Sporting Kansas City — Doing It Right & Giving Back
Sporting KC giving back to their community — a leader in Doing It Right, their Victory Project just surprised a local teen with pediatric cancer by making a wish come true. A new bedroom/gaming room — it might seem like a simple wish, but it was a dream for an eighth-grade student battling cancer who has to spend more time indoors than a teenager should.
Goal: Cheering up Pediatric Cancer 15-year-old Patient with a gaming room.
The Sporting KC Victory Project’s Sporting Wishes program makes a difference in the lives of people in Kansas City — and just last week brought smiles to the faces of a family struck by cancer, turning a bedroom into a gaming room for 15-year-old Jordan Rodriguez. Rodriguez is currently battling cancer for the second time.
Sporting KC 6’1″ defender Brad Evans was on hand to help with the transformation and share the excitement.
As a part of the Victory Project, Sporting Wishes began in 2017 to fulfill dreams of children whose cancer has relapsed or who have received a secondary cancer diagnosis. And, it is a team event with players from the MLS squad wanting to participate and make a difference.
Sporting KC Director of Community Programs Brandi Thomas said, “100% of all of our first team players support The Victory Project, either financially or through their time.”
“It is important for our club to give back to the Kansas City community because this is our home,” said Thomas. “From our owners to our players and staff, we feel pride when we represent this town. Along with our supporters, we have made Kansas City the Soccer Capital of America and it is our responsibility to use the platform we have to do good and lead by example.”
“It is not just the right thing to do, it is part of who we are,” said Thomas.
Sporting Kansas City Community Programs make an amazing impact and assist local families in need as well as give a ray of sunshine to kids suffering from cancer.
“Seeing the look on Jordan’s face and his near speechless response when he saw his room makeover is exactly why we started the Sporting Wishes program,” said Thomas. We have the ability to bring joy into the lives of young cancer patients like Jordan when they need it most.”
The Victory Project partnered with Jennifer Bertrand Designs, LargePrint.com and Furniture Mall of Kansas to furnish the room for Rodriguez with a basketball goal, a gaming enclave, wall graphics, a new bed and more.
The renovation surprised Rodriguez when he and his family returned home.
Rodriguez was first diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 12 in April of 2015. He underwent radiation therapy and chemotherapy at Children’s Mercy and was declared cancer-free in June of 2016. This January, a routine scan revealed his medulloblastoma had relapsed and tumors had spread to his spine, chest, and tailbone.
Other Sporting Wishes granted by “The Victory Project” include a trip to Hawaii for a 13-year-old battling Ewings Sarcoma, a trip to Disney World for a 7-year-old diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a trip to New Orleans and puppy a 6-year-old with pediatric hepatoblastoma. Other wishes made possible include trips to Hawaii, Pittsburgh, and Alaska.
The Victory Project was started in 2013 and is an initiative from Sporting Kansas City that unites players, staff and fans to help children battling cancer.
While the Victory Project clearly recognizes that it could not be successful without the support of its business partners, anyone can donate. In fact, all the professional soccer players on the MLS Sporting KC roster donate — their time and money.
