Programs

Players Outreach

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 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/

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

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.

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