In 1996, Rick Cavender traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend a sales conference. Thinking he would spend the weekend learning about new product features, Cavender was surprised to be driven to a community 46 miles away to build a new playground.
Hear how that first surprise community service project turned into 28 converted spaces in underserved parts of San Antonio, Texas, by listening to his interview:
Cavender is a fourth-generation business owner in San Antonio. The family business has been in operation for 86 years. "We really are surrounded by this community. It's given so much to us. So I've always said it's very important for us to give back to the folks that have helped us through these years." said Cavender.
"Before a business can do well, a business must do good," Cavender said, reflecting on a famous quote that has served his business well over the years. “It’s not just about bottom-line profit. It’s about doing something impactful.”
For Cavender, being involved in the community through service projects comes naturally. "As you can probably tell, I have energy. That's one thing I don't lack. I love putting energy to work," he said with a smile.
Cavender's grandfather encouraged him to join Rotary International in 1988. Since then, he has served as president of the local chapter and been deeply involved in many initiatives over the years, including his own, Kingdom for Kids.
Inspired by the club’s motto, “Service Above Self,” Cavender has led an ambitious initiative to build playgrounds and vibrant spaces for children in underserved areas of San Antonio—28 projects have now been completed, with the 29th slated for completion this November at the local YWCA.
The inspiration came unexpectedly during a Saturn dealership meeting In Nashville Tennessee, "We showed up at 8 a.m. and we were told were leaving the conference room to go to Columbia, Tennessee to build a playground for children. And we had eight hours to do it."
"I'll never forget that moment holding the two handles of that wheelbarrow with mulch that I was dragging into the fall zone of the place ground." Cavender remembers, "The children and the school buses were coming. And so we just backed up and stood and watched those children take over that play structure. And I thought that was the most powerful moment for me"
That powerful moment inspired him to bring the idea back with him to San Antonio. Not only did he see what a playground did for the children, but he saw how it affected his team. "they're more than playgrounds. They really are. They bring such joy fill a need. They give people a reason to work side by side for something bigger than themselves."
As the program has evolved over the years, Kingdom For Kids isn't just about assembling playground equipment. They have installed soccer fields, painted murals, landscaped green spaces, built benches and more. All to create safe and welcoming places for the community to come together.
Cavender’s love for the community is displayed beyond creating spaces for the city's youth. One of his most recent passions has been sharing music with seniors in assisted living centers, where he performs timeless hits from a bygone era. With each performance, he brings a sense of nostalgia, comfort, and joy to residents who light up when they hear familiar tunes.
“I found more joy playing for seniors than anywhere else. When you see a World War II veteran stand at attention during ‘God Bless the USA,’ it’s powerful,” he said. Though he performs with a band at various venues around the community, the seniors remain his favorite audience.
Cavender encourages young business owners and community members to find ways to get involved—no matter how small the start.
“There’s always a need. You just have to look,” with encouragement he said "It seems like it's kind of an audacious project to start something like this, but it isn't. You can really put it together in a fast way."
Cavender’s journey is a reminder that the greatest legacy isn’t built in boardrooms, but in the quiet moments of connection—through music, service, and the unwavering belief that even the smallest acts of kindness can change a life and the world.
