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I ON PHILANTHROPY

Name Dropping – Symphony Ball

Rita and Lamar Hunt, Jr. will serve as the honorary chairmen of the Symphony Ball, “The Firebird Ball,” presented by the Symphony League of Kansas City. Mary Leonida is serving as chairman.  The Hunts were married in 2003. Between them, they have nine children and eight grandchildren. Sports aficionados will recognize Rita and Lamar as […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Dan Moye

Dan Moye is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2020. He serves on the curriculum committee and is a member of the Economic Development Task Force. Dan has volunteered with JDRF’s Young Leadership Committee. He has worked for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City for four years. Dan is a principal development […]

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Kansas City Young Audiences – Benefit Concert for Arts Education

Sara Welch and Terri and Doug Curran are the honorary co-chairmen of Kansas City Young Audiences’ Benefit Concert for Arts Education. The September 28th event will be held at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Renée Elise Goldsberry, who received a Tony Award and a Grammy award for her performances off and on Broadway […]

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2019 Class of Rising Stars Kathleen Johansen

Kathleen Johansen is a senior communications strategist at The University of Kansas Health System. Her love of philanthropy began more than 30 years ago when she became a Brownie in South Carolina. Fundraising clearly made an impact on her because she was consistently her troop’s top Girl Scout cookie seller. Kathleen volunteered at retirement homes […]

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The Belles of the American Royal – Margaret McKee Burditt

The Belles of the American Royal are pleased to announce the selection of Margaret McKee Burditt as the 2019 BOTAR president. Mandy is a BOTAR, class of 1991, and was a BOTAR Page in 1978. Her leadership roles in BOTAR include recording secretary in 2006, and BOTAR Ball vice president in 2015, as well as […]

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Cheers to Volunteers! – Cristen Summers

Cristen Summers and her father, Richard Hudson, have been devoted volunteers at KidsTLC since 2012. Cristen initiated bringing The Birthday Party Project to residential clients. She helps with new attendees and guests at KidsTLC fundraisers and has served as a special event committee member. Richard has been a volunteer at the KidsTLC Open Golf Tournament, […]

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2019 Class of Rising Stars André L. Davis

André L. Davis’ community work started with Big Brothers Big Sisters. He became a “Big” in the program, mentoring his Little Brother and then joined the board. André is entering his sixth year as a board member (his final year) and also had served on the Diversity Task Force (a subcommittee within BBBSKC) as chairman for several […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Ashley Renfrew

Ashley Renfrew is a project manager and deputy delivery manager with HNTB Corporation. She is a member of the Centurions Spring Class of 2020. Ashley serves on the projects committee and is a co-chairman of the Benchmarking Trip Task Force. Ashley has volunteered with numerous groups. Among the ones she most enjoys are HappyBottoms, Project […]

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Name Dropping – 2019 Jewel Ball Honorary Chairman

Estelle Jane Glatt Sosland is serving as the honorary chairman for this year’s Jewel Ball. She was married for 72 years to Morton Irvin Sosland who passed away on April 25th. Estelle was the chairman of The Jewel Ball in 1991, the year that her grandson Andrew Russell Brown was presented. Another highlight of that […]

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Cheers to Volunteers! – Andy McDonald

Andy McDonald is one of the original ushers at The Folly Theater. Always dressed to perfection, Andy has served as an usher since 1981. He is a committed volunteer who helps to preserve The Folly’s history and share it with visitors. Also featured in the May 25, 2019 issue of The Independent  

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UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance – Crescendo

UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance’s Crescendo will return to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on November 8th. Guests will gather in Brandmeyer Great Hall for cocktails and dinner to celebrate talented UMKC Conservatory students who will perform in Helzberg Hall, guided by internationally-acclaimed faculty and teachers of music and dance. After the […]

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Rising Star Reflection – Kimberly Wilkerson

Kimberly Wilkerson is one of our Rising Stars, Class of 2015. As agency principal and vice president of Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, Kimberly co-owns and operates a privately held retail brokerage and is responsible for community outreach, culture and branding, quality and control, process and procedure, and customer service. She supports a variety of non […]

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Cheers To Volunteers! – Chris Albright

Chris Albright is a senior vice president of administration at UMB. He came to The Whole Person to volunteer for the organization’s recent Night of Independence Gala. Chris’ wife, Shari, is a physical therapist. The couple is passionate about helping people with disabilities. Chris is a newly-elected member of The Whole Person’s board of directors. […]

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Spotlight on Centurion – Monica Smith

Monica Smith is a member of Centurions Fall Class of 2020. She serves on the Law and Justice Task Force and is a member of the projects committee for community service. Monica is a prosecutor for the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Her duties include drug court and supervising interns. Monica is a Distinguished Toastmaster. […]

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Cheers To Volunteers! – Rusty Smith

Rusty Smith has been a volunteer at Wayside Waifs for three years and has been a board member of the organization since 2016. Last year, Rusty and his wife, Martha, were silent auction chairmen for the Fur Ball and this year, they are serving as co-chairmen of the Fur Ball: Woof 66, a journey to […]

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Rising Star Reflections – Jennifer Matney

Jennifer Matney is the senior vice president/director of operational risk management at UMB. She is a Rising Star, Class of 2016. Jennifer is on the ambassador board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and is a Big Sister to Aryn. Jennifer is on the community ambassador board of Firsthand Foundation and is the president-elect for the […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Michelle Goth

Michelle Goth is a member of the Centurions Spring Class of 2020 and serves as the social co-chairman. She is the general manager of Ripple Glass. Michelle volunteers with the homeless community through Uplift and reStart. Michelle and her husband, Craig Goth, have a son, Eli. Additional information in the April 27, 2019 issue of […]

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Spotlight On Centurions – Jessie McKinney

A picture is worth a thousand words: yes, Jessie McKinney loves to travel! That’s just one of the Shook, Hardy & Bacon attorney’s many interests. Jessie is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2019, where she is currently the co-chairman of the Kansas City History Task Force and a member of the Issues […]

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Rising Star Reflections – Ryan Shriver

Family life – with his wife, Lindsey, and their children, Kit and Hank – is much savored by Ryan Shriver, a Rising Star, Class of 2018. Ryan was a basketball player at Western Illinois University and Fort Hays State University, prior to beginning his career. In addition to his work at Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, […]

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The Giving Group KC

Ann Walter, who is a realtor with Re/Max Infinity, has always made it her goal to donate $25,000 to local, deserving non profits. Last year, she was at a conference, and two of her friends shared about giving circles that they had started in their respective communities. “I knew this idea would be the perfect […]

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Rising Star Reflection – Dolly Wood

Dolly Wood, 2017 Class of Rising Stars, is an adjunct professor for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Metropolitan Community College. She was a committee member for Champagne & Chocolate in 2018. Event proceeds supported Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care. Dolly also is a sustainer in the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, and was […]

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