The Independent’s Top Ten Party
The 1900 Building was full of Rising Stars and Top Ten winners, as more than 200 guests gathered to celebrate with The Independent on February 20th. Seven of Our Town’s most dedicated leaders of philanthropy were honored as the 2025 Class of Rising Stars, while more than 50 star-studded events were recognized for outstanding fundraising in 2024. A fabulous evening of congratulations and cheers ensued, with delectable bites from Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions and beautiful florals from Craig Sole Designs.
THE TOP FIVE TOURNAMENT EVENTS OF 2024
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City: Trent Green Golf Classic – $293,225
- Down Syndrome Innovations: Step Up for Down Syndrome Golf Tournament – $290,466
- First Tee Greater Kansas City: Day for Kids with Tom Watson – $194,221
- Braden’s Hope For Childhood Cancer: Callyn’s Course for Hope – $171,522
- Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts: Sporting Clays Tournament and Auction – $146,372
THE TOP FIVE BREAKFAST/LUNCHEON EVENTS OF 2024
- Women’s Employment Network: WEN Annual Luncheon – $336,327
- Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault, MOCSA: Community Luncheon – $300,295
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: C100 Luncheon – $278,284
- Jackson County CASA: Light of Hope Breakfast – $195,052
- Life Unlimited: Hats Off to Mothers – $172,829
THE TOP FIVE MULTI-DAY EVENTS OF 2024
- Children’s Mercy Kansas City: Big Slick – $3,085,499
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: ShuttleCork – $1,879,644
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City: Most Wanted Auction – $1,324,663
- Fore the Kids Foundation: Fore the Kids Golf Tournament – $1,116,623
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City: Bowl for Kid’s Sake – $697,982
THE TOP FIVE WALK/RUN EVENTS OF 2024
- Head for the Cure Foundation: 22nd Annual Head for the Cure 5K – Kansas City – $566,982
- Wayside Waifs: Strutt With Your Mutt – $223,556
- Down Syndrome Innovations: Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk – $222,275
- Ability KC: Groundhog Run 2024 – $205,575
- Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired: CCVI Trolley Run – $155,837
THE TOP TEN IMPACT PLAYERS OF 2024
- Truman Heartland Community Foundation: Toast to our Towns Gala – $169,806
- Alphapointe: Boots & Pearls – $117,265
- Growing Futures Early Education Center: Harvesting Hope – $115,560
- Powell Gardens: Fleur-ette – $96,230
- Answering the Call: 5th Annual ATC Trivia Night – $94,473
- Giving Hope & Help: The 12th Anniversary and Scholarship Awards Gala – $84,710
- The Pet Resource Center of Kansas City: The Fairy-Tails Ball – $83,041
- Reach Out & Read Kansas City: For the Love of Books Luncheon – $68,792
- Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City: Every Girl Evening – $52,040
- Growing Futures Early Education Center: Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Fundraiser – $19,951
THE TOP TEN NATIONALLY SPONSORED EVENTS OF 2024
- Breakthrough T1D Kansas & Missouri: Dream Gala Kansas City – $1,494,290
- American Heart Association: Kansas City Go Red for Women Luncheon – $931,793
- American Heart Association: Kansas City Heart Ball – $709,553
- Variety of Greater Kansas City Tent 8 (Variety KC): Variety KC’s Heart of Inclusion Gala – $691,726
- American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Kansas City – $618,200
- The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Light The Night – $490,841
- Alzheimer’s Association Kansas City: Walk to End Alzheimer’s – $470,638
- American Heart Association: Kansas City Heart Walk – $390,070
- Breakthrough T1D Kansas & Missouri: Breakthrough T1D Walk Kansas City Metro 2024 – $338,028
- Variety of Greater Kansas City Tent 8 (Variety KC): Hy-Vee Golf Scramble benefiting Variety KC – $118,197
THE TOP TEN EVENTS OF 2024
- Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas: The 50th Annual SnowBall – $4,386, 231
- Catholic Education Foundation: Gaudeamus – $3,233,318
- Children’s Mercy Kansas City: Red Hot Night – $2,359,345
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City: Kids Night Out 2024 with Thomas Rhett – $2,200,926
- Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph: Hope Ball – $1,860,957
- Wayside Waifs: Fur Ball – $1,852,083
- Police Foundation of Kansas City: A Call for BackUp – $1,613,606
- Rockhurst High School: Rockhurst Spectacular Auction – $1,397,940
- Saint Luke’s Foundation: The Heartland Gala – $1,250,501
- Benedictine College: Scholarship Ball – $1,243,852
Featured in the March 8, 2025 issue of The Independent
Photo Credit: David Riffel
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