Mother’s Refuge was founded in 1987. The organization’s clients, who reside onsite, are young women who were previously homeless and are either pregnant or have very young children. Medical care is provided. Residents are required to pursue educational opportunities and are encouraged to accept counseling. A five-step program is devoted to lessons in parenting, infant […]

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s Romantic Revels was held on February 11th at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Drs. Susan and Charles Porter were the honorary chairmen. Linda Word was honored with the Founder’s Award. Guests enjoyed cocktails, a gourmet dinner, a silent auction, and dancing. For a special treat, HASF actors and […]

Many coveted auction items and raffle prizes will be featured at the Lyric Opera Circle’s Lyric Opera Ball. Karla and Dr. Ivan Batlle are serving as the honorary chairmen for the event, which will be held on April 1st at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Juliette Singer and Edie Downing are the […]

Rebecca Sommers founded Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City in 2007. Running is a key component, but it’s far from the only one. The organization’s programs, tailored for students in the third to the eighth grades, are designed to strengthen girls’ social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills. Participants learn life skills, such as […]

Prior to becoming a student at Park University’s International Center for Music, Anastasia Vorotnaya had been educated at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in Russia, the Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Spain, and the International Piano Academy in Italy. She is “A Prodigy of the 21st Century,” according to Musical Life Magazine. Beginning […]

Life Unlimited’s Hats Off to Mothers luncheon will be held on May 11th at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Rachael Sabates is serving as the luncheon chair. The honorees, applauded for balancing family life, personal achievement, and community service, are Lisa Block, Stephanie Freeman, Sandra Lawrence, Laura Perin, Anita Robb, Lynda Robertson, CiCi Rojas, Nancy […]

January 19th was the date when members of Kansas City Ballet’s Bolender Society gathered at The Kansas City Country Club for A Musical Evening with Ramona, featuring Kansas City Ballet’s Music Director, Ramona Pansegrau. The festive event included a dessert reception and a program on Cinderella and Prokofiev’s captivating music. Guests enjoyed Ramona’s presentation and […]

More than 200 guests gathered for The Independent’s Top Ten Party on February 16th at the 1900 Building. Our Town’s strong commitment to philanthropy was on display at the celebration as the Top Ten Events of 2022 and The Independent’s 2023 Class of Rising Stars were announced. Each Rising Star was presented with a custom […]

Alan Edelman was the honoree at Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s Civic Service Award Celebration, “A Family United.” The event, a brunch this year, was held on January 22nd at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Merilyn Berenbom, Marcia Karbank, and Roshann Parris were the honorary co-chairs. Susie Azorsky and Mike Abrams served as the […]

The BOTAR Winter Meeting was held at the Carriage Club on January 18th. Members gathered to watch as a check was presented to the American Royal, and to hear the words of Freshman BOTAR Scholar Annamarie Stone (in person) and Senior BOTAR Scholar Destiny Switzer (via video). The agenda also included the election of  the […]

Pam and Kevin Kramer were the presidents of the 49th Annual Snow Ball. The black-tie benefit for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas was held on January 21st at the Overland Park Convention Center. Lauren Solidum, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, welcomed guests, and a film about the newly reopened Shalom House Men’s Transitional Living Program […]

Cathy and Chip Toth are serving as the honorary chairs for Cristo Rey Kansas City’s 17th Annual Dancing with the Kansas City Stars, “A Red Carpet Extravaganza.” Susan Spencer, Christy Hartner, and Sarah Walsh are the event co-chairs. The festivities will be held at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center on March 25th. […]

Author Olivia Hill Author, Artist, Activist, and Playwright OliviaHillWrites.com @OliviaHillWrites Olivia Hill was born and raised in Kansas City. She is an author, artist, activist, and a playwright. Her memoir, Travel North Black Girl, is a story of self-discovery and empowerment. Set in the early 1980s, Olivia recounts her experiences of moving to the remote […]

Harriman-Jewell Series hosted its 1,000th Concert Celebration with the Kansas City debut performance of Pretty Yende, soprano. Jackie and John Middelkamp were the honorary chairmen, and Suzanne Shank served as the chairman of the January 7th event. Benefactors enjoyed a spectacular concert and a delicious post-performance dinner at The Carriage Club. Guests celebrated the artists […]

Kansas City Young Matrons held its annual Mistletoe Party on December 9th. Members and their guests gathered at Blue Hills Country Club and enjoyed a festive evening filled with fellowship and fun.    Featured in the January 21, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Gina Brozenic, Lindsey Golubski, and Sara Willimon were the co-chairs, with Marsha Oyer serving as Cotillion chair, for the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas’ 72nd Annual Community Ball and Cotillion. The theme was “Old Hollywood.” The December 3rd event was held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. On the evening’s agenda […]

The Kansas City Ballet Guild hosted its 55th annual gala, Land of the Sweets Nutcracker Ball 2022, at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center on December 3rd. Barbara and Dr. Greg Storm were the honorary chairmen, and Angela and John Walker served as the chairmen. Barbara Nash was the recipient of the annual Pirouette […]

Mission Hills Country Club was the site for the Symphony League’s  Holiday Luncheon on December 14th. President Katherine Schorgl recognized Johyne Hamra for her 25 years of membership. Ursula Terrasi, Symphony Ball co-chair, presented a check to Pat McCown, Kansas City Symphony board president. The concluding activity was the passing of the gavel to Linda […]

Dr. Kathy and Doug Gaumer and Molly and Reggie Britt were the honorary co-chairs, and Moira Holland and Jill Grace were the co-chairs for Newhouse’s Imagine a Day Gala. More than 1,100 Newhouse supporters gathered for the November 12th event, which was held at Loews Kansas City Hotel. Newhouse, Kansas City’s oldest domestic violence shelter, […]

Members of the Lyric Opera Circle celebrated the holiday season with a festive event at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Guests enjoyed a delectable menu and entertainment from resident artists of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Carolyn Price, Mary Leonida, and Pamela Bruce were the hosts for the December 7th event.    […]

December 10th was the date for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City’s Most Wanted Auction. Partygoers gathered at The Midland Theatre and enjoyed bidding on once-in-a-lifetime auction packages. Proceeds from the event support Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City’s commitment to making a life-changing, generational impact on our community by creating professionally supported, […]