WILL & SENIA SHIELDS NAMED PHILANTHROPISTS OF THE YEAR

May 12, 2005, 3:45:16 PM

Kansas City Chiefs G Will Shields and his wife, Senia, have been named Philanthropists of the Year by the Kansas City Council on Philanthropy. The Shields were honored at the Muehlebach Tower of the Downtown Kansas City Marriott during the 21st Annual Awards Luncheon on May 11. This luncheon honors both Kansas City people and organizations that save and change lives. It is the largest and oldest celebration of Kansas City Philanthropy.

Shields is no stranger to accolades, be it professional or philanthropic in nature. The 2003 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Shields is a 10-time Pro Bowler who started all but his initial game in the NFL (a string of 191 consecutive contests). Additionally, he has been recognized as the NFL’s Top Good Guy (The Sporting News - 2001) and The Humanitarian of the Year (Arthur S. Arkush Award by Pro Football Weekly – 1999) among others. Since the inception of his Will to Succeed Foundation in 1993, Will and his wife, Senia, have assisted some 97,781individuals.

“I have had the distinct pleasure to witness first-hand the involvement that Will and his wife, Senia, have in the Kansas City community,” Chiefs President Carl Peterson recently noted. “Simply put, they have done everything the right way.”

In addition to the Shields award, four other honors were distributed. Pam and Gary Gradinger were named Volunteers of the Year, Sheridan Y. Wood garnered Nonprofit Executive of the Year and Right Management Consultants were recognized as Business Philanthropist of the Year.

Past winners of The Council’s Philanthropists of the Year award include: Donald Hall, John Francis, William Dunn, Sr., Marjorie Powell Allen, Henry Bloch, Ewing Kauffman, Clarence Goppert, Stan & Shirley Rose, Adele Hall, Herman Sutherland, Shirley & Barnett Helzberg, James Sunderland, R.R. Osborne, Rose Sarli Teicher, John Sullivan, James & Virginia Stowers, Fred & Shirley Pryor, Norman & Elaine Polsky, and Dick & Laura Cray, Jeannette Nichols.

The Council on Philanthropy helps nonprofit professionals and volunteers make a difference in their organizations, careers and community. Currently, the Council is nearly 1,300 members strong and growing rapidly. The organization seeks to join development professionals, executive directors, volunteers, volunteer coordinators, community relations specialists, philanthropists, grant makers, vendors, consultants and together in an attempt to make a difference in the Kansas City Community.

-CHIEFS IN THE COMMUNITY, JOIN OUR TEAM-