May 10th was the date for Wayside Waifs annual Fur Ball Gala at the Overland Park Convention Center. The score card of fun included an all-star “tail”gate, dinner, silent and live auctions, and adorable puppies and kittens. More than 1,000 guests attended the sold-out baseball themed event, “Our Waifs Are in a League of Their […]

The Johnson County Community College Foundation’s 28th annual Some Enchanted Evening will be held on November 8th at the Overland Park Marriott Hotel. Gary Morsch will be honored as the Johnson Countian of the Year. Mary Birch is the chairman of the event that will feature a gourmet dinner, entertainment and dancing. Proceeds will support […]

Join us in our proud send-off to the Class of 2014. We wish the best to these fantastic students as they start their exciting journeys around the country this fall. Also featured in the July 12th issue of The Independent  Grant Forsee, Vanderbilt University; Teddy Thum, Yale University; and Brendan McCann, The University of Kansas […]

The Gentlemen’s Serenade took place at Mission Hills Country Club on June 8th. The Gentlemen of The Jewel Ball enjoyed tea sandwiches and desserts, learned about good manners and serenaded their mothers and grandmothers. Also featured in the July 12th issue of The Independent Photo Credit: Mary S. Watkins Photography Mary Thompson, Robbie Thompson and Carolyn […]

Many kudos go to the 22 candidates at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale, which took place on May 29th at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The 2014 Man & Woman of the Year were Abbey Brockman and Tyler Paytas.  Also featured in the July 12th issue of […]

The March of Dimes’ Signature Chefs Auction will take place on October 13th at Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Chef Jimmy Bannos, Sr. is one of eight chefs who will be featured. For 34 years, his Heaven on Seven restaurants have been some of the most popular dining destinations in Chicago. Chef Jimmy […]

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Union Station Kansas City will host a Centennial Weekend Open House on November 1st and 2nd. Lynn Devins and Patty Kincaid are serving as the co-chairmen. Guests will enjoy entertainment, featured films and performances, building tours, history lectures, and historic trains on display.  Also featured in the July 12th issue […]

October 23rd is the date for Off the Wall, an art event benefitting Sheffield Place.  There will be delicious food, libations, raffles, live and silent auctions of original art, and entertainment. Proceeds benefit children and family services that empower homeless children and families to heal from their trauma and break the generational cycle of homelessness, […]

The Belles of the American Royal are pleased to announce the selection of Jenny Turner Tuttle as their 2014 president. The 65th BOTAR Ball will be held on October 18th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Jenny is a BOTAR, class of 1987. She served as a page in 1974. Jenny […]

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Burton Jensen of Leawood are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Elisabeth Jane Jensen, to James Marshall Leonard, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Allen Leonard of Denver, Colorado. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Welty Stewart of Prairie Village and Mr. and Mrs. […]

Barbara Storm was the chairman of the Hats Off to Mothers Luncheon on May 16th at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The event, a benefit for United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Kansas City, honored seven women from Our Town for their ability to balance motherhood and family life with personal achievement and service to our […]

The Signature Chefs Auction, a benefit for The March of Dimes, will be held on October 13th at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Chef Mark Gaier and Chef Clark Frasier of Arrows and MC Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine, and M.C. Spiedo Ristorante & Bar in Boston, Massachusetts, will be cooking at […]

CiCi Rojas, Greg Graves and Tim DeSett are the honorary co-chairmen of the Chiefs Charity Game, a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Committee members are busy planning the event to be held on August 7th, when the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium. Paul Kushnir is serving as the […]

Kim Steakle has been a dedicated volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association for the past five years. She is personally and professionally connected to Alzheimer’s and is a true champion for the cause. Kim Steakle works at Thoughtful Care (Senior Home Care Services) in Family Relations. She shares her passion in all areas, including community awareness, education and […]

Guests partied until the wee hours at the Margarita Ball on May 9th at Club 1000. DJ Ashton Martin and Lost Wax provided the rockin’ entertainment. Proceeds support Hope House, which provides shelter and comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence. Also featured in the June 28, 2014 issue of The Independent  DJ Ashton Martin […]

September 26th is the date for The Family Conservancy’s Blue Carpet Event, to be held at Pennway Place. Martha Comment and her family are the honorary chairmen of the event that will feature cocktails, dinner and silent and live auctions.  Also featured in the June 28th issue of The Independent Photo Credit: David Riffel Honorary […]

Kimberly Wilkerson and Ryan Wilkerson served as the co-hosts of Haas & Wilkerson Insurance’s 75th anniversary party. Family, friends, clients, and business partners gathered at the May 29th event to celebrate the third generation, Kansas City based business. Also featured in the June 28th issue of The Independent  Peter Ho, Mark Soukup and Jim Krezek […]

Chris Dove is a member of the Centurions, Class of 2014. He is a trial attorney in the intellectual property group at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. Chris provides pro bono legal services and volunteers with Legal Aid of Western Missouri and Jackson County Family Court. Chris and his wife, Beatriz Ibarra, recently moved to Kansas […]

The YMCA of Greater Kansas City’s Challenger Program’s Challenge Your Fashion was held on April 26th at Municipal Auditorium. Shirley Pryor was the honorary chairman, and Bree and Jeremy Gaskill were the chairmen of the seventh annual event that featured a delicious dinner, silent and live auctions, a fashion show, and live music from the […]

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dowling McLiney of Our Town are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Lux McLiney, to John Delbert “J.D.” Selby, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Alan Selby of Akron, Ohio. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mary Ann Schwantes of Roseville, Minnesota, the late Mr. John Lux […]

Marlys and Michael Haverty will serve as the honorary chairmen of Union Station Kansas City’s Centennial Gala on October 30th. The Gala will kick off a weekend of special events, including the opening of a new history exhibit and a Centennial Open House on November 1st and 2nd. Also featured in the June 28th issue […]