09/09/2026
Congratulations to St. Joseph Catholic School - Shawnee, KS on today's dedication and ribbon cutting of the new St. Joseph Athletic Facility. Through our partnership with the NFL Foundation, The Kansas City Chiefs, and the Hunt Family Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) was pleased to have been able to support this effort last year with a $250,000 NFL Foundation Grassroots Field Grant. The Chiefs organization and Hunt Family Foundation have invested nearly $3.5 Million in 17 different projects around our community thru this partnership.
Today marked the culmination and celebration of many different community members, organizations, and supporters coming together. During his remarks, our Executive Director, Geoff Jolley referenced the old proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together". This project was a demonstration of that collaborative spirit. It was a pleasure to see Lamar Hunt Jr., Ernie Straub III, Shawnee Mayor Mickey Sandifer, Patrick Regan, John McGoldrick and so many other community leaders in attendance.
With nearly 28 million children lacking access to safe recreation spaces within a 10-minute walk from home, it is crucial to support community efforts to create safe and well-maintained areas for children to gather, play, and exercise. In partnership with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), Special Olympics Kansas, and others, the St. Joseph field already has 100 events scheduled and may see as many as 30,000 visitors in its first year.
Thank you to everyone who played a role in helping create this opportunity for future generations, including Jeremy Staab, on our LISC KC team, as well as Anne Scharf, Straub Construction, McAnany Construction Inc, Libby Knox, and many more. A great team effort!
