Kansas City Chiefs - Community Programs

Community

Players Outreach

dbowe One of the most important parts of the Chiefs dedication to the community lies simply in their physical presence. Tuesday is a traditional day off for players throughout the NFL during the season, yet many of the Chiefs use that time to do a good day’s work around the community. In fact, it’s a common occurrence to see your favorite Chiefs personality any day of the week lending a helping hand to show the importance they place on volunteerism.

If there’s a player’s charity that you’d like to know more about or to make a tax deductible donation, contact the Chiefs Community Relations Department at 816.920.9300.

In all, the Chiefs players and front office have raised over $20 million through charitable efforts since 1998. Since LB Derrick Thomas established his “Third and Long Foundation” in 1990, nearly 70 members of the Red and Gold have created individual player foundation and/or charitable programming. Some of the current Chiefs that are making a difference throughout the community include:

JACKIE BATTLE
Jackie Battle is well aware of the impact that youth football served him growing up. That’s why he’s involved in a pair of programs that are geared toward youth footballers. He is a mentor to Westport High’s Play it Smart program. At the heart of the program is the Play It Smart “Academic Coach”, equal parts mentor, advocate, counselor, teacher, coach and friend. Each Academic Coach receives special training and support from experts in the field. Their training includes the national conference, which annually attracts dozens of the most knowledgeable speakers in the fields of sports psychology and youth development. For more information on the Play it Smart program, visit: http://playitsmart.org/

Additionally, Jackie has adopted the Junior Player Development (JPD) program. A program seeking to ready middle school-aged children for the rigors of high school football, JPD has now completed a pair of successful seasons locally thanks in part to Johnson’s visits and guidance on the practice field. All JPD participants receive counseling through a life skills/character development curriculum that’s incorporated throughout all on-field activities. Every week, a different life skills message is designated as a theme. Those themes are then addressed through the context of football. Instructors will make connections between life skills as they are applied in football as well as other areas of life, especially school, at home and in the community. Johnson has even sponsored a pair of local youth teams. For more information on the Junior Player Development program, visit: http://nflyouthpd.com/jpd/

DWAYNE BOWE
Each of us has fond memories of activities that our grandparents did with us. Whether it be a fishing trip where you caught the most fish ever, playing checkers in front of the fire place or just spending good quality time, we all have great memories. The always entertaining “D. Bowe” has more memories than most. That’s because his grandmother, Dorothy Williams, raised him during his adolescence. As she steered him towards the right choices in life little did he know that grandma was molding him as a future NFL star.

Dwayne realized the positive impact his grandmother had on him and quickly jumped at the chance to be involved in a grandparenting convention in collaboration with The Family Friends Grandparents and Relative Caregivers program. There, Dwayne and others helped to honor all of our loved ones who have bestowed their wisdom on our lives.

Recently, 22 kids from his Bowe’s Bunch program spent a special “Day with Dwayne.” The group rode a party bus with Dwayne and some other Chiefs players to a downtown bowling alley. There, they spent time eating pizza, playing games and bowling with this gridiron threesome before loading back on the party bus for their ride home. Earlier in the year, Dwayne invited this same group of children to a Chiefs game complete with a pre-game sideline tour, game tickets, and food vouchers. For more information, please visit: http://www.childrensmercy.org/content/view.aspx?id=2694 or check out Dwayne’s site at: http://dbowe82.com/

DUSTIN COLQUITT
Dustin volunteers at TLC for Children and Families, a center in Kansas City that provides opportunities that encourage positive growth and change for children, youth and families while ensuring a safe environment. For more information on TLC, please visit: http://www.kidstlc.org

He also is the Chiefs spokesperson for Team Smile, whose mission is to provide on-going, high-quality dental care to children in need while encouraging the spirit of volunteerism within the dental community. TeamSmile provides free oral health education, screening, and treatment for children who might not otherwise receive it. To find out more about TeamSmile, please visit: http://www.teamsmile.org

BRODIE CROYLE
As a child, Brodie grew up on his family’s Big Oak Ranch in Rainbow City, Alabama. The ranch serves as a Christian home and school for children from troubled and abusive situations. Because he had a childhood filled with different people Brodie learned to adapt to all types of personalities, a skill he now uses in the huddle. When he gets some free time off of the field Brodie likes to make visits to the ranch to spend time with the children. He hosts a Charity Turkey Trot each spring to help raise funds for the Ranch and all of this adopted “brothers and sisters.” You can find more information on the Big Oak Ranch by visiting: http://www.bigoak.org/

Brodie serves as a spokesperson for Johnson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). CASA is comprised of volunteers trained to be advocates for children who have been abused and neglected and are under the protection of the court. They are appointed by the judge to meet regularly with the child, review records, and talk to family members and professionals involved in the child’s case. They report information to the judge, make recommendations to promote the child’s best interests, and monitor compliance with the court’s orders until the child has been placed in a safe, permanent home. For more information on CASA, please visit: http://www.casajohnsoncounty.org/

Chiefs Women’s Organization (CWO)
The CWO is an group comprised of wives, fiancées, and significant others of Chiefs players, coaches and football support staff members. With a long-standing tradition of outreach, the mission of the organization is to build goodwill in the Kansas City community through active volunteer participation. The CWO teams up with charities to assist in maximizing the program’s impact. These community projects allow the members of the CWO to take a hands-on approach in their role as ambassadors of goodwill.

