KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy is using the team’s bye week to expand his foundation, “The Worthy 1s,” in the Kansas City metro area. The foundation’s mission is to provide support for single mothers and their children by partnering with local non-profits and city leaders to raise funds and resources.
Worthy’s initiative is especially focused on Kansas City’s substantial population of single mothers. According to Rachel Segobia, executive director of The Single Mom KC organization, there are over 61,000 single mothers in the city, raising more than 115,000 children.
As a child of a single mother, Xavier Worthy is deeply aware of the difficulties these families face. His mother, Nicky Jones, was a single parent raising Xavier when he was young. Reflecting on their struggles, Jones recalled the constant challenge of keeping the family afloat.
“I was a young single mom starting out with Xavier, and there’s a lot of struggles that come with that,” Jones shared. “I remember talking to someone about trying to keep food on the table, a roof over our heads, and the lights on.”
Worthy himself recalled specific hardships from his childhood, noting a particularly tough time when their electricity was cut off for two months. “The power company shut off our lights for about two months. I knew what struggle looked like,” he said.
The Worthy 1s foundation, which initially operated in Austin, Texas—where Worthy went to college—and his hometown of Fresno, California, is now expanding its reach to Kansas City. The foundation’s programs aim to support single mothers and their children through various services, including:
- Back2School Grants: Offering financial aid, laptops, and resources for mothers going back to school.
- Financial Empowerment & Literacy Workshops: Teaching budgeting, credit-building, and money management skills tailored to single-parent households.
- Wellness Workshops: Helping single mothers strengthen their mental, emotional, and physical health.
- Youth R.I.S.E.: Providing mentorship, sports activities, and family engagement programs in schools, juvenile facilities, and community spaces.
- Youth Sports Camps: Organizing skills-based camps that teach discipline, confidence, and teamwork.
- Community Luncheons & Brunches: Creating spaces for single mothers to connect and support one another.
- Winter Back2School Drives: Distributing new coats and shoes to children from single-parent households.
- Worthy Spotlight: A program designed to boost the self-esteem and confidence of single-parent families through verbal affirmations.
Additionally, Worthy’s foundation will provide direct financial assistance through grants for mothers returning to school and offer various programs for their children. According to Segobia, one of the key challenges facing single mothers is loneliness and isolation, which the foundation is working to address by fostering supportive communities.
“Loneliness and isolation are big issues, especially for single mothers. Our goal is to build communities of support and hope,” Segobia said.
Worthy’s expansion into Kansas City also includes plans to broaden youth programming. Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson, who attended the foundation’s luncheon, announced plans to have Worthy visit the Hilltop Juvenile Detention Center, where he will speak to young people and serve as a mentor.
Through “The Worthy 1s,” Xavier Worthy is not only giving back to the community but also making a lasting impact on the lives of single mothers and their children in Kansas City.
