The cosmos was full of bright Rising Stars and Top Ten winners, as more than 200 guests gathered to celebrate with The Independent at the 1900 Building on February 22nd. Seven of Our Town’s brilliant denizens were honored as the 2024 Class of Rising Stars, while more than 50 star-studded events were recognized for outstanding fundraising in 2023. A stylish evening of congratulations and cheers ensued, with a delicious array from Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions and a gorgeous display from Craig Sole Designs. 

THE TOP FIVE WALK/RUN EVENTS OF 2023

1. Head for the Cure’s 21st Annual Head for the Cure – Kansas City 5K: $545,180

2. Down Syndrome Innovations’ Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk: $280,076

3. Wayside Waifs’ Strutt With Your Mutt: $189,819

4. Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI)’s Trolley Run: $187,955

5. Ability KC’s Groundhog Run 2023: $153,862

THE TOP TEN NATIONALLY SPONSORED EVENTS OF 2023

1. JDRF Kansas + Missouri Chapter’s JDRF Dream Gala: $2,065,148

2. American Heart Association’s Kansas City Go Red for Women Luncheon: $1,005,542

3. American Heart Association’s Kansas City Heart Ball: $705,602

4. Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimers: $528,679

5. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night: $414,378

6. The ALS Association’s Walk to Defeat ALS: $374,445

7. American Heart Association’s Kansas City Heart Walk: $350,728

8. JDRF Kansas + Missouri Chapter’s JDRF One Walk Kansas City: $293,040

9. The ALS Association’s The Joe McGuff ALS Golf Classic: $279,303

10. American Cancer Society Kansas City’s Shave to Save: $244,674

THE TOP FIVE MULTI-DAY EVENTS OF 2023

1. Children’s Mercy’s Big Slick Celebrity Weekend 2023: $2,868,997

2. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s ShuttleCork: $1,619,588

3. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City’s Most Wanted Auction: $1,087,975

4. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City’s Summer Bowl for Kids’ Sake: $617,764

5. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City’s Legacy Golf Tournament: $166,613

THE TOP TEN IMPACT PLAYERS OF 2023

1. HappyBottoms’ Diaper Bowl III: $199,440

2. Kansas City Art Institute’s ArtPop: $182,950

3. Powell Gardens’ Under a Harvest Moon: $155,818

4. Truman Heartland Community Foundation’s Toast to Our Towns Gala: $138,250

5. Sexually Abused Children’s Relief Endeavor (SACRED)’s 11th Annual ‘Kids Are Sacred’ Gala and Auction: $125,936

6. Guadalupe Centers’ Blanco y Negro: $120,000

7. Growing Futures Early Education Center’s Harvesting Hope Fall Fundraiser: $95,252

8. Answering the Call’s Trivia Night: $76,483

9. Giving Hope & Help’s 10th Anniversary and Scholarship Awards Gala: $52,526

10. Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City’s Every Girl Evening – Fundraising Gala: $48,161

THE TOP FIVE BREAKFAST/LUNCHEON EVENTS OF 2023

1. Women’s Employment Network’s WEN Annual Luncheon: $350,716

2. MOCSA’s Community Luncheon: $300,133

3. Jackson County CASA’s Light of Hope Breakfast: $236,133

4. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s C100 Luncheon: $221,708

5. Ability KC’s Annual Ability Luncheon 2023: $158,255

THE TOP FIVE GOLF TOURNAMENTS OF 2023

1. First Tee Greater Kansas City’s Tom Watson’s Day for Kids Golf Tournament: $257,483

2. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City’s Trent Green Golf Classic: $241,896.97

3. Down Syndrome Innovations’ Tee Up for Down Syndrome Golf Tournament: $241,896.80

4. Bright Futures Fund’s Bishop Johnston’s 6th Annual Golf Classic: $188,966

5. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ The 42nd Annual Ben and Betty Zarda Family Golf Classic: $149,874

THE TOP TEN EVENTS OF 2023

1. Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ The 49th Annual Snow Ball: $3,553,937

2. Catholic Education Foundation’s Gaudeamus: $2,275,041

3. Children’s Mercy’s Red Hot Night: $2,150,455

4. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City’s Kids Night Out 2023 with Dan + Shay: $1,943,988

5. Wayside Waifs’ Fur Ball Gala: $1,876,856

6. Benedictine College’s Annual Scholarship Ball: $1,757,339

7. Police Foundation of Kansas City’s A Call for Backup: $1,569,909

8. The Symphony League’s The Symphony Ball: $1,379,114

9. Saint Luke’s Foundation’s The Heartland Gala: $1,322,213

10. Rockhurst High School’s Rockhurst Spectacular Auction: $1,310,546

Featured in the March 9, 2024 issue of The Independent.
Photo Credits: David Riffel