The veteran Will Shields, the longest-serving Chief and an example setter for his newer teammates, has carried on that tradition. The eight-time Pro Bowl guard may well spend more hours a year in his various charities than he does on the game itself. He and wife, Senia, organize their efforts through the now ten year-old Will to Succeed Foundation. "If one child makes better life choices and his or her life turns out for the better," says Shields sincerely, "then we have succeeded."

The Will to Succeed Foundation has helped nearly 100,000 individuals in the last ten years

The Will to Succeed Foundation has helped nearly 100,000 individuals in the last ten years. Among other projects, Will and Senia bought a van for Sheffield Place and Synergy Services, replaced kitchen equipment for the Niles Home for Children, raised money for Hope House, contributed to the capital campaign for the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, provided a computer lab for the Children's Place, and upgraded the family room at KU Medical Burn Unit. And although one would never guess it to look at him, Will even hosts a "Day of Beauty" for five women's shelters.

Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes is one athlete who is not afraid to be a role model. At this past year's Annual Pop Warner Scholar Athlete Banquet in Or-lando, Florida, Holmes was honored, along with Tony Richardson and team President Carl Peterson, as a top role model to youth that are involved in sports. Only in his third year as a Chief, Holmes has already made an impressive impact on the community.

"Team Priest"--his vehicle for community outreach has supported the Samuel U. Rogers Health Fair, joined forces with the American Red Cross Blood Drive, and provided school supplies to City Union Mission. Defying all jock stereotypes, Priest himself launched a Chess Club for inner-city kids last year and makes regular visits to the school to play chess.

"Team Priest" has supported the Samuel U. Rogers Health Fair the American Red Cross Blood Drive, provided school supplies to City Union Mission and launched a Chess Club for inner-city kids.

Trent Green and wife Julie have partnered with the Ronald McDonald House, Children's Mercy Hospital, Special Olympics, Project Warmth, KU Medical Center, and Meals on Wheels to help families that are confronting the challenges of serious illness. Last year Trent hosted a "Tailgate Party" at the Chiefs Practice Facility to benefit the Child Life Department at Children's Mercy Hospital. Among other opportunities, Trent has served as the 2002 spokesperson for the Special Olympics Car Raffle promotion and helped kick off the Special Olympics Law Enforce-ment Torch Run.

As to Tony Richardson, yes he does always seem to be available. He formed the "Rich in Spirit Foundation" in 2000 to help individuals that society has turned its back on, partnering in the process with Special Olympics, Athletes in Action, City Union Mission, Harvest Church, and The Dictionary Project. This year, he has gotten involved with The Dictionary Project as Kansas City's spokesperson and has donated dictionaries to every 3rd grader in the Kansas City, MO School District. He has also hosted the annual Special Olympics Punt, Pass and Kick competition in Kansas City since 1999 and was Chairman of the Buck Buchanan Special Olympics Sports Festival in 1999 and 2000. And this year, once again, Tony will act as Chairman of the Kansas City Chiefs "Out for Blood" blood drive versus the Denver Broncos.

Kudos too must go to Coach Dick Vermeil who embraced the spirit upon his arrival in Kansas City three years ago.

These four players are more typical of the Chiefs' efforts than exceptional. All-Pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, for instance, has sponsored a wonderfully inventive and good spirited program for sick children known as Shadow Buddies. After his daughter, Shayla, was born with a heart condition that required several surgeries, defensive end Eric Hicks established The Hicks for Hearts Foundation, which supports children and the families of children with congenital heart defects. In his twenty years in the NFL, kicker Morten Andersen has raised more than $500,000 for youth charities. And the list goes on.

Through charitable efforts by the players and front office, the team raised $1.71 million for the underprivileged last year alone. Over the past five years the Chiefs have raised $8.34 million and that does not include the monies raised through more than 600 charitable appearances or the thousands of autographed items donated to not-for-profit groups.

So what makes the Chiefs different from other football teams? It's not just the addendum in the contract. Tony Richardson attributes the inspiration behind the Chiefs' commit- ment to the top, the very top, Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt. As Richardson sees it, Hunt has always led by his own very generous example. Carl Peterson gives a lot of the credit to veteran community relations Director Brenda Sniezek who has ably transformed good intentions into results.

Richardson attributes the inspiration behind the Chiefs’ commitment to the top, the very top – “Lamar Hunt has always led by his own very generous example.”

Kudos too must go to Coach Dick Vermeil who embraced the spirit upon his arrival in Kansas City three years ago and has breathed new life into it as well as the team itself. Sniezek singles out the work of Dick's wife Carol Vermeil, who "is truly the leader of the wives' organization." And there's no denying the good work done by Peterson's wife, Lori. She spearheads an event called "Chiefs Night" that last year alone raised $145,000 for the arthritis foundation. Finally, though, credit must go to Peterson himself. Along the way, he learned something else essential about human nature. Sure, people like to do good. But they also like to do well. They like to win. And Peterson has obliged them. In the 15 years since he arrived, the Chiefs have won more consistently than any team in the league. Indeed, one is hard pressed to recall a 16th game that did not matter.

As the players fully understand, they can evoke more magic and inspire more smiles and raise a lot more money for more good causes when they are winning than when they are losing. And if the Chiefs should be so blessed as to win the Super Bowl this year, the raucous sounds of applause will yield to the softer sounds of wallets unfolding.