Community Partners

Wayside Waifs

Wayside Waifs is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets and preparing pets and people for the bond of their lives. Wayside is the largest pet adoption campus in Kansas City, in 2019 Wayside adopted more than 5,800 animals in loving forever homes. Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for animals in our care. Only animals suffering from significant medical issues or those that pose a danger are humanely euthanized. Wayside Waifs is proud to be a part of Kansas City’s no kill community.

Giving The Basics

Giving The Basics mission is to bring improved health, hope, and dignity to struggling children and adults through the procurement, fulfillment, and distribution of hygiene products. Products include shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, and much more.

Since its launch in 2011, they have teamed up with over 700 locations, including local schools, pantries, police departments, and senior centers to distribute much-needed hygiene products that are not covered by government assistance to those in need in the Kansas City metro. They are now reaching over 400K people on a regular basis. They believe every person deserves to have an opportunity for dignity and being able to feel and look clean and presentable which can drastically change the trajectory of that person’s life. 

Operation Breakthrough

Operation Breakthrough, incorporated in 1971, provides a safe, loving, and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid, and education. They care for more than 700 children aged 6 weeks to 18 years with more than 70% living below the federal poverty guidelines. 

Their programs include an early childhood and additional educational services with hands-on learning experiences, supportive teacher interactions, and language rich environments. Along with medical resources like an on-site dental clinic, a full-service medical clinic with doctors, nurses, mental health professionals who help with check-ups, and sick visits, and other therapy programs for both the children and their families.

Mac's Power Play Reading Club

Mac's Power Play Reading Club is a free literacy program created to support and enhance classroom reading efforts throughout the schools in the Kansas City area. Students, with support from teachers and parents, will track their reading minutes using printable logs. Teachers will then report their class’s total reading minutes each month. Each month, Mac and select Mavericks players will visit the classroom with the most reading minutes to read to the students and distribute Minsky's Pizza coupons. Additionally, the top classroom overall will enjoy a pizza party hosted by Minsky’s Pizza, with Mac and Mavericks players in attendance. To top it off, the overall winning classroom and their families will receive free tickets to a weekday game in March. 

In its inaugural year, Mac's Power Play Reading Club has made a remarkable impact, with 55 schools participating and over 2,600 students registered across the KCMO/KCK area. This initiative not only fosters a love for reading but also builds a sense of community among young learners. To find out more information on Mac's Power Play Reading Club, visit https://kcmavericks.com/reading-club!

If you would like to support any of these organizations furthermore, please contact Mick Deaver - mdeaver@kcmavericks.com