Home - The Know Joey Foundation

This year more than ever, we are dedicated to providing our community a bit of joy to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 13th Annual Turkey Tuesday will be contactless and spread over four locations to minimize risks. Click the link below to pre-register for pickup. Spots are limited!

Helping. Caring. Community.

About The KnowJoey? Foundation

The Know Joey? Foundation is the brain child of Mr. Joseph Thomas, a notable barber and entrepreneur within the Kansas City area. Already successful from his well known barbershops, Joseph “Joey” Thomas wanted to create a non-profit that benefited the inner city Kansas City community young males. He recognized the number of different paths a young man could take growing up within the urban core of a city and wanted to do his part in making a positive impact on young men within the city, his home. Joey knew he could make a difference in encouraging at risk male youth to make positive life changes and to strive for success through education and entrepreneurship.

VISION STATEMENT:
To establish strong communal ties with entrepreneurs within the Kansas City area that will assist with the cultivation of young male minds.

PURPOSE STATEMENT:
To establish a membership with entrepreneurs fromthe community to teach the youth within the community about life decisions, business and entrepreneurship.

MISSION STATEMENT:
The Know Joey? Foundation strives to empower, lead and uplift young males within the Kansas City urban core through educational advancement and the exploration of entrepreneurial endeavors. The Know Joey? Foundation is to be an outlet for boys to express and discover themselves as they enter into the state of manhood.

OUR HISTORY

The Know Joey? Foundation began its first year in 2007, and since its inception a short time ago, has been successful at creating multiple programs that are now well known in the Kansas City community. The “Grooming For Success” Program is a week long economic and life awareness youth camp established to teach and mentor young males on the steps to take to become an entrepreneur. It teaches young men self reliance and self discovery as they discover their own personal passion and grooms them on how to turn that passion into a business.

“Fresh Cut Fresh Start” is the annual back-to-school community challenge that serves a dual purpose of collecting school supplies for area children from local Kansas City residential donations and providing fresh haircuts for young men starting a new school year. Since beginning, this annual endeavor has given away over 1,000 free haircuts and hundreds of bookbags filled with free school supplies.

“Turkey Tuesday” Is the annual 24 hour turkey drive that collects frozen turkeys, non perishable canned and boxed good and monetary donations from area residents to give to families in need, so that they may celebrate the feasting holiday. Turkey Tuesday has managed to collects hundreds of turkeys and non perishable goods each year to help hundreds of families and each year aims to up that goal.

The Know Joey? Foundation continues to create and sponsor new programs and events in its efforts to promote positivity in the Kansas City core and remain a positive influence on young men in our community. Still young in our efforts, the only way the foundation and its mission can go….is up.

Our Programs

Various programs and events sponsored by the foundation over the year

Fresh Cut Fresh Start

Fresh Cut Fresh Start Back to School initiative began in 2006. Year to date the back to school event has given just about 1000 free haircuts and thousands of backpacks filled with free school supplies to Kansas City area children

Turkey Tuesday

Turkey Tuesday is an annual 24 Hour Turkey Drive that collects frozen turkeys, canned and boxed non-perishables and monetary donation for 24 hours round the clock in an effort to provide needed food for those that can’t afford to enjoy the feasting holiday.