The Loop KC brings together similar yet unique minds to create genuine friendships and ignite the next generation of business leaders in Kansas City. Members of The Loop KC are required to give back to local non-profit organizations. Learn more about The Loop KC, here.   “I’m fortunate to say that I work for one of […]

To learn more about becoming a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Kansas City Chapter, please visit afpkc.org. The Independent is proud to be the exclusive media partner of AFPKC. Julianne DeLessio is employed with Union Station Kansas City as its donor and corporate relations manager, where she works with corporate partners and sponsors, as […]

What can you tell about someone just by seeing their picture? In October 1939, in a feature titled, “Names in the News in the World of Kansas City Business Women,” our scribe wrote, “Faune Leask, whose investment activities have kept her well to the front in financial circles for a number of years, is probably […]

Pathway To Hope’s annual Donor Appreciation Event, “A Taste Of Wellness,” was held on August 14th at Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery. Pathway To Hope was founded in 1988 by Sharon and Dick Lawrenz, who struggled with a mental health diagnosis of a family member. The organization is committed to encourage, empower, and educate individuals […]

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Thomas Hale II of Garnett, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Abby Lynn Hale, to Cooper Dean Heidebrecht, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Grant Smith of Overland Park, Kansas, and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Allen Heidebrecht of Branson, Missouri. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of […]

Flynn Alling Williams came bouncing into the world on June 10th. This darling baby boy weighed seven pounds, nine ounces, and was 20 and one-half inches long. His blue eyes and red hair are his adorable calling card. The son of Kristen Smith and Shane Williams of O’Fallon, Illinois, Flynn is the grandson of Sandee […]

Loews Kansas City Hotel was the site for the Arthritis Foundation’s 19th annual Art for Arthritis event, which was held on July 15th. Guests were delighted by the custom artwork that was created by child artists and their mentors. Partygoers enjoyed delicious fare and a silent auction. Foundation Board Chair Melissa DeLeon served as the […]

Shakespeare’s humor often stirs deep, mirthful reflection on the human condition and yes, sometimes it makes us laugh out loud. We don’t normally think of the bard’s subtle, fleet-footed humor as cause for continual belly laughs, and yet that’s pretty much how I reacted to the Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s raucous Twelfth Night, which opened […]

“Vitality & Vice” was the theme of this year’s triumphant return of Party Arty, to benefit The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Co-chairs Kelly Hollowell and Maria O’Connor, and Vice Co-chairs Morgan Stockton and Susanne Watson produced a spectacular evening, complete with drinks, delectable fare, and entertainment. Inspired by the Museum’s American Art Deco: Designing for […]

Imagine interpreting the world in a certain way and assuming that everyone else has the same interpretation – that all music is not only heard by the ears, but it is also associated with colors in the brain at the same time. No two pieces of music have the same color adaptation, and the colors […]

Jordan Frederes and Patrick Howell were united in matrimony at the San Sophia Overlook in Telluride, Colorado, on July 22nd. The bride is the daughter of  Becky Nichols of Overland Park, Kansas, and her groom is the son of Shannon and Richard Howell of Overland Park. On the evening prior to the ceremony, the Howells […]