Ben McAnany is the owner of McAnany Construction. His family has been in the Kansas City area for more than 150 years. His commitment to volunteer engagement in a variety of settings makes the world a better place for everyone.

Ben is a board member of Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC). He leads the development of the Village of Bethany intergenerational housing development, helping to bring a long-held vision to reality that benefits the people of Wyandotte County. He helped raise $100,000 to support housing development and homeownership education for Kansas City, Kansas, families. Said Brannan Crawford, CHWC: “Ben has provided a great deal of energy, leadership, knowledge, and connections to resources. It was immediately apparent that Ben was deeply committed to Kansas City, Kansas, neighborhoods, and had the expertise and passion to help CHWC fulfill our mission. Ben was a tireless supporter of CHWC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and our first ever annual campaign, where Ben helped raise funds to support high quality housing development and homeownership education for KCK families.” 

Ben provides leadership as a member of Catholic Education Foundation’s (CEF) Future’s Committee, engaging young professionals in its mission to provide scholarships for
Ben McAnany is the owner of McAnany Construction. His family has been in the Kansas City area for more than 150 years. His commitment to volunteer engagement in a variety of settings makes the world a better place for everyone.

Ben is a board member of Community Housing of Wyandotte County (CHWC). He leads the development of the Village of Bethany intergenerational housing development, helping to bring a long-held vision to reality that benefits the people of Wyandotte County. He helped raise $100,000 to support housing development and homeownership education for Kansas City, Kansas, families. Said Brannan Crawford, CHWC: “Ben has provided a great deal of energy, leadership, knowledge, and connections to resources. It was immediately apparent that Ben was deeply committed to Kansas City, Kansas, neighborhoods, and had the expertise and passion to help CHWC fulfill our mission. Ben was a tireless supporter of CHWC’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and our first ever annual campaign, where Ben helped raise funds to support high quality housing development and homeownership education for KCK families.”

Ben provides leadership as a member of Catholic Education Foundation’s (CEF) Future’s Committee, engaging young professionals in its mission to provide scholarships for children living in poverty. He engaged new people with CEF’s mission by expanding participation through his personal and professional networks and by encouraging giving through a matching sponsorship program to benefit disadvantaged youth. Ben completed a two-year term on the Futures Leadership Council, a group of 12 young professionals who helped guide the work of CEF’s Futures Committee. Under their leadership, the Futures Committee helped raise $50,000 for CEF scholarships.

For the last four years, Ben has been chairman of the golf committee for Sheffield Place, whose mission is to provide healing and self-sufficiency for homeless mothers and their children. He has expanded the number of golf committee members, including new people, increasing revenue by securing new sponsors and renewing past sponsors.

For three years, Ben was the chairman for the Young Adults initiative for the Society of St. Benedict, which supports St. Benedict’s Abbey of Atchison, Kansas. He grew the group to 120 members to support the future of the monastic community. His leadership resulted in exceeding fundraising and attendance goals for the Abbot’s Table benefit dinner to meet the needs of the monastic community. Said Abbot James R. Albers, OSB: “When Ben heard about our monastic community’s needs, he eagerly volunteered to spearhead a movement to get more adults involved in supporting our prayer and work. His creativity and diligence has been critical in ensuring that our mission and ministry is fully funded each year.”

Ben also was a Shawnee Tomorrow Leadership Graduate in 2017 and is president of the Village West Rotary Club, which provides scholarships for Kansas City, Kansas, schools, grows produce for Crosslines food pantry, donates coats to schools in Wyandotte, and raised more than $10,000 for the CJL Foundation in Wyandotte County. Village West Rotary is set to put on Wine Fest in Wyandotte County on September 28th in conjunction with KC Cause. They hope to raise money for various non profits in Wyandotte County.

“I would like to thank my parents for their love and support for me as a Rising Star. From a young age, they taught me to put others first and that it is better to serve others before you serve yourself. I am humbled by this award and recognition, but being a Rising Star is not an individual achievement, but a celebration of all who continue to support our great city and its surrounding area. Kansas City continues to thrive and develop because of the tremendous love and support we have for our fellow men and women. We help each other, we care for each other, and we support one another through good times and bad. A Rising Star may be an individual award given out each year, but to me, it reflects a community bonding together to make a difference.”children living in poverty. He engaged new people with CEF’s mission by expanding participation through his personal and professional networks and by encouraging giving through a matching sponsorship program to benefit disadvantaged youth. Ben completed a two-year term on the Futures Leadership Council, a group of 12 young professionals who helped guide the work of CEF’s Futures Committee. Under their leadership, the Futures Committee helped raise $50,000 for CEF scholarships.

For the last four years, Ben has been chairman of the golf committee for Sheffield Place, whose mission is to provide healing and self-sufficiency for homeless mothers and their children. He has expanded the number of golf committee members, including new people, increasing revenue by securing new sponsors and renewing past sponsors.

For three years, Ben was the chairman for the Young Adults initiative for the Society of St. Benedict, which supports St. Benedict’s Abbey of Atchison, Kansas. He grew the group to 120 members to support the future of the monastic community. His leadership resulted in exceeding fundraising and attendance goals for the Abbot’s Table benefit dinner to meet the needs of the monastic community. Said Abbot James R. Albers, OSB: “When Ben heard about our monastic community’s needs, he eagerly volunteered to spearhead a movement to get more adults involved in supporting our prayer and work. His creativity and diligence has been critical in ensuring that our mission and ministry is fully funded each year.”

Ben also was a Shawnee Tomorrow Leadership Graduate in 2017 and is president of the Village West Rotary Club, which provides scholarships for Kansas City, Kansas, schools, grows produce for Crosslines food pantry, donates coats to schools in Wyandotte, and raised more than $10,000 for the CJL Foundation in Wyandotte County. Village West Rotary is set to put on Wine Fest in Wyandotte County on September 28th in conjunction with KC Cause. They hope to raise money for various non profits in Wyandotte County.

“I would like to thank my parents for their love and support for me as a Rising Star. From a young age, they taught me to put others first and that it is better to serve others before you serve yourself. I am humbled by this award and recognition, but being a Rising Star is not an individual achievement, but a celebration of all who continue to support our great city and its surrounding area. Kansas City continues to thrive and develop because of the tremendous love and support we have for our fellow men and women. We help each other, we care for each other, and we support one another through good times and bad. A Rising Star may be an individual award given out each year, but to me, it reflects a community bonding together to make a difference.”

Also featured in the August 3, 2019 issue of The Independent
Photo credit: Tom Styrkowicz