As one of this summer’s hottest movie flicks might lead you to believe, running a chocolate factory is any child’s true fantasy. However, the Chiefs are challenging that conventional wisdom. After all, who can argue that Tuesday’s event wasn’t a dream come true for any of the kids present? Who could honestly tell you that the children weren’t flat out giddy at the chance to design and build a playground right in their own neighborhood with the help of a local legend?

No, this dream come true had nothing to do with Willy Wonka or the crazy Oompa-Loompas. Instead, Kansas City Chiefs WR Dante Hall was the Master of Ceremonies as he once again partnered with his friend at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and KaBOOM! to bring this dream to life for local Kansas City kids. Today, Hall met with 50 local kids at Kansas City, Kansas’ Mt. Carmel Community Center to discuss the features they wanted in their new playground. Scheduled to be constructed later this fall at Heathwood Park, the kids spent time drawing pictures and sharing what elements they thought were important to include in their future playground. “Swings!” one little girl shouted. “A Swirly Slide!” screamed another. The children came to agree on certain things and debated over others,. And even though the inclusion of an elevator and hot tub wasn’t in the budget, everyone knew that this experience would be one they would never forget.

“I just love being a part of this whole process” said Hall. “It’s also great for the kids to take ownership in the playground by participating in the design.” In his efforts to promote urban reconstruction, Hall has partnered with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, KaBOOM!, and members of the Kansas City Parks and Recreation to build a playground in one day at Blue Valley Park to give children a new safe place to play.

The mission of Hall’s “X-Factor Foundation” is to provide opportunities for single mothers and their children to reach their full potential. Their goal is to help these women succeed as both parents and as productive members of their communities. In addition, they are focused on the redevelopment of urban areas, with a special emphasis on providing quality housing and recreational areas for single mothers and their families.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 financial services organization helping nearly 2.9 million members achieve their financial goals. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a wide range of financial solutions and have $62.4 billion (Dec. 31, 2003) in assets under management. Thrivent Financial, a not-for-profit organization, and its members provide approximately $200 million annually for outreach programs and activities that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and needy individuals.

KaBOOM! is the longest-running non-profit organization that specializes in linking communities and corporations together to build much-needed, safe and accessible playgrounds, and has helped build more playgrounds than any other service organization, making it the #1 playground facilitator of its kind. Since their launch in late 1995, KaBOOM! has raised more than $10 million and built over 820 community playgrounds with a focus of providing children with appropriate places to play.

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