The Independent’s Top Ten Events of 2025

THE TOP FIVE TOURNAMENT EVENTS 2025

1. Ronald McDonald House of Kansas City Trent Green Golf Classic – $306,634
2. Fore the Kids Foundation Fore the Kids Golf Tournament – $285,214
3. Down Syndrome Innovations Step Up for Down Syndrome Golf Tournament – $240,603
4. First Tee of Greater Kansas City Day For Kids Golf Tournament with Tom Watson – $206,000
5. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City Legacy Golf Tournament at Loch Llyod – $185,000

THE TOP FIVE MULTI-DAY EVENTS OF 2025

1. Children’s Mercy: Big Slick – $3,520,929
2. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: ShuttleCork – $1,984,739
3. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City: Most Wanted Auction – $1,520,731
4. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City: Summer Bowl for Kid’s Sake – $776,500
5. Newhouse Worthy Pop-up Bar – $233,161

THE TOP FIVE BREAKFAST/LUNCHEON EVENTS OF 2025

1. Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault, MOCSA: 50th Anniversary Community Luncheon – $424,827
2. Women’s Employment Network: WEN Annual Luncheon – $345,223
3. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: C100 Luncheon – $286,722
4. Life Unlimited: Hats Off to Mothers – $229,609
5. Ability KC Ability Luncheon – $152,432

THE TOP FIVE WALK/RUN EVENTS OF 2025

1. Down Syndrome Innovations: Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk – $204,517
2. Ability KC: Groundhog Run 2025 – $171,349
3. Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired: CCVI Trolley Run – $114,776
4. Wayside Waifs: Strutt With Your Mutt – $102,955
5. KC Pet Project KC Pet Project 5K – $78,109

THE TOP TEN IMPACT PLAYERS OF 2025

1. Fore the Kids Foundation: Lifting Spirits: A Premium Bourbon Experience – $199,603
2. Wildwood Outdoor Education: Center Wild Night for Wildwood – $175,438
3. HappyBottoms: Bottoms Up for Babies – $166,065
4. Truman Heartland Community Foundation: 30th Annual Toast to Our Towns Gala – $164,688
5. Great Plains SPCA: Best In Show! – $146,000
6. Answering the Call: Resiliency Gala – $122,871
7. Pet Resource Center of Kansas City: The Fairy-Tails Ball – $116,245
8. Band of Angels: Art That Blows – $115,977
9. Jackson County: CASA Cocktails for CASA – A Night of Hope -$115,466
10. Answering the Call: 6th Annual Trivia Night – $92,725

THE TOP TEN NATIONALLY SPONSORED EVENTS OF 2025

1. Breakthrough T1D: Kansas City Dream Gala – $1,523,784
2. Variety KC: Heart of Inclusion Gala – $842,546
3. American Heart Association: 2025 KC Go Red for Women Luncheon – $841,360
4. American Heart Association: KC Heart Ball – $824,579
5. Alzheimer’s Association: Kansas City Walk to End Alzheimer’s – $635,000
6. Blood Cancer United: Light The Night Kansas City – $496,444
7. Breakthrough T1D: Kansas City Walk – $412,917
8. American Heart Association: KC Heart & Stroke Walk – $379,941
9. American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Kansas City – $310,088
10. Variety KC Hy-Vee Golf Scramble – $130,038

THE TOP TEN EVENTS OF 2025

1. Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas: The 51st Annual Snow Ball – $4,852,369
2. Catholic Education Foundation: Gaudeamus – $4,121,116
3. Children’s Mercy: Red Hot Night 2025 – $4,075,054
4. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City: Kids Night Out 2025 with Jordan Davis – $2,702,002
5. Police Foundation of Kansas City: A Call for BackUp – $1,595,560
6. Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy: Leading With Love – $1,524,186
7. Rockhurst High School: Spectacular Auction – $1,480,335
8. Benedictine College: Scholarship Ball – $1,353,516
9. Donnelly College: SHINE for Donnelly College – $1,327,664
10. Ronald McDonald House Kansas City: Spark of Hope Gala – $1,258,202

Featured in the February 21, 2026 issue of The Independent