The Independent’s Top Ten Events of 2024

THE TOP FIVE TOURNAMENT EVENTS OF 2024

1. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City: Trent Green Golf Classic – $293,225
2. Down Syndrome Innovations: Step Up for Down Syndrome Golf Tournament – $290,465
3. First Tee Greater Kansas City: Day for Kids with Tom Watson – $194,220
4. Braden’s Hope For Childhood Cancer: Callyn’s Course for Hope – $171,521
5. Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts: Sporting Clays Tournament and Auction – $146,372

THE TOP FIVE BREAKFAST/LUNCHEON EVENTS OF 2024

1. Women’s Employment Network: WEN Annual Luncheon – $336,327
2. Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault, MOCSA: Community Luncheon – $300,295
3. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: C100 Luncheon – $278,283
4. Jackson County CASA: Light of Hope Breakfast – $195,051
5. Life Unlimited: Hats Off to Mothers – $172,829

THE TOP FIVE MULTI-DAY EVENTS OF 2024

1. Children’s Mercy Kansas City: Big Slick – $3,085,499
2. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: ShuttleCork – $1,879,644
3. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City: Most Wanted Auction – $1,324,663
4. Fore the Kids Foundation: Fore the Kids Golf Tournament – $1,116,623
5. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City: Bowl for Kid’s Sake – $697,982

THE TOP FIVE WALK/RUN EVENTS OF 2024

1. Head for the Cure Foundation: 22nd Annual Head for the Cure 5K – Kansas City – $566,982
2. Wayside Waifs: Strutt With Your Mutt – $223,556
3. Down Syndrome Innovations: Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk – $222,275
4. Ability KC: Groundhog Run 2024 – $205,574
5. Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired: CCVI Trolley Run – $155,837

THE TOP TEN IMPACT PLAYERS OF 2024

1. Truman Heartland Community Foundation: Toast to our Towns Gala – $169,806
2. Alphapointe: Boots & Pearls – $117,265
3. Growing Futures Early Education Center: Harvesting Hope – $115,560
4. Powell Gardens: Fleur-ette – $96,230
5. Answering the Call: 5th Annual ATC Trivia Night – $94,473
6. Giving Hope & Help: The 12th Anniversary and Scholarship Awards Gala – $84,710
7. The Pet Resource Center of Kansas City: The Fairy-Tails Ball – $83,041
8. Reach Out & Read Kansas City: For the Love of Books Luncheon – $68,792
9. Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City: Every Girl Evening – $52,040
10. Growing Futures Early Education Center: Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Fundraiser – $19,951

THE TOP TEN NATIONALLY SPONSORED EVENTS OF 2024

1. Breakthrough T1D Kansas & Missouri: Dream Gala Kansas City – $1,494,290
2. American Heart Association: Kansas City Go Red for Women Luncheon – $931,793
3. American Heart Association: Kansas City Heart Ball – $709,553
4. Variety of Greater Kansas City Tent 8 (Variety KC): Variety KC’s Heart of Inclusion Gala – $691,726
5. American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Kansas City – $618,200
6. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Light The Night – $490,841
7. Alzheimer’s Association Kansas City: Walk to End Alzheimer’s – $470,637
8. American Heart Association: Kansas City Heart Walk – $390,070
9. Breakthrough T1D Kansas & Missouri: Breakthrough T1D Walk Kansas City Metro 2024 – $338,027
10. Variety of Greater Kansas City Tent 8 (Variety KC): Hy-Vee Golf Scramble benefiting Variety KC – $118,196

THE TOP TEN EVENTS OF 2024

1. Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas: The 50th Annual SnowBall – $4,386, 231
2. Catholic Education Foundation: Gaudeamus – $3,233,318
3. Children’s Mercy Kansas City: Red Hot Night – $2,359,345
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City: Kids Night Out 2024 with Thomas Rhett – $2,200,926
5. Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph: Hope Ball – $1,860,957
6. Wayside Waifs: Fur Ball – $1,852,083
7. Police Foundation of Kansas City: A Call for BackUp – $1,613,606
8. Rockhurst High School: Rockhurst Spectacular Auction – $1,397,940
9. Saint Luke’s Foundation: The Heartland Gala – $1,250,501
10. Benedictine College: Scholarship Ball – $1, 243, 852

Featured in the February 22, 2025 issue of The Independent