Bess Wallerstein Huff is a native of Our Town. She became associated with Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in 2010 and currently is the director of marketing. Bess is a member of Centurions, class of 2019. She serves on the diversity committee and the Arts and Culture Task Force planning committee. Bess is also […]

Milburn Country Club will be the setting for Welcome House’s Swing Fore Recovery Golf Classic on September 10th. Ryan Shriver is serving as the chairman of the inaugural event. Welcome House is one of our community’s longest-standing residential sober living organizations. It has served nearly 16,000 men seeking recovery and support for drug and alcohol […]

R.J. Trowbridge is a commercial real estate broker with Cushman & Wakefield. He is a member of Centurions, class of 2019. R.J. has enjoyed learning through Centurions about the issues that impact Our Town. He has volunteered with many non profits, including Parkinson’s Foundation Heartland Chapter. R.J. is a board member of DeLaSalle Education Center. […]

Jill and Ray Kowalik are serving as the chairmen, and Eric Stonestreet is the honorary chairman for The University of Kansas Health System’s 17th annual Treads & Threads. Gratitude is the theme for this year’s event, which will be held on September 7th at the Kansas Speedway. John Holt will be the emcee for a […]

October 9th is the date for Kansas City Young Audiences’ Spark the Arts in Young Hearts Luncheon at the Uptown Theater. Linda and Steve Taylor will serve as the honorary chairmen. Proceeds will support Kansas City Young Audience’s mission to engage all youth in the arts, promote creativity and inspire success in education. Also featured […]

Adam Miller is a member of Centurions, class of 2019. He has served as a member of the diversity committee and as a member of the Wildcard Task Force. Adam is the director of alumni fellowship for Teach For America – Kansas City. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic studies and a master’s degree […]

When Charlotte Russell White (Mrs. Dwayne Kent White) makes her appearance as Jewel Ball chairman at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, it will be a family affair. Among those cheering her on will be her mother, Janet Redheffer Russell (Mrs. William Hamer Russell), who served as chairman in 1982 and honorary chairman in 2013. Two […]

Jacqueline Erickson Russell grew up in California and graduated from Yale University. Jacqueline fell in love with Kansas City when she moved here to participate in Teach for America. A member of Centurions, class of 2019, she a senior program officer on the education team at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.  Frank White III, Jacqueline […]

September 8th is the date for The Symphony League’s Symphony Ball, “To Paris With Love,” to be held at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Guests will enjoy French music performed by the Kansas City Symphony, a silent auction, cocktails, and delicious cuisine with a French flair. Laurie Burgess is the chairman, and Mary […]

Karen Downing is the auction chairman for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Kansas City Shoot for the Cure event. She is known for her ability to procure highly desirable items for the auction – a great many of them! The total raised by the silent auction just keeps rising. In addition, Karen and her husband, Doug, […]

Caitlin O’Byrne Waters is an employee benefits consultant at CBIZ, where she helps companies develop strategies that will attract and retain employees. As a member of Centurions, class of 2019, she is serving on the diversity and inclusion committee. In addition, she is part of the Benchmarking Trip Task Force. Destination? Cincinnati. Caitlin has a […]

Alvin Ward has donated more than 600 hours of his time to Spay and Neuter Kansas City. He has provided customer service at the wellness clinic and assisted as a vet tech at a mobile clinic. Alvin is very knowledgable about the organization and its programs. He also is noted for his patience and decisiveness. […]

Nicole Jacobs Silvey is an associate director at the University of Missouri–Kansas City and is a Rising Star, class of 2018, with more than 20 years of experience in the non profit sector. She currently serves on the board of HappyBottoms.  According to Maria Dickson, Friends of University Academy; Nicole has been on the University […]

Anastasia Huggins and her husband, Eddie, returned to Our Town two years ago, after spending nearly a decade away. Anastasia earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Kansas State University, and she is an architect with BNIM. She joined Centurions soon after moving back to Kansas City and is a member of the class of […]

Diane Gallagher is a member of Centurions, class of 2019. She is a vice president of client marketing with American Century Investments. Diane and her family live in Prairie Village, where her husband, Terrence, is a member of the City Council. The Gallaghers are the parents of 21-year-old Jillian, 17-year-old Elizabeth and 14-year-old Mary Katherine. […]

When Chris Jagoda began his career at Lockton Companies, he embraced the company’s strong commitment to the community and quickly became involved with a wide variety of service activities, including Christmas in October, Great Strides, Walk MS, and The Hospital Hill Marathon. Said Erin Gabert, American Heart Association: “Chris found his niche volunteering with the […]

Wildcat! Marc Shaffer is a Kansas State University graduate who stays true to his roots. He is a past president of the school’s human ecology alumni advisory board. Marc is the incoming president for the Kansas State University personal financial planning advisory board, and he serves on the Kansas City K-State alumni planning committee. He […]

June 1st is the date for the Kansas City Zoo’s Jazzoo, “Rub Elbows. Touch Fins.” Kelly and Ron Lockton are serving as the chairmen of the 29th annual event. Partygoers will enjoy tasty tidbits from more than 70 of Our Town’s best restaurants, signature cocktails from 10 specialty and full service bars and live entertainment […]

Synergy Services’ Honorary Stars for the 28th Annual Kindest Kansas Citian Awards are Anita Gorman and Christy and Bill Gautreaux. Brynn McCan is the chairman for the event, which will be held on May 4th at the Kansas City Zoo. More than 5,000 students have written essays nominating people they know, and the evening will feature […]

Shelly Doucet, Director of Development, University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Education “Shelly’s passion is serving and fundraising for non profits. In her professional and personal time, she is always considering how she can make her community stronger. She constantly sees potential community connections – encouraging cross-collaboration between non profits, philanthropists and businesses.” Jennifer Ingraham, UMKC Foundation […]

Last summer, the Kansas City Royals invited Tom Reorda to sit in the Buck O’Neil legacy seat during a game. At a September luncheon, Tom received the Harvesters’ Circle of Hope Award as Hunger Champion – Individual. These are huge honors — what did Tom do to deserve them? The answer: Plenty! Tom first volunteered […]