Inductees

When the United States boycotted the Moscow Summer Olympics in 1980, the man who cared deeply for public parks and recreation in Kansas City’s largest counties sprung into action.

No, Leon Younger didn’t save the Games. Instead, he called several businesses and created what he called the Corporate Olympics, with Kansas City-area businesses entering employees into a number of sporting events.

“We wanted to highlight the value of sports,” said Younger, who in 1980 was the Superintendent of the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District and, three years later, started a long career at Jackson County Parks & Rec as Director. “There were so many good athletes for these companies, and they wanted to showcase their talents.”

Forty years later, what is now the Kansas City Corporate Challenge is still going strong, with incredible participation numbers. That’s why the MSHOF proudly inducted the organization with the Class of 2020.

Brace yourself for these statistics: The Kansas City Corporate Challenge (KCCC) has grown from 18 companies to more than 250 this year alone. With it, more than 33,000 participants in 2019, a 66.3 percent increase since 2006. In total, the participants represent an employee base of 150,000-plus, giving the KCCC more than twice as many competitors as the Olympic Games themselves.

Thousands more are spectators and several thousand more serve as volunteers to assist with the KCCC.

The philosophy of the KCCC has been to promote fitness and recreation within the Kansas City business community. No other event offers the diversity of sporting opportunities, as there is something for everyone. Recreational activities such as darts, horseshoes, and fishing are offered in addition to softball, volleyball, swimming and running. A non-competitive walk is among the most popular events.

Additionally, the Kansas City Corporate Challenge helps boost employee morale with activities outside the workplace, allowing professionals to network.

That’s exactly why Myra Everette has competed in the KCCC for 32 years. She is Senior Communications Specialist for Honeywell and has participated in numerous events.

“The night before, there is a KCCC Kick-off Party with 15,000 people, and I go to a lot of booths to see friends,” Everette said. “So, when you have relationships, it boosts the camaraderie and the culture. To this day, there are people who I’ve never worked with but we are great friends thanks to the KCCC.”

Everette has earned more than 20 medals in the KCCC, helping Honeywell as it competes to earn overall points throughout the season (much like the Olympics). She organizes teams and participants for Honeywell and, if the company needs at least one participant and no one else can, she steps up.

“It builds teamwork and teamwork is a part of business,” Everette said. “For Honeywell and Cerner, every year we look forward to seeing where they are in their lives and careers.”

The growth certainly has left Younger smiling.

He initially started his career as Johnson County (Kan.) Parks & Recreation District Director and moved into the Jackson County role on the other side of the state line.

Other key players behind the scenes were important.

At the time, former Kansas City Chiefs standout Fred Arbanas (MSHOF 1997) was Chairman of the Board for Jackson County Parks and urged for growth in parks activities.

Alex George also urged for the KCCC’s creation. He was among the founders of the Kansas City Sports Commission in 1966 as civic leaders successfully brought the National Football League to the city and brought back Major League Baseball. The KCCC now has an Alex George Award honoring the top men’s and women’s athlete annually.

Thus, the Kansas City Corporate Challenge took off, as Younger called on his former boss with Johnson County Parks & Rec, Gary Haller to include Jackson County Parks seeking a collaborative effort.

“Once we got notoriety, it blew up,” said Younger, now President of PROS Consulting, Inc., in Indianapolis.

Additionally, the Games benefit a Kansas City-based charitable organization annually.

The KCCC is governed by a Board of Directors and is led by Lacey Fisher, Executive Director since 2019 and a part of its leadership team since 2015.

She makes certain KCCC stays on top of trends. It has since added pickleball and kickball and turned to a 20 in 2020 Challenge this year. To learn more, visit kccorporatechallenge.com.

“We consistently welcome feedback and Games suggestions and value those offered by our participants: these are their Games, after all,” Fisher said. “With the volunteers, Board of Directors, and others that assist in the administration of the Games – the sky’s the limit.”