The Hayes family is very dedicated to Children’s Mercy Hospital. Jaime Hayes was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 14. Now in remission and in her late 20s, Jaime serves on the Children’s Mercy Cancer Center Auxiliary. Jaime’s mother, Linda, has volunteered with the Parent to Parent program, which helps parents whose children have […]

Mrs. B. B. Andersen of Our Town is pleased to announce the engagement of her daughter, Alexandra Patricia Andersen, to Yann Benjamin Coquoz, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Coquoz of Nassau, the Bahamas. The bride-to-be is also the daughter of the late Mr. B. B. Andersen. Alex is the granddaughter of the late […]

Rose Brooks Center’s 20th Annual Un-Holiday Volunteer Party was held on February 5th at Bernstein-Rein. Guests celebrated the many volunteers who give generously of their time and talents to the Center. Angie Simmons, Meryl Dillman and Ellen Dokos Veteran volunteer Don Dodge shared his stories of volunteerism with new volunteer Peggy Dodge Molly Cropper and […]

Dining by Design, a benefit for the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) KC Chapter, will be held on October 3rd at the Kansas City Convention Center. The 25th and final event will showcase the personal passions of some of Our Town’s leading creative talents, as they each create their own dining environment. John Rufenacht […]

Mr. and Mrs. Gary Fischer of Leawood are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Erin Kay Fischer, to Paul Burroughs Rainer, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Rainer of Austin, Texas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Connie Waide Allen of Perryton, Texas, and the late Dr. Eugene Waide and Mr. Eugene […]

The 2015 St. Paul’s Auction: Dream Big will be held on March 28th at Starlight Theatre. A Gift Gathering Party was held on January 31st at the beautiful home of Ginger and Kevin Carr. Courtney Goddard and Dana Gould were the co-chairmen of the kick-off event. Kevin and Ginger Carr, hosts Also featured in the […]

Karen Moore is a member of the Centurions, Class of 2015. She is the co-chairman of the November Task Force and serves on the curriculum committee. Karen is the dean of student development and enrollment management at Metropolitan Community College – Maple Woods. She volunteers with the Urban Neighborhood Initiative. Karen Moore and her husband, […]

Art For the Children Auction and Gala was held on February 7th at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Doctors Michella and Michael Stiles were chairmen of the 19th annual event that supports the Medical Missions Foundation. David Brinkerhoff and Dan Meiners were honored with the Humanitarian Award for Community Leadership in Philanthropy, and […]

The Kansas City Young Matrons’ Magic Ball was held on January 17th at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. UMKC Chancellor Leo Morton was the honorary chairman, and Mary Beth Hershey and Janet Bjerke served as co-chairmen of the biennial event that featured cocktails, dinner, a raffle, a live auction, and dancing to the tunes of […]

Matt Benge, producer, Schifman Remley & Associates Matt has served as president and vice president of the young advisory board at The Children’s Place. He is a member of Centurions, Class of 2016. Other organizations that Matt has been involved with include Reviving Baseball in the Inner City, KC Autism Training Center and United Way […]

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Charles Nemes of Singer Island, Florida, and Mr. and Mrs. Reinhard Helmut von Hollander of West Hartford, Connecticut, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Dara Ilene von Hollander, to James Scott Whitaker, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John William Whitaker of Our Town. The bride-to-be is the […]

January 15th was the date for the Patrons’ Party at Three Points for the Kansas City Young Matrons’ Magic Ball. Guests enjoyed spectacular views of downtown from the Historic Lowe and Campbell Building. The Magic Ball was held on January 16th and benefited the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Kansas City. Ball Co-chairman […]

A reception took place on January 14th at the Kansas City Art Institute’s H&R Block Artspace, honoring KCAI Interim President Tony Jones and his wife, the acclaimed photographer Patty Carroll.  Faye Davis, Josh Rowland, Marc Wilson, and Michael Davis Wilbur Niewald, Ann Holliday, Diane Burnette, and Dennis Strait Tony Jones, KCAI; addressed the guests.  Also […]

June 6th is the date for the Kansas City Art Institute’s 2015 Art and Design Auction on the KCAI campus. Linda and Topper Johntz are serving as the honorary chairmen of the event that will feature a “Deviation” theme. Partygoers will enjoy delicious fare, fun surprises and live and silent auctions of works by KCAI […]

Kristyn Leigh Reardon and John David Kimminau were married on August 2nd at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Joseph Reardon of Leawood. Kristyn is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Joseph Sullivan of Our Town and the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Joseph Reardon. Her […]

The beautiful home of Linda and Gene Hall was the setting for The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s Annual Meeting. Steve Irwin, Kansas City Jazz Orchestra; announced the theme of the May 9th Gala, “Rhapsody In Blue – The Music and Lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin.” Don Hall is the honorary chairman, and Edith and […]

The mission of the Chiefs Women’s Organization is to build goodwill in Our Town through active volunteer participation. It teams up with charities to assist in maximizing the program’s impact.  Tammy Reid collected donations at the Sunday Night Football Game for the Chiefs Kingdom Food Drive.  Members of the Chiefs Women’s Organization posed with KC […]

The Independent extends our warmest congratulations to Our Town’s non profits, their honorary chairmen, chairmen, committee members, and volunteers for another successful year of philanthropy in Kansas City. Thank you for helping to make Kansas City a community full of care and compassion! This weekend’s issue will feature the Top Ten Events of 2014 and the 2015 […]

John P. Minnis is a member of Centurions, Class of 2015, and is on the Steering Committee as the treasurer. He is currently senior vice president of commercial banking at Bank Midwest. John and his wife, Angie, have four children, Jack, Drew, Maggie, and Michael. Also featured in the February 21, 2015 issue of The […]

January 30th was the date for the Presidents’ Dinner at The Kansas City Club. Past Presidents of the University Club and The Kansas City Club, members and guests honored Bryan Flanagan, outgoing president; and welcomed Adam Walker, incoming president. The festive group enjoyed piano entertainment by Carl Bolte and a delicious dinner prepared by Chef […]

The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial held its Annual Luncheon on January 23rd. Special Guest General (Ret.) Peter Pace, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed members of the Museum’s Business Roundtable. General Pace, the first Marine to hold the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shared […]