February 13th was the date for The Independent’s Top Ten Party at 28 Event Space. Our Town’s deep commitment to philanthropy was on display as The Top Ten Events of 2018 and The Independent’s 2019 Class of Rising Stars were announced. More than 200 guests enjoyed cocktails and delicious fare from Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions.

The Top Five Golf Events of 2018

1. Jeanne & Neal Patterson Legacy Golf Tournament
First Hand Foundation
$694,970 

2. Sporting Invitational
The Victory Project
$299,125

3. Trent Green Golf Classic
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City
$168,889

4. Golf Baby Golf
TMC Charitable Foundation
$157,286

5. Tee Up for Down Syndrome Golf Tournament
Down Syndrome Guild
$140,261

The Top Five Luncheons of 2018

1. Patron Luncheon
Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America
$557,480

2. Community Luncheon
MOCSA
$375,399

3. 2018 WEN Annual Luncheon
Women’s Employment Network
$274,505

4. SportsFest Luncheon 2018
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City
$268,194

5. 9th Annual Civic Lunch
The Salvation Army
$239,934

The Top Five Walk/Run Events of 2018

1. Step Up for Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome Guild
$417,625

2. AIDS WALK Kansas City
AIDS Service Foundation of Greater Kansas City
$399,660

3. Head for the Cure 5K
Head for the Cure
$383,873

4. CCVI Trolley Run
Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired
$348,848

5. Strutt With Your Mutt
Wayside Waifs
$139,842

The Top Five Multi-Day Events of 2018

1. Big Slick Celebrity Weekend 2018
Children’s Mercy
$1,761,902

2. ShuttleCork 2018
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
$1,085,191

3. Summer Bowl for Kids’ Sake
Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City
$691,372

4. Most Wanted Auction
Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City
$623,441

5. Holiday Mart 2018
Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri
$434,098

The Top Ten Nationally Sponsored Events of 2018

1. JDRF Dream Gala
JDRF
$1,485,571

2. Go Red for Women Luncheon
American Heart Association
$1,474,629

3. Bike MS: Kansas City
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
$988,254

4. Heart Ball
American Heart Association
$891,750

5. Light The Night Kansas City
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
$865,303

6. Walk to End Alzheimers
Alzheimer’s Association
$827,682

7. JDRF One Walk
JDRF
$636,415

8. Heart Walk
American Heart Association
$565,926

9. Kansas City Walk to Defeat ALS
The ALS Association Mid-America Chapter
$529,111

10. Greater Kansas City March for Babies
March of Dimes
$475,496

The Top Ten Events of 2018

1. Snow Ball
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
$2,707,248

2. 14th Annual Red Hot Night
Children’s Mercy
$1,706,303

3. Kids Night Out 2018
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City
$1,346,636

4. Treads & Threads
The University of Kansas Health System
$1,160,528

5. Gaudeamus
Catholic Education Foundation
$1,141,828

6. Fur Ball
Wayside Waifs
$1,129,350

7. Tiny Tim Holiday Fantasy
AdventHealth Foundation Shawnee Mission
$1,036,471

8. Steer Dinner & Auction
Avila University
$906,648

9. KC SuperStar
Jewish Community Center
$892,379

10. 47th Annual Scholarship Ball
Benedictine College
$873,096

Additional photos featured in the February 16, 2019 issue of The Independent
Photo Credit: David Riffel