The Midland was the site for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City’s Most Wanted Auction, which was held on December 9th. The Most Wanted honorees were recognized, and guests enjoyed bidding on once-in-a-lifetime auction packages. Proceeds support the organization to make a difference by creating professionally supported, one-to-one matches for kids who want […]

Kansas City Ballet Guild’s 56th annual Nutcracker Ball was held on December 1st at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Jo Anne Dondlinger was the chairman, and Susan Lordi Marker and Dennis Marker served as the honorary chairmen. Angela and John Walker were honored with the 2023 Pirouette Award. The event featured cocktails, dinner, […]

The Sugar Plum Fairy Children’s Ball was a magical occasion for young and old alike! The festive event was held on December 2nd at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Carrie Kruse and Jennifer Pontier were the co-chairmen. With a luncheon reminiscent of Clara’s Holiday Party, lots of activities, and, of course, a performance […]

Marty McFly would have been jealous of the Back to the Basics Open House, hosted by Giving the Basics on October 26th! The “Back to the Future” themed event welcomed more than 200 guests to learn more about the organization’s mission of providing hygiene products for human dignity – the necessities of life such as […]

Dear Readers,  Welcome to our 125th anniversary celebration year! It’s hard to believe that the humble beginnings of a local paper on March 11, 1899 would yield 125 years of chronicling the happenings of Kansas City. While The Independent had political origins, the magazine, its owners, editors, and staff have reinvented the publication many times […]

Horizon Academy recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary! Opening in 1999 with 12 students, the school has come a long way to its current enrollment of 117 young learners. Founded by the smart and curious group of Rick Boxx, Fred Crouch, Bob Dunn, Laura Hall, Paula Halsey, Jenny Vaughan, and first-ever head of school, Sharyl Kennedy, […]

Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Ball Benefactor Party was held on November 29th at The American. Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman was the host. With festive food, drink, and decor, guests eagerly anticipated the Nutcracker Ball, which was held two evenings later.                 Featured in the January 13, 2024 issue […]

The 2023 National Philanthropy Day, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Kansas City Chapter, was held on November 7th at the Kauffman Foundation Convention Center. With well-deserved awards, the event honors and celebrates the individuals, families, businesses, and non profits that make Kansas City a very generous community, indeed.         […]

November 11th was the date for Johnson County Community College Foundation’s 37th annual Some Enchanted Evening, which was held at the Overland Park Convention Center. Sharon and Dr. Jerry Cook served as chairs of the event. Dr. Roy Jensen, University of Kansas Cancer Center, was named as the 2023 Johnson Countian of the Year. Proceeds […]

Members and friends of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora, Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish in Lawrence, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish, and Holy Trinity Catholic Parish gathered recently at events to support and celebrate the 50th Annual Snow Ball. The Ball […]

Newhouse’s Imagine a Day Gala was held on November 18th at Loews Kansas City Hotel. More than 1,300 guests gathered for dinner and auctions and to raise awareness and critical funds to support the brave survivors served by Newhouse. Jill Grace and Lindsey Murphy were the co-chairs, and 11 honorary co-chairs chose to take a […]

Smashing records is the legacy of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art’s ArtSmash gala, which was held on October 14th at the Museum. Erica and Lorin Crenshaw and Andrea and David Feinberg were the honorary co-chairs, and Katrina Revenaugh and Jasmine Thompson served as the co-chairs.              Featured in the […]

Saint Luke’s Foundation hosted its inaugural Heartland Gala to benefit the Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. Denise and Bill Bade were the Gala chairs and produced an elegant and fun evening for guests to enjoy, and Mary Lynn and Kamal Mikhail were the Fund-A-Legacy chairs. Carolyn Long served as the emcee.       […]

The Midland Theatre was the site for Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA’s) Night Out with MOCSA Cocktail Party and Auction. The 19th annual event was held on November 4th and featured a “Paris of the Plains” theme. More than 300 partygoers dressed the part and enjoyed cocktails, delicious bites, shopping, and jazz music […]

November 4th was the date for Kansas City Young Audiences’ Spirits of Folly, which was held at the Folly Theater. The spooktacular benefit featured an Andre’s Confiserie Suisse catered party and performances by Kansas City native Bryonha Marie and local groups Gullywasher and Hudspeth & Taylor. Jenny and John Isenberg and Qiana Thomason served as […]

The Carriage Club was the site for The Kansas City Rose Society’s Annual Luncheon on November 1st. Special guest Diane Sommers,   the American Rose Society president, presented Taylor Smith with the ARS Rising Star Award, one of only five awards given to individuals in the United States! Also recognized were Joan Sherman, past board […]

Children’s Mercy formally invested five endowed faculty positions in the fields of healthy lifestyles, clinical pharmacology, neurology, surgery, and developmental and behavioral health on October 24th at its Fall 2023 Investiture Ceremony. With gratitude to the many donors who made this possible, Children’s Mercy is grateful for these vital positions that continue the work of […]

November 3rd was the date when supporters of Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas’ Snow Ball gathered for the annual St. Martin of Tours Mass and Reception. Founded in 1974, the St. Martin of Tours League was inspired by the patron saint known for helping those most in need. St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church […]

On November 2nd, Kansas City Museum participated in an event in New York City at Bergdorf Goodman’s BG Restaurant to celebrate the launch of artist Summer Wheat’s new monograph by Rizzoli Electa and to announce Kansas City Museum’s JewelHouse project. The event was hosted by The Mint Museum, Kansas City Museum, and Kemper Museum of […]

This year’s Under A Harvest Moon, a benefit for Powell Gardens, was a special one. Chairman Susan Ambler Spencer created a delightful evening where two special people were honored: Courtney Risner Earnest was posthumously recognized as the honorary chairman; and volunteer Bruce Monke was given the inaugural Courtney Risner Earnest Volunteer Service Award. With a […]

November 3rd was the date for the UMKC Conservatory’s Crescendo Brilliant Together, which was held at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Co-chairs Bev and Erik Elving and Peter Bali and JoZach Miller created a 1920’s-themed soiree to delight the senses, complete with a performance featuring the UMKC Conservatory’s faculty and staff, followed by […]