ShawneeDispatch.com

Ever thought of buying up some real estate on Shawnee Mission Parkway? Perhaps purchase a few of Shawnee's many banks?

With Shawneeopoly, residents will be able to play Shawnee real estate mogul and raise some money for a home-grown charitable organization at the same time. The Shawnee Kiwanis Club plans to put together a Shawnee version of the iconic Parker Brothers game, selling spots on the game board and even on the game's money, and then selling 500 of the game itself to raise funds for Shawnee Community Services Center.

John Wills, club president, said the club got the idea for the game from the Gardner Kiwanis. They wanted to use the game to provide Shawnee Community Services with funds for its new building and create another Shawnee keepsake.

"We're trying to help the community center, but we're also trying to put together something for Shawnee," Wills said.

Shawnee Community Services, founded in the late 1980s, is a nonprofit thrift shop where any one in need can get free bread, food, shoes and winter coats, as well as all sorts of other household items, from clothes to furniture, at a very low price. Located in a former convenience store, the organization has raised the funds needed to purchase the vacant lot next door and is now trying to raise at least another $1 million to build a new facility.

Wills said the Shawnee Kiwanis are trying to guarantee that the community center gets a big payment by preselling everything, and the club hopes to finish selling the advertising space at the end of May.

He said 40 spots are available for purchase on the board to Shawnee businesses, so instead of Reading Railroad or Park Place, a player would buy up a local business. Since the game is also a piece of memorabilia and Shawnee just celebrated its 150th anniversary last year, Wills said some historic Shawnee photos may also decorate the box or board.

It will take selling all advertising space just to pay for the production of the games. The games themselves will be $25 each, so if all games are sold, the club will raise $12,500. Wills said 70 percent of that total would go to the community center, and the club would use the remaining 30 percent for other charitable purposes.

The club also will ask businesses to give flat donations to Shawnee Community Services, so Wills hopes that by Sept. 1, when the club hopes to have the games ready for distribution, the Kiwanis can give the organization a check that is even more than the 70 percent of proceeds.

To learn more about contributing to the Shawneeopoly game, contact Wills at 631-9007.