The Overland Park Convention Center was the site for Benedictine College’s 50th Annual Scholarship Ball on February 26th. Colleen “Cocoa” and Kevin O’Malley and Lené Westerman served as the co-chairmen. The Cross of the Order of St. Benedict was awarded to Lené Westerman and Janet and Larry Wilcox. John Holt served as the emcee. Featured […]

February 25th was the date for HALO’s Virtual Art Auction, “Defying the Odds.” The action-packed evening featured live and silent auctions, the premiere of the HALO Documentary Short Film, Ziere, and special guest appearances by Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek, Bryce Dallas Howard, and more. Participants enjoyed musical performances by Sister Sledge ft. Sledgendary, Blessing Offor, […]

A celebration of the remarkable pets of Our Town.  Sponsored by:                                       Featured in the April 16, 2022 issue of The Independent.  

The Patrons’ Party for Wild About Harry, a benefit for the Truman Library Institute, was held on March 19th. Deanne Porter and Patrick Ottensmeyer, the honorary chairmen, and Tamara and David Campbell, the chairmen, were the hosts as guests gathered at Union Station Kansas City for an expedition on the Southern Belle. Clifton Truman Daniel […]

The Lyric Opera Circle’s Lyric Opera Ball, “Una Notte a Roma,” will be held on April 9th at Loews Kansas City Hotel. Members of the Circle met at Hallbrook Country Club recently to assemble the party favors for the upcoming gala. With lunch and socializing, the pre-ball event was a complete success!      Featured […]

The Children’s Relief Association (CRA) promotes the health and well-being of the children and families served by Children’s Mercy Hospital through charitable and volunteer activities. Since 1922, CRA, and its predecessor, Mercy Auxiliary, have provided volunteer services and allocated more than $4.1 million to Children’s Mercy Hospital. The organization’s 300 current active and associate members […]

Boots & Pearls: Wine & Whiskey was held on February 25th at The Museum at Prairiefire. The event was a benefit for Alphapointe, which works to empower people with vision loss to achieve their goals and aspirations. Nearly 600 guests enjoyed fine wines and whiskeys from around the world, delectable edibles, and lively entertainment.    […]

The K-State Alumni Association hosted the 15th annual Wabash CannonBall on February 25th. Nearly 900 guests attended the black-tie event, which was held at the Overland Park Convention Center. Proceeds help to provide scholarships for K-State students from the metropolitan area.            Featured in the April 2, 2022 issue of The […]

Bernadette and Dr. Scott Ashcraft were honored with the Founder’s Award at Romantic Revels. The event, a benefit for the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (HASF), was held at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza on February 12th. Jessica and Jason Chanos were the chairmen. Guests enjoyed cocktails, a gourmet dinner, a silent auction, […]

1900 Building was the site for the February 24th cocktail party to celebrate The Independent’s 2022 Class of Rising Stars: Missy Andeel, Olivia Bloomfield, Mark Nuss, Keith Stanfield, Alisha Thomson, and Gene Willis, and to celebrate The Top Ten Events of 2021. Guests enjoyed delicious bites from Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions and celebrated another record-breaking […]

A Musical Evening with Ramona featuring Ramona Pansegrau, music director for the Kansas City Ballet, was enjoyed by members of KCB’s Bolender Society. The event was held on January 20th at The Kansas City Country Club. Also on the agenda were a special performance by KCB’s Second Company, an announcement by Devon Carney, artistic director, […]

The Top Five Golf Tournaments of 2021 Bright Futures Fund’s 4th Annual Bishop Johnston’s Golf Tournament: $227,295 Ronald McDonald House Charities of KC’s Trent Green Golf Classic: $219,842 Lakemary’s Golf Classic with Will Shields: $155,422 Olathe Health Charitable Foundation’s Golf Classic: $118,265 Down Syndrome Innovations’ Step Up for Down Syndrome Golf Classic: $106,895 The Top Five Walk/Run Events of […]

The 48th Annual Snow Ball, a benefit for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, was held on January 15th, both at the Overland Park Convention Center and online. Donna and Mark Teahan served as the presidents. Lauren Solidum, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, made a presentation that featured a video about the Family Financial Transformations program. […]

The Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown was the site for the Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Luncheon, which was held on December 16th. The co-chairmen were Susan Bubb and Megan Bubb. Guests were welcomed by Peggy Beal, Guild president. Karen Yungmeyer, Nutcracker Ball co-chairman, gave a recap of that much-enjoyed evening. Jeffrey […]

Alvin Brooks, Carrie and Matt Condon, Peggy and Terry Dunn, Don Hall, Jr., and Marny and John Sherman served as the co-chairmen for the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC’s Human Relations Event, “Bridges to Justice,” on November 18th. The Reverend Thomas B. Curran, S.J., was honored with the 2021 Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award. The […]

Happy days are here again at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum! The National Baseball Hall of Fame finally recognized what all of us have known for decades: that Buck O’Neil belongs in the Hall of Fame. The announcement was made by Josh Rawitch, Hall of Fame president. “I’m still basking in the glow of everything […]

December 15th was the date for University of Central Missouri’s holiday Sesquicentennial Celebration, which was held on December 15th at the Carriage Club. The festive event capped off a year of festivities to celebrate University of Central Missouri’s 150th anniversary. More than 100 alumni, friends, and supporters of the University attended the festive event, which […]

December 1st was the date for the Lyric Opera Circle’s Holiday Luncheon, which was held at the Dining Experience at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Guests enjoyed a three-course lunch, festive decor, and entertainment by visiting guest artist, Soprano Danielle Beckvermit, who was accompanied by Neal Long. Exciting plans for the 2022 Lyric […]

Julia Irene Kauffman hosted the Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Ball Benefactor Cocktail Party. The Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity was transformed into a holiday wonderland for the November 18th event. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the Nutcracker Ball, which was held on November 20th at Loews Kansas City Hotel. Tempe Ostergren Elsberry and […]

Mrs. Irvine Oty Hockaday, Jr. served as the honorary chairman and Mrs. Barret Spencer Heddens III was the chairman for The Jewel Ball. A profusion of orchids and a purple glow infused The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art with the vitality of a summer night on November 27th, when the Debutantes and Gentlemen of The Jewel […]

Missy Andeel, Human Relations Consultant, American Century Investments Missy Andeel’s career has taken her to a variety of cities. Fortunately for Our Town, she has now lived here for more than a decade. There’s an old adage, “Bloom where you’re planted,” and Missy is someone who believes in putting down roots. Missy spent 12 years […]