In the lead-up to the Kansas City Chiefs – Detroit Lions Kickoff game presented by YouTube TV in Kansas City on Thursday, September 7th, the NFL will host a series of community and service events throughout the week to celebrate the start of the league’s long-awaited 2023 season and to give back to the region that is home to the Super Bowl LVII Champions.
Community impact remains an important part of Kickoff Week and this year, the NFL is focusing on four events that touch several of League priorities and initiatives. By giving back to students, honoring service members, participating in greening projects and partnering with key league sponsors, the NFL family will unite to strengthen the community by leaving a lasting, positive impact on Kansas City and its surrounding areas. In addition to community events, the NFL is making monetary donations to a Kansas City safe shelter for survivors of domestic abuse and an LGBTQ+ resource and community enter.
The NFL is partnering with Lowe’s to donate $100,000 to refurbish the USO Center at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri as a culmination of Lowe’s ‘It’s Your Call’ Super Bowl LVII social campaign. Fans voted for a USO Center near the Super Bowl Champion’s hometown as the project recipient. The center serves the more than 100,000 service members who train annually on the base. On Tuesday, August 29th the week prior to the NFL Season Kickoff, Lowe’s Red Vest associates and volunteers from the base will refurbish and refresh the interior and exterior of the USO’s rec. center. Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl IV Champion and Hall of Famer, Bobby Bell, will be onsite to greet and thank volunteers and service members.
On Wednesday, in partnership with league sponsor Verizon, the NFL is teaming up with Operation Breakthrough to plant trees in honor of the NFL’s 32 teams in celebration of the start of the season. More than 50 students will help to plant the trees on the campus of Operation Breakthrough, a program that provides 700 of Kansas City’s most vulnerable children and their families with opportunities to learn, connect, be nurtured and prepared for success. As a part of NFL Green’s community greening initiatives for Kickoff, Kansas City Community Gardens will also receive a grant from the NFL to revitalize the 63rd Street Community Garden.
Before the Kickoff game on Thursday and as a part of the League’s Inspire Change initiative , the NFL and Little Caesars Love Kitchen®will team up with KC’s Downtown Community Services Center (DCSC) “The Beehive” and NourishKC Kansas City Community Kitchen to host a celebratory and impactful event serving hot meals to those in need. The community kitchen, located within The Beehive, serves restaurant-style lunch to roughly 600-900 community members that are food insecure daily. For this special event, these members will be invited to enjoy pizza from The Little Caesars Love Kitchen® and provided with to-go meals prepared by NourishKC.
Additionally on Thursday, the NFL will host an event with students at Platte City Middle School to bring to life the League’s Character Playbook program, which provides over a million students in middle schools annually with the social emotional skills they need to be successful. The Character Playbook Speaker Series Kickoff event will bring together panelists from around the League, students local to Kansas City and across the country who have participated in Character Playbook to discuss connections between mental wellness and healthy relationships. Local students from Platte City Middle School will have the opportunity to gather for a live panel discussion and participate in interactive group activities.
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OVERVIEW OF KICKOFF WEEK COMMUNITY EVENTS
Lowe’s USO Center Refurbishment: Tuesday, August 29th, 10:00am-2:00pm, USO Center at Fort Leonard
- The NFL is partnering with Lowe’s to provide a $100,000 donation to refurbish the USO Center at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. On Tuesday, August 29th, during the week prior to Kickoff, service members stationed at Fort Leonard Wood will see the final touches being put on the center renovations and have the opportunity to meet NFL Hall of Famer and Kansas City Chiefs legend, Bobby Bell.
NFL Greening Project: Wednesday, September 6th, 9:30am, Operation Breakthrough (3039 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO)
- In partnership with league sponsor Verizon, the NFL is teaming up with Operation Breakthrough to plant trees in honor of the NFL’s 32 teams in celebration of the start of the season. More than 50 students will help to plant the trees on the campus of Operation Breakthrough, a program that provides 700 of Kansas City’s most vulnerable children and their families with opportunities to learn, connect, be nurtured and prepared for success.
Flag Football Ambassadors Unboxing: Wednesday, September 6th, 4:00 pm, Lee’s Summit North (901 NE Douglas St, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086)
- The NFL in partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs will showcase the NAIA Flag Football Champions, Ottawa University with an Unboxing of Flag Kits for the Lee’s Summit School District.
Little Caesars Love Kitchen Community Event: Thursday, September 7th
- The NFL and Little Caesars Love Kitchen® will team up with KC’s Downtown Community Services Center (DCSC) “The Beehive” and NourishKC Kansas City Community Kitchen to host a special celebratory and impactful event to serve hot meals to those in need.
Character Playbook Speaker Series: Thursday, September 7th, 11:15am-12:40pm, Platte City Middle School (900 Pirate Drive, Platte City, MO)
- The Character Playbook Speaker Series NFL Kickoff event will bring together panelists from around the League, students local to Kansas City, MO and students from across the country who have participated in Character Playbook to discuss the connections mental wellness and healthy relationships. Local students from Platte City Middle School will have the opportunity to gather for a live panel discussion and participate in activities around mental wellness.
