Kansas City Chiefs QB Trent Green, TE Tony Gonzalez, FB Tony Richardson, and G Will Shields have all been named by The Sporting News (TSN) some of the top “Good Guys in Sports.” For the fifth consecutive year, TSN selected 99 athletes in the five major sports who are dedicated to civic responsibility and character. The publication also acknowledges the top overall individuals in each of their respective sports. All of the athletes were chosen because they exhibited a big heart, they cared more about others than themselves, and they spent both time as well as money in a commitment to the community through their acts of charity. The top Good Guy in sports is the Atlanta Falcons Warrick Dunn. The feature naming the athletes appears in TSN’s special July 8th issue that is on sale now.

Shields, who was named TSN’s Top NFL “Good Guy” in 2001, has appeared on the list each year since its inception in 1999. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Shields and his wife Senia, established the Will to Succeed Foundation, in 1993 to guide, inspire and improve the lives of abused and neglected women and children. The program provides direct resources in addition to educational tools, opportunities and nurturing experiences to inner city children and women who have little access to other assistance. Currently, the foundation sponsors almost two dozen programs where Shields is a “hands-on” participant in all the activities, in addition to contributing financial support for their on-going success. Shields is no stranger to accolades for his giving nature. The 2003 recipient of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, this Oklahoma native was honored this off-season with the “Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Award” and the K.C. Council on Philanthropy’s “Philanthropist of the Year” honor.

Richardson formed the Rich in Spirit Foundation in 2000 to extend a helping hand in order to uplift the lives and spirits of individuals who society has turned its backs on. He has partnered with Special Olympics, Athletes in Action, City Union Mission, Harvest Church, and The Dictionary Project. His goal is to build confidence, self-esteem and practical life-skills while nurturing spiritual awareness in order to improve the quality of life for these individuals. A main focus for Richardson’s charitable work is The Dictionary Project. He is Kansas City’s spokesperson for the program. To date 38,000 dictionaries have been distributed in an effort to help provide these research tools for every third-grader in the Kansas City School District. For his work, Richardson was recognized with the 2003 Pro Football Weekly Arthur R. Arkush Humanitarian of the Year award.

Gonzalez is also no stranger to the TSN Good Guy List. The 2004 NFL Good Guy established the Tony Gonzalez Foundation in 1998. This organization supports the Shadow Buddies program as well as Boys & Girls Clubs. Shadow Buddies are smiling dolls given to individuals, especially sick children and elderly, in order to help speed their recovery. Over 10,000 Shadow Buddies have been distributed in Missouri, Kansas, California, New York, Texas, Hawaii, Washington D.C. and internationally. In addition to Shadow Buddies, Gonzalez has provided 50 “Know Your Buddy Book” kits to school children in Missouri, Kansas and California. These books teach students about medical challenges and encourage them to increase their compassion and understanding of others’ differences. An alumni of the program, Gonzalez is also a frequent visitor to the Boys & Girls Clubs both in Kansas City and his native California.

Green started the Trent Green Family Foundation in 1999 while with the St. Louis Rams. That organization supports and develops family-focused programming which bolsters the quality of life for families of all social, economic and religious backgrounds. The Trent Green Family Foundation puts special emphasis on supporting those families who are faced with the challenges of dealing with chronically or terminally ill children or seniors. Upon their arrival in Kansas City, Trent and his wife, Julie, have partnered with: Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Special Olympics, Project Warmth, KU Medical Center, and Meals on Wheels. Again this year, the foundation is funding a Child Life position at Children’s Mercy Hospital to oversee the Starbright World project. This program allows terminally ill children to communicate on a computer network with others throughout the nation who are inflicted with diseases similar to theirs.

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