The Kris Wilson Foundation is taking root, in Lancaster and elsewhere.

The foundation's annual weekend included a dinner Friday at Lancaster County Convention Center and a football camp Saturday at McCaskey High School.

The foundation's work continues year-round.

"Every year it's growing," Wilson, a McCaskey and University of Pittsburgh grad and a tight end with the San Diego Chargers, said Saturday.

"The event last night was outstanding. I'm really pleased with everything."

A year ago, Kris' Lit Club, an Internet-based literacy program for kids, was in the final planning stages.

Now the club has branches in Lancaster, in affiliation with Boys' & Girls' Clubs and the Brightside Opportunities Center.

The lit club, which develops reading comprehension for kids in grades 6-8, is also being used as an after-school program by the Harrisburg School District, and plans to move into Pittsburgh.

The KWF also teamed with a similar group of former Pitt player Torrie Cox for a "Desert Tasting for a Cause," fundraiser in Pittsburgh in April.

"We're getting a lot of support in Pittsburgh," Wilson said. "A lot of Pitt faculty were there, and a lot of alumni, ex-players [including Larry Fitzgerald, the Arizona Cardinals' all-pro wide receiver] ... the chancellor of the school was there."

As in the previous two foundation weekends, several of Wilson's football buddies came to town to help and support.

"I'm always willing to help out, especially because I know where Kris' heart is," Miami Dolphins running back Lousaka Polite said.

"What he's trying to do is needed, not just here but all over."

Polite said he does a lot of volunteer work in the Miami area, and plans to start his own foundation, focused on benefiting single mothers.

Doug Dennison, the McCaskey grad who got a Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys in 1978, was the keynote speaker at Friday's gala.

"It was a great night," Dennison said Saturday.

"[The foundation is] only going to grow, because the more people find out about what Kris is doing, the more they'll support it."

Wilson has bought red blazers for the McCaskey football team. New head coach Rob Monzon and 10 of his players showed up for the banquet decked out in the blazers and red-and-black striped neckties.

"That was a really nice surprise," Wilson said.

Wilson is entering his seventh NFL season. The first four were with the Kansas City Chiefs and the last two with the San Diego Chargers, whom he joined the day after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles during training camp in 2008.

He hardly played in '08, but appeared in all 17 games last year, mostly on special teams and as a blocking tight end in red-zone situations.

He caught a touchdown pass in the Chargers' 17-14 loss to the New York Jets in the divisional round of last year's playoffs.

He described getting cut by the Eagles as "a blessing in disguise."

"TO can be cut," he said. "LaDainian Tomlinson can be released. The reality is, teams make moves based on numbers. I was elated when the Chargers called."

Wilson got a chance to be the Chargers' sort-of No. 1 tight end during the team's minicamp in May, since all-pro Antonio Gates was nursing an injury.

"We expect to have him, and we expect him to be the guy," Wilson said, but added that, "I got a lot more comfortable last year, so my role steadily increased. This year, it should be similar."

The camp, forced inside by the rain, had about 50 kids running through drills in McCaskey's gym.

And one really big kid. Wilson actually participated in many of the drills.