, A Better Seattle, and general manager John Schneider, Autism Light, Thomas said he felt the urge to do something for the community and he knew exactly who to help and how.

“Something spoke to me to do my part, especially for the next generation,” Thomas told the Reporter. “You never know who your generosity is going to affect. Who is going to be the next doctor, lawyer or someone that does something amazing like find a cure for a disease.”

Eleven-year-old Ethan Bensussen, of Medina, said he wanted to do his part to help out his favorite player’s foundation so he set out to make 200 buttons featuring the foundation’s logo. Each was auctioned off along with dozens of other donated prizes.

Bensussen, whose father Eric serves on the foundation board, said he chose buttons in honor of his father.

“My dad used to make a lot buttons for fundraisers,” he said. “I found his old button maker in the garage and I thought it would be a good idea.”

As thanks for his hard work, Thomas signed a personal button for Ethan and took photos with him during the event.

With tickets ranging between $300 for standard and $400 for VIP, which included an authentic Seattle Seahawks Signature Series Football for players to sign, the foundation is hoping it’s enough money to help 1,000 people in need. The total is expected to be tallied by Nov. 19.

For more information about the foundation visit www.earlthomas.org.