Former Chiefs star wide receiver Eddie Kennison will host "Festival of Food & Fun" in Lenexa

LENEXA, Kan. - Former Chief Eddie Kennison stopped by the 41 Action News studios on Monday to promote his upcoming community event and talk some football.

Kennison is known for giving back, and that trend continues next week.

On Monday, June 25, Kennison and his wife Shimika will host the second annual "Festival of Food & Fun." The festival raises funds to find a cure for Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that strikes 1.4 million Americans. Kennison has two family members who battle Lupus. That includes his sister-and-law and wife, Shimika.

The "Festival of Food & Fun" will include food from restaurants such as Capital Grille and Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates and Glace Ice Cream. There will also be wine and beer tastings, live musical entertainment and a silent and live auction of sports memorabilia and entertainment items. The event runs from 5:30-8 p.m. at Lakeview Village-East side Terrace in Lenexa, Kan. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. They can be purchased at www.eddiekennisonfoundation.com .

Kennison is still involved in football. He’s the Director of Operations for the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football League.

Last week, Kennison went on radio and made some critical comments about Chiefs wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin. Kennison said that Balwdin needed to put away the flashy stuff and focus on being more professional on and off the field.

Kennison told 41 Action News he has yet to talk to Baldwin.

“I’ve never connected with him,” Kennison said. “I’ve never met him personally. I had some radio that was going on last week. I made a comment, and I sent him a tweet back. I told him I humbly apologize for those words. That’s not the guy that I am. He’s a guy that’s ready to play football. He’s eager to play and rightfully so, he should be the guy to not always want to be mentioned behind Dwayne Bowe or competing with Dwayne Bowe. But those guys have to understand it’s a team concept. It’s a team deal. I think both of those guys will line up. I think both will play good football. Everybody has to come together and do what’s right. As professionals, whether it’s contract or stepping up and being the guy, be pros on and off the field, take care of your business day in and day out and great things will happen.”

Kennison also commented about Bowe’s future in Kansas City. Bowe never practiced with the Chiefs over the offseason. He missed the team’s mandatory mini-camp, which did not include unsigned franchise tenders. Bowe is still not under contact since he has yet to sign his one-year $9.5 million franchise tender.

“I think at this point he wants to do a long-term deal,” Kennison said. “I think he’s firm on that. I could be wrong. He could sign his one-year deal tomorrow. But I think he wants a long-term deal. Most guys looking for long-term deals, they just want the security. They don’t want the hopefuls for anything else. ‘I want security and let me perform the way you want me to.’ Why would you not want a guy like Dwayne Bowe on your football field? He’s gotten better every single year. In most instances when a guy has gotten better, if you let him go, he’s going to go somewhere and he’s going to perform the way you want him to perform because that other team is willing to take care of him. If he knows that the Kansas City Chiefs want to take care of him and they do, he’ll just continue to get better and he will be the player they want him to be from now on.”