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I ON PHILANTHROPY

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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Spotlight On Centurions – Bradford Hart

Bradford Hart is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2019 and is co-chairman of the community leadership committee. He is the senior program officer and safety net co-lead at Health Forward Foundation. Bradford volunteers at Briarwood Elementary School, the Johnson County Drug and Alcohol Commission, and the Kansas City Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity […]

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2019 Class of Rising Stars Jennifer Savner Levinson

Jennifer Savner Levinson is a suicide attempt survivor who works diligently everyday to maintain a healthy quality of life. There is not a day that is not a struggle for her. It is because of her personal experiences that she is passionate about trying to help others, especially young people and their families, who have […]

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Cheers To Volunteers! – David Powell

In earlier years, David Powell was a Wildwood camper. He wants other young people in Our Town to have the experiences he enjoyed. David joined the board of Wildwood Outdoor Education Center in 2013. Since then, David has served as board treasurer, secretary, and president. He has provided financial savvy during a time of growth […]

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Spotlight On Centurions – Lauren Palmer

Lauren Palmer is a member of Centurions Fall Class of 2019. She serves on the legacy committee and has been co-chairman of a Task Force on law and justice. Lauren is employed as the director of local government services for the Mid-America Regional Council. She serves on the advisory cabinet of Women United, which is […]

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Rising Star Reflections – Meagan Dowell

This month, Meagan Dowell  is opening her own business, On the Ball, an upscale daycare and boarding center for dogs in The Shops at Prairie Village. This is a big change for Meagan, who is a certified public accountant. Even with a daunting work schedule, the Rising Star, Class of 2017, has always found time […]

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Spotlight On Centurions – Stephanie Meyer

Stephanie Meyer grew up in Wichita, Kansas. From there, she went to Kansas State University, where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations. Stephanie received her master’s degree in public administration from The University of Kansas. She is employed with DLR Group as an education funding specialist and also is in […]

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Lyric Opera Circle’s Lyric Opera Ball – Honorary Chairmen

Marilyn J. and Kenneth V. Hager met on a blind date. The person who set them up was a good judge of character – they’ve been married for 43 years now. They are serving as the honorary chairmen of the Lyric Opera Circle’s Lyric Opera Ball – For the Love of Opera.  The Hagers are […]

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Rising Star Reflections – Klassie Alcine

Klassie Alcine is a member of the Rising Stars, Class of 2017. She is the director of corporate and community partnerships at The Central Exchange. Klassie is busier than ever helping to make Kansas City a better place to live. She volunteers with American Public Square (APS) to address violence in Kansas City. Klassie served […]

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