Matthew Schulte describes his job (coordinator – marketing) this way: he is part of the team that handles giveaways, special events, theme nights, promotions, and advertising for the Kansas City Royals. He has been employed with the Royals for more than six  years. Matthew is a member of Centurions, class of 2018. He serves on […]

Merrie and David Costello’s lovely home was the setting for the BOTAR Parent Welcome Party on August 24th. BOTAR parents learned more about upcoming events, while enjoying cocktails and appetizers, including shrimp cocktail shooters and crostini bites. Husbands of BOTAR executive committee members served as bartenders. Everyone is eagerly awaiting The BOTAR Ball, which will […]

The Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity was the site for the Kansas City Ballet’s seventh annual KC Dance Day on August 26th. More than 1,500 guests came, either to dance or to watch – or both. Free dance and fitness classes for children and adults were among the featured events. The performers included […]

Mr. and Mrs. David George Liechti of Saint Joseph, Missouri, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Sara Ashley Liechti, to Andrew Stephen Carlson, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Ray Carlson of Mission Hills. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Martin Richard Fischer and the late […]

In the Directors of Philanthropy issue, The Independent celebrates the remarkable people in Our Town who donate so much of their time and talents to charitable organizations. They make Kansas City a better place to live. National Christian Foundation Heartland  To mobilize resources by inspiring biblical generosity. Board Members: (Seated) Frank Brown, Gary Nagel, board […]

Email: Paul@kcindependent.com   Paul studied piano and musicology at WSU and Cornell University. He also earned a degree in journalism, because writing about the arts in order to inspire others to partake in them was always his first love. After earning a PhD from Cornell, he became Program Annotator for the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he learned […]

When The Independent celebrated its 100th birthday in March 1999, Martha Belle Aikins Smith was there – and, at 97, she was as much a part of the social history of Kansas City as the magazine itself. Martha Belle was born on September 30, 1901. Her parents were Clara Jackman Aikins and John Aikins, who […]

Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room is a sleek, dazzling addition to Our Town’s burgeoning high-end culinary scene. It has a 110-seat main dining room, a glassed-in, semi-private back room and an intimate 18-seat tasting room, where diners can experience a menu of 12 small courses with wine pairings and a private view of the […]

Kansas Speedway was the site for The University of Kansas Health System’s 16th annual Treads & Threads on September 8th. Teresa and Tom Walsh were the honorary chairmen, and Leigh and Tyler Nottberg served as the chairmen. Andy Grammer was the headline entertainer. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails, sumptuous fare from area restaurants and dancing to […]

When 2017 Most Wanted Honoree Darron Story is not working in the financial technology sector for EML Payments, he is a husband, father of six and grandfather of three. Darron hosts a weekly gospel music show on Magic 107.3, sings in his church and performs with his R&B group, Lo-Key. Mentoring is very important to Darron. He understands the […]

The Children’s Place has been the beneficiary of the Chiefs Charity Game for the last three years, with a total of $2,315,000 raised for the agency. This year’s event was held on August 11th at Arrowhead Stadium. Andrea and Tarek Robbiati were the honorary chairmen, and Marshall Lockton and Matt Benge served as the co-chairmen. […]

On July 17th, Emily Anne Lykens and John Stewart Lane were united in matrimony at Emerald Mountain Overlook Chapel in Estes Park, Colorado. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Lykens of Fairway. Emily is the granddaughter of Mrs. Allen Lykens of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and the late Mr. Lykens and the […]

Klassie Alcine is the director of community engagement at Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas. She oversees and advances activities within Greater Kansas City, including fundraising, special events and community partnerships. Klassie also is furthering her education and development as a leader in the non-profit sector in her completion of a master’s of public […]

The KidsTLC’s Open Pairings Party and Golf Tournament was held on July 16th and 17th at Topgolf and Shadow Glen, respectively. Proceeds support KidsTLC’s healing community that provides services for mental health, autism and homeless outreach to teens.  Heidi Thummel, Heather Ferris, Tawn Nugent, and Jessica Groce Jessica Groce, Tawn Nugent, Heidi Thummel, and Heather […]

KC Scholars has raised more than $4.5 million. That means that more than 600 members of its first class of scholarship recipients will be going off to college. Many will be the first in their families to earn a degree. This called for a celebration – and more than 1,000 guests were present for the […]

Bartle Hall is the site for the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri’s Holiday Mart on October 19th through the 22nd. Not only will shoppers find great gifts, (including some for themselves), but the event benefits the community. For example, two of the beneficiaries are Wayside Waifs and Happy Bottoms. More than 5,400 animals will […]

Prairie Village native Ben Bliss will be the featured performer at the 2018 Lyric Opera Ball. This is the 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Ball, and the theme is “An Evening of Bel Canto.” The gala will be held on April 14th at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. The honorary chairmen are Carol […]

Mr. and Mrs. David Branson Launder, Sr. of Prairie Village are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Victoria Reese Launder, to Jonathan Nicholas Fiori, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Arthur Fiori of Seaford, Delaware. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stewart Brigham, the late Jane […]

The mothers of the 2017 BOTARs met recently at the lovely home of Cathy Schultz. Guests enjoyed delicious desserts from The Capital Grille and learned about the upcoming BOTAR season. Mandy Burditt and Amy Polen served as the event co-chairmen. The 2017 BOTAR Executive Committee members smiled for the camera. The beautiful desserts from The […]

More than 1,000 guests enjoyed Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City’s third annual RISE, a rooftop crawl in the Crossroads, on August 26th. The five rooftop parties featured different movie themes, including comedy, science fiction, horror, musicals, and action/adventure. Annelene Caruso and Kristin Stroud Rick Baier and Christina Arnone Jeff Smith and Jennifer […]

Loch Lloyd Country Club was the beautiful setting for The 2017 C&C Group Alphapointe Pro-Am Tournament on July 17th. Board Member Danny Davies served as chairman of the planning committee. The sold-out event raised more than $63,000 for Alphapointe’s programs and services for youth who are blind or visually impaired. Jaime Bluma and Tracy McConnell, […]