As has become a tradition, the CWO continues to make a significant mark in the Kansas City Community. Every year, they are at the forefront of the Chiefs Breast Cancer Awareness game as they wear special edition jersey’s and help distribute free pink paraphernalia. Additionally, they have served in a community service aspect with such local groups as Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, Community Linc, Cross-Lines, Derrick Thomas Academy, Habitat for Humanity, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Operation Breakthrough.

DEVARD DARLING
On February 26, 2001, Devard Darling’s life was changed forever. He and his twin brother Devaughn where coming off their freshman campaign on the gridiron, both members of the Florida State football squad. Devard was a wide receiver and Devaughn a linebacker. However, while going through a training session, Devaughn collapsed and passed away.
As a result, Devard founded the As One Foundation. Founded as a lasting memory to Devaughn, the foundation strives to make a difference in the world by giving underprivileged youth more opportunities through athletic endeavors, educational programming, and spiritual enrichment. An important part of the As One Foundation Mission is the spiritual development of our youth. Through As One Ministries, the importance of a Christ-Centered life is incorporated throughout the beginning, duration of, and conclusion of each camp. Through the As One Foundation, the Darling Football Camp is also held in his native Bahamas. This camp strives to encourage young Bahamians ages 11 to 16 to pursue their athletic dreams in American Football. If you want to know more about the As One Foundation, please visit: http://asonefoundation.org/

Devard has also forged a relationship with Solace House. The mission of Solace House is to provide a safe and understanding environment where grieving children and their families can obtain support from counselors, trained volunteer facilitators, and other families in similar situations. Solace House receives calls nearly every day from families that have suffered a loss as a result of an illness, unexpected accident, pregnancy loss, or by an experience related to a homicide or suicide. No matter what the reason, these families call Solace House because they are in pain and are seeking support, guidance and community connection. Devard has made visits to the center and also took part in the awards dinner after the center’s annual fundraising golf tournament. For more information on Solace House, please visit: http://www.solacehouse.org/

Devard also took the opportunity to make a difference in Kansas City over the holiday season. Thanks to his benevolence 200 families from Operation Breakthrough received holiday food baskets. As a result, these families received a holiday meal they might otherwise not have had.

The mission of Operation Breakthrough is to help children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment.

Operation Breakthrough also strives to support and empower the children’s families through advocacy, referral services and emergency aid. For more information, visit: www.operationbreakthrough.org/

GLENN DORSEY
Throughout his rookie season Dorsey did just that not only the field but also in the community. His eagerness to help others and his affection for kids led the Louisiana native to become the active spokesperson for the Kansas City Chiefs Toys for Tots campaign.

The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. If you want to learn more about Kansas City’s Toys for Tots drive, visit: http://www.kctoysfortots.org/

DERRICK JOHNSON
Derrick Johnson’s King of the Field Foundation provides opportunities for youths to achieve in both academics and in the community. In his efforts to promote urban reconstruction for youths, Johnson has partnered with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and KaBOOM! to annually build a playground in a different section of Kansas City’s urban core. In all, Johnson has built three playgrounds in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

DJ also annually joins together with Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt as well as Tyson Foods and Lift Up America to feed the needy of Kansas City during the holiday season. Derrick, along with other members of the Chiefs, continued this annual tradition of assisting in the loading and unloading of food into vehicles. Approximately 40 metro area relief organizations such as food pantries, women’s shelters, drug rehabilitation centers and church ministries benefited from the drive. Tyson Foods donated 40,000 pounds of protein locally in the fight against hunger via “Powered by Tyson.” For more information on the efforts of Lift Up America visit: http://www.liftupamerica.org/index.html

RUDY NISWANGER
Rudy and his wife Patricia frequently volunteer with Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City, Missouri. The mission of Operation Breakthrough is to help children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment.

