Autism advocate has dreamed of being water girl for Chiefs. Will she get the chance? | Opinion
Elizabeth Galt wants to be a volunteer water girl for the Kansas City Chiefs during Sunday’s Super Bowl in New Orleans. What are the chances of this die-hard football fan from Farmington, Missouri, getting the gig?
No one can really say for sure. My hope is that the work Galt does in the autism space would get the organization’s attention. Galt’s iPads for Autism nonprofit program offers free laptops to nonverbal children and adults. To date, Galt said she has given away 33 computers in her hometown in southeast Missouri and in other cities across America.
“I just wanted to give others an opportunity to communicate through technology,” she said. “It’s really cool to see that they have a voice and are using it in different ways.”
While there is no official opening for the role, Galt applied for the job in a video posted to her personal Facebook page before the Chiefs defeated Buffalo in the AFC Championship game on Jan. 26.
Galt — who in her video said she has autism — tagged the team’s official Facebook page and said: “Do you think I could be the water girl for your Super Bowl game if you make it to the Super Bowl?”
After the game, she posted another video and said, “Pick me.”
My thought: The Chiefs should consider honoring Galt’s request and fly her out to New Orleans for the big game against Philadelphia. A sideline pass wouldn’t hurt either. And the team should give her permission to help hydrate players as they come on and off the field.
Water and Gatorade are essential game-day needs as the hometown team tries to three-peat as world champions. In the case of defensive back Bryan Cook, a Sprite soda needs to be readily available as well. In case you missed it, during a regular season game in October, Cook was seen on video asking members of the Chiefs training staff for a sip of the soft drink.
Why should the Chiefs’ honor this ask? Because Galt, 31, understands how important serving others is and she understands the assignment better than most, she said. In Galt, the Chiefs would be getting a tireless and dedicated worker if she was named an honorary water girl, she said.
“I would do anything for them,” Galt said. “I would give them towels and water and be there every step of the way.”
Galt’s close friend Amanda Hedrick is a special education paraprofessional at Park Hills Central Elementary School about 65 miles south of St. Louis. She described Galt as the ultimate sports fan. The Chiefs would be lucky to have Galt on the sideline on Sunday, she said.
“She follows it all very closely and that is what she enjoys the most,” Hedrick said of Galt’s love for sports. “She also does so many amazing things for kids and adults around the country living with disabilities. She’s truly an inspiration and they would be lucky to have her support.”
As of Monday, Galt said she hadn’t heard from the Chiefs — through no fault of her own or her supporters on social media. By her count, one of Galt’s videos has been viewed more than 23,000 times, shared 4,000 times and has more than 1,000 comments and likes.
“I’m excited because they are people out there that really want to make this happen,” she said. Count me among those who do too.
Galt said she’s never been to a professional football game before.
Wouldn’t it be quite the story if the Super Bowl in New Orleans was her first?
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM.
