February 20th was the date for The Independent’s Top Ten Party at the 1900 Building. Our Town’s deep commitment to philanthropy was on display as The Top Ten Events of 2019 and The Independent’s 2020 Class of Rising Stars were announced. More than 200 guests enjoyed cocktails and delicious fare from Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions.

The Top Five Golf Tournaments of 2019

1. First Hand Foundation Jeanne & Neal Patterson Legacy $680,489
2. Ronald McDonald House Charities KC Trent Green Golf Classic $207,914
3. Down Syndrome Guild Tee Up For Down Syndrome $157,028
4. Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation Golf Baby Golf! $143,560
5. Lakemary Center Jim Colbert and Will Shields Golf Classic $143,174

The Top Five Walk/Run Events of 2019

1. Down Syndrome Guild Step Up For Down Syndrome $425,164
2. Head For The Cure Foundation Head For The Cure 5K $412,271
3. AIDS Service Foundation AIDS WALK Kansas City $384,250
4. Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired CCVI Trolley Run $272,984
5. Ability KC Groundhog Run $196,491

The Top Five Multi-Day Events of 2019

1. Children’s Mercy Big Slick Celebrity Weekend $1,920,508
2. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art ShuttleCork $1,177,935
3. BBBSKC Most Wanted Auction $781,300
4. BBBSKC Summer Bowl for Kids’ Sake $645,200
5. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man & Woman of The Year $449,032

The Top Five Breakfast/Luncheon Events of 2019

1. Heart of America Council, BSA’s Patron Luncheon $458,591
2. MOCSA’s Community Luncheon $358,670
3. Women’s Employment Network’s WEN Annual Luncheon $297,666
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of GKC SportsFest Luncheon $276,600
5. Jackson County CASA Light of Hope Breakfast $248,667

The Top Ten Nationally Sponsored Events of 2019

1. JDRF JDRF Dream Gala $1,694,497
2. American Heart Association Go Red for Women Luncheon $1,109,059
3. National Multiple Sclerosis Society
4. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light The Night $987,021
5. American Heart Association KC Heart Walk $694,191
6. American Heart Association Heart Ball $690,606
7. JDRF JDRF One Walk $615,600
8. ALS Association Mid-America Chapter KC Walk to Defeat ALS $566,368
9. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Black Tie Ball $540,602
10. Alzheimer’s Association – Heart of America Chapter Walk to End Alzheimer’s $503,488

The Top Ten Events of 2019

1. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas 45th Annual Snow Ball $2,579,303
2. Children’s Mercy Red Hot Night $1,972,778
3. Catholic Education Foundation Gaudeamus $1,888,437
4. Wayside Waifs Fur Ball $1,302,599
5. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater KC Kids Night Out $1,110,804
6. The University of Kansas Health System Treads & Threads $1,072,096
7. Jewish Community Center KC SuperStar $998,109
8. Avila University Steer Dinner & Auction $950,653
9. Benedictine College’s Scholarship Ball $931,615
10. Rockhurst High School Spectacular Auction $878,848

Also featured in the February 20, 2020 issue of The Independent