He also paired with Good Bears of the World (GBW) to distribute teddy bears to children at Operation Breakthrough and Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI). Rudy and Patricia not only handed over a bear to each child, they also offered their love and affection, giving each kid a hung before they ran off with their new fury friend. For more information on Operation Breakthrough, please visit: http://www.operationbreakthrough.org/

Recently, Rudy’s involvement with CCVI increased as he was invited to sit on the board of directors for the children’s organization. The mission of this unique organization is to prepare children with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities, to function at their highest potential in the sighted world. Rudy and his wife, Patricia, also kicked off the school year at CCVI by giving each preschooler at the center a Teddy Bear in conjunction with the Good Bears of the World. They annually also support the child’s fun run which is held in conjunction with the Center’s Trolley Run. To find out more about CCVI, we ask you to visit: http://www.ccvi.org/

JARRAD PAGE
Jarrad is an alum of the Boys & Girls Club back in his home state of California. As a result he is partnering with the Kansas City chapter to interact with the kids. Boys & Girls Clubs of America comprises a national network of more than 3,900 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.6 million young people, primarily from disadvantage circumstances. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation. You too can help Jarrad make a difference at the Boys & Girls Clubs by visiting: http://www.bgc-gkc.org/

Page became the spokesperson for the Power to End Stroke program. Jarrad teamed up with the American Heart Association to do a number of TV and radio adds stressing the importance of staying healthy to prevent strokes, especially in the African American race. For more information visit: www.americanheart.com

KOLBY SMITH
Kolby has established The Kolby Smith Foundation for reasons close to his heart which will combine events and outings to aid designated charities and needy causes.

For Kolby’s first event he invited the people of Kansas City to join him and his teammates at his Celebrity Bowl-Off. This event raised money to support the Thomas J. Brown Jr. Foundation which provides professional help to senior citizens in the Kansas City area. He followed that up by hosting a Benefit & Birthday Bash to benefit the American Urological Association. Raising much-needed funds, the event was held at a local bowling alley and fun was had by all. For more information on events and programs visit Kolby’s webpage at: www.kolby-smith.com

Recently, Kolby committed himself to the Third & Long Foundation, an organization founded by the late great Chiefs LB Derrick Thomas to tackle childhood Literacy. His work with the foundation includes Smith traveling to visit with the 58 boys and girls located at four schools throughout Kansas City. While visiting, Smith shares his story of education and how important reading is to have success in your life.

BRIAN WATERS
Brian established the “Brian Waters 54 Foundation” in 2005 to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. He works closely with the Love Fund for Children and serves as co-chairman for the Chiefs First Downs for Down Syndrome program which raises $400,000 annually based on the production of the Chiefs offensive line. Brian hosts annual Punt Pass & Kick competition for 50 athletes from the Kansas City Metro Special Olympics. This event includes medals, t-shirts and lunch for everyone. More than 20 of his teammates participate, along with Coach Edwards. Brian also volunteers in the Pro Bowl Special Olympics Punt Pass & Kick event while he is in Hawaii.

Waters has also visited the Willa Gill Center where he assisted serving some 60 individuals a Thanksgiving meal. Following the meal, Waters presented each child with a sweatshirt to help keep them warm in the coming months. The majority of these individuals are homeless youth, many of which were forced into this circumstance as a result of an abusive or uncaring home situation. This wasn’t the only group he helped keep warm over the holidays. Waters also lead a drive for all Chiefs players, coaches, staff, cheerleaders and Ambassadors. Supporting Project Warmth, the Chiefs family donated clothes, shoes, coats, and blankets to the Salvation Army.

This Texas native also decided it was time for him to reward the efforts of some children who held a special place in his lineman sized heart. As a result Brian hosted a “Going to Kansas City” trip for a group of kids from the Promise House STAR Program from the Lone Star State. This outing included a stay at a local hotel/water park, personal tour of Arrowhead Stadium with a visit from Coach Herm Edwards and even an excursion to the historic 18th & Vine district’s Negro League Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum. In addition to the kids from Promise House, Brain had some special guests tag along on the trip… A camera crew. The entourage was documenting this outing for the latest in the award-winning linage of NFL/United Way commercials. Drawing more than 120 million viewers each weak during the football season the NFL/United Way commercials open a lot of eyes to the efforts the League and its players put forth to better the lives of those in need.

In addition to a scholarship program and free football/basketball camps held in Texas, other agencies in his home stat that he uplifts includes Waxahachie Pee Wee Football and Waxahachie Habitat for Humanity.

Brian spends a lot of time with the children of the Love Fund throughout the season. Once a month he would meets a group of children from the program at the stadium for a special pizza party and private tour of the stadium. At the last party Brian presented the Love Fund with a special giant check for $20,000 which was a combination of monies that his foundation had raised over the year. Brian also gave a number of tickets for each home game to the Love Fund so that the children that see him at the pizza parties got a chance to see him on the field. Brian concluded the year by joining with the Love Fun for their annual tree lighting ceremony and celebration.

Brian has also served as a mentor to the Central High School football team in Kansas City as a part of the NFL Play It Smart program. He is a volunteer at Genesis School, an alternative school in Kansas City and has hosted 50 students displaced throughout the Kansas City, Missouri School District by Hurricane Katrina on a shopping spree for school supplies and clothes.

As a result of all his philanthropic efforts, Brian was named Kansas City Chiefs Man of the Year.

For more information on the Brian Waters 54 Foundation visit his webpage at: http://www.brianwaters54.net/