Command Raises Funds And Awareness For Lupus Research

The Kansas City Command will announce a $5,000 donation during Saturday night’s game at Sprint Center with an on-field check presentation to the Eddie Kennison Foundation; benefitting the Alliance for Lupus Research.   “Eddie has been a valuable part of the Command family this season,” said team chairman Chris Likens. “We are happy to join his efforts in raising awareness by making a donation to Lupus research.”
In addition, one dollar from every ticket sold for Saturday night’s game will be given to the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR), a non-profit organization with the mission of finding a cure for lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that strikes 1.4 million Americans – including Shimika Kennison, Eddie’s wife.  The Kennison family now partners with the ALR to raise funds for lupus research. Eddie Kennison and Kansas City Royals General Manager Dayton Moore are this year’s honorary co-chairs for the Kansas City Area Metro Walk With Us to Cure Lupus on October 27th.  Volunteers will also be set up in the concourse of Sprint Center on Saturday before the game with more information regarding the walk in October.
“Teaming up with ALR has been a dream come true for the Kennison family,” said Eddie Kennsion.  “Not only does ALR do awesome work to find a cure for lupus, but the people within the organization are first class. ALR has enhanced our fund-raising efforts in our continued quest to cure lupus,” he said.
One of the Chiefs’ most philanthropic players, Eddie Kennison started his foundation in 2003 after Shimika was diagnosed with Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease can affect the joints and the major organs of the body including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. Symptoms include extreme fatigue and painful or swollen joints.
Since making Kansas City his home, Eddie Kennison has been involved in many other charitable endeavors locally including First Downs for Down Syndrome and several charitable events of fellow players. Eddie also helped out near his hometown in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Because of his charitable work, Kennison was nominated in 2006 for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Kennison officially retired from the Kansas City Chiefs after 13 years in the NFL, and is currently the Director of Operations for the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football League.