By Blue KC
On October 27, 2019, Skyler Phelps, Board Chair of Sheffield Place, was recognized by Blue KC and KCFX/Chiefs Radio Network as the Here For Good Hero for the Chiefs home game against the Green Bay Packers.
Sheffield Place opened its doors in February 1991 as a community response to the growing population of homeless mothers and their children in the Kansas City area. To date, Sheffield Place has assisted more than 1,200 families in making the difficult journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Empowering the families to heal from the severe, chronic and continuous trauma they have experienced is the first step in the process of self-sufficiency.
“Sheffield Place is an important piece of our Kansas City community, offering hope and aid to homeless moms and children,” said Christina Lively, Blue KC’s Department Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “With the tremendous need of each family, it’s essential that—along with an amazing staff—Sheffield Place has a strong board/council of advisors. And that all starts with Board Chair Skyler Phelps. For the incredible work he is doing to help Sheffield Place remain such a positive force in our community, we’re proud to recognize him as a Blue KC Here for Good Hero.”
With the mission of empowering homeless mothers and their children to heal from their trauma and become self-sufficient, Sheffield Place is committed to serving families with multiple barriers to success, including mental health, addiction, domestic violence backgrounds, low educational attainment and felony convictions among others. The agency embraces Trauma Informed Care (TIC) and trauma recovery as the first step in healing and provides intensive mental health and addiction recovery services delivered by licensed, master’s level therapists and experienced case managers. Once families stabilize and transition to permanent housing in the community, they receive ongoing case management, therapy, and other supportive services for as long as needed.
“I believe where there is opportunity there is hope,” said Phelps, who began his involvement with Sheffield Place in 2006. “Where there is no opportunity, there is hopelessness. Others have provided opportunities for me to be successful. It’s my responsibility to reach back and help others by creating opportunity.”
In his role as chair, Phelps leads the board as they ensure that Sheffield Place has an adequate funding base and that financial statements are accurate and audited. They make sure that the agency has adequate staff, board and volunteers to meet organizational goals and that the programs, services and facilities are adequate in meeting the needs of its clients. He also is actively involved in special events including Sheffield Place’s spring golf tournament fundraiser and the fall “Off the Wall” event fundraiser.
“I’m influenced to do the work I’m doing at Sheffield Place by our dedicated staff, fellow board members, volunteers, partners like Blue KC and the measurable success of the families we serve,” said Phelps. “We are making a difference together. I’m honored to be a part of that success.”
As Vice President of Mantel Teter Architects, Inc., Phelps also serves Sheffield Place in an architectural capacity, assisting with renovation projects at the main and surrounding facilities, and is currently serving as the organization’s representative on a renovation project that will include an additional six-to-seven living units for mothers and children.
“Seeing the strength of the mothers we’ve served and their willingness to pass that strength forward to the next generation gives us all confidence that many more in need will heal from their trauma, become self-sufficient and break the cycle of homelessness for themselves and their children,” said Phelps. “I’m humbled and honored to be recognized and proud to represent the countless Sheffield Place staff, board members, volunteers, partners and friends whose work makes a difference every day.”
The Blue KC Here for Good Hero program recognizes strong community partners and the men and women who work or volunteer with those organizations to make Kansas City a better place to live, work and play. Prior to each Chiefs home game, Blue KC selects one honoree to attend the game, while also enjoying the KCFX/Chiefs Radio Network Tailgate Party and a visit to the radio broadcast booth. Blue KC also donates $1,000 to the organization of each honoree.