It wasn’t your average Friday night at Dick’s House of Sport in Leawood. The aisles usually filled with shoppers and sports gear were transformed into something far more meaningful - a holiday celebration with heart, led by Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy and his mother, Nicky Jones.
The event, called The Worthy 1’s X-Mas, wasn’t just about spreading holiday cheer. It was about honoring single mothers and their families - a group that often carries the heaviest burden this time of year. And for Worthy and Jones, this mission is personal.
Jones, who co-founded The Worthy 1’s foundation alongside her son, greeted families at the entrance, smiling with the warmth of someone who’s been in their shoes. “End of the year it was a real struggle,” she said.
“And I think any single mom can relate to that. For every event, I include the mom.
It is so important that she is not forgotten.”
That message rang loud and clear throughout the evening.
Inside the store, the foundation had set up a holiday experience tailored specifically for these families. There were Christmas goodie bags for moms, school supplies for the kids, Chiefs drawstring backpacks filled with memorabilia, and even merchandise from Dick’s Sporting Goods. A spread of food brought everyone together, but the real surprise came when each child was handed a $200 gift card - a chance to shop the store and pick out their own gifts, no strings attached.
But this wasn’t just about presents.
“This is about more than gifts,” Jones said earlier this month. “It’s about reminding families that they are seen, supported and worthy of limitless futures.”
The event was hosted by Worthy, Jones, and The Next Paige Agency, a Kansas City-based talent and marketing firm. It also partnered with Cornerstones of Care, a local nonprofit that supports children and families across the region.
For Shelia Rancatore, executive director of Missouri programs and services for the organization, the impact was clear. “I hope [families] leave feeling that we care,” she said.
The Worthy 1’s foundation focuses on empowering single mothers, youth, and families by offering resources, encouragement, and access to opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach. While the holidays are a key time for this work, the foundation operates year-round - organizing everything from back-to-school drives to community luncheons.
And in a city like Kansas City, where more than 61,000 households are led by single mothers, the need is real. That stat was highlighted last month by Mayor Quinton Lucas, who joined Worthy, Jones, and Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson to show support for the cause. “All [these women] work hard to ensure the best for their children and our community,” the mayor shared in a post on X.
For Worthy, this isn’t about charity - it’s about giving back to a life he knows firsthand.
“It’s something that I can relate to,” he said Friday night. “It’s something that obviously hits home. My mom and I were kind of in that same predicament that some of these families are in, so we just wanted to be able to give them a helping hand and give them a different outcome.”
Growing up, Worthy saw the sacrifices his mother made to raise him and his two younger sisters. He remembers struggling to get school clothes.
He remembers going without. And he remembers his mom doing everything she could to make sure he never felt less than.
“I struggled to get school clothes. I struggled to get school supplies,” Jones recalled.
“There were times I literally could not buy a thing. God bless my son’s heart, he never complained.”
Those memories now fuel the way the Worthy 1’s foundation operates - with intention, empathy, and a focus on the mothers who often go unrecognized.
Friday’s event closed with a sparkling cider toast from Worthy and Jones, who took a moment to thank each family for coming. The mothers, too, received personalized gift bags - curated in their favorite colors, with items they’d requested. It was a small gesture, but one that made sure they left feeling just as celebrated as their children.
“At the end of the day, it’s something [my mom and I] talked about and something we’re living,” Worthy said.
“So it’s an honor.”
And on this night, that honor was shared with every family who walked through those doors - a reminder that they are seen, supported, and worthy.