February 25th is the date for The Center For Practical Bioethics’ private broadcast celebration of Humility, Health and Healing: Where do we go from here? Dr. Barry Kerzin, personal physician to the Dalai Lama, is the keynote speaker, and Dr. Steven Stites, The University of Kansas Health System, will be honored with the Vision to […]
Read MoreNovember 12th was the date for The Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Kansas City Chapter’s National Philanthropy Day Celebration virtual program. Honorees were congratulated for work done in their respective fields of non-profit fundraising. Included in the event were the following awards: Spirit of Philanthropy – Individual given to Marylou Turner and nominated by the […]
Read MoreMichelle Carlstedt joined Urban Ranger Corps’ (URC) board of directors in May of 2019. Since then, she has served as chairman of the development and marketing committees. Michelle has also served on the annual dinner planning committee, and much more. She has been honored by the organization as its Volunteer of the Year. Erik Dickinson, […]
Read MoreBrian Votava is passionate about the Who Is Carter Foundation. He serves on the organization’s board of directors and is a driving force behind the annual Who Is Carter Gala. Brian is the director of development and founding partner of NorthPoint Development. He often engages other NorthPoint staff members in a variety of volunteer roles […]
Read MoreKwanza Humphrey, in his own words, “makes the invisible visible.” His works, both paintings and drawings, seem to help us focus. It’s kind of like when we are seated in the chair at the eye doctor’s office, and the double lenses are resting on our cheeks, and the doc says, “Okay, one or two; two […]
Read MoreThe week before Christmas, a few families decided to kick off the holly jolly week by taking our kids to see The Grinch. My daughter, who is three, had only been to one movie in her lifetime – actually, to be accurate, she has been to one half of a movie in her lifetime. My […]
Read MoreIt’s absolutely true that fun is where you find it — and we’ve decided to look for it in 1978. We’re harking back to a time of dressing up and going out. Part of the joy of the events was in getting ready for them. If the contents of The Independent documented what our subscribers […]
Read More“There are no truths, only moments of clarity passing for answers.” – Michel de Montaigne After finishing high school and college, I thought I would be happy to never read or write another essay. Fast forward several years, and once again the saying of “never say never” completely applies. I think school got me too […]
Read MoreArthur Kraft: that wouldn’t be a good name for an artist in fiction (insert your own Arts and Crafts joke here), but he was a fine artist, none the less. Arthur, who was born in 1921, may have inherited some of his artistic ability from his mother, Mildred Mayfield Kraft, who designed and made flowers […]
Read MoreNovember 1st was the date for Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC’s 2020 Human Relations Event, “Pursuing Justice Standing Together,” which was held via private broadcast. The evening featured the presentation of the Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award to Debbie Sosland-Edelman, as well as a roundtable discussion and thought-provoking conversations. Michael Abrams, Merilyn Berenbom, Margi Pence, […]
Read MoreZack Donnelly is a member of the Centurions Class of 2021. He serves on the legacy project committee and is a member of the Tourist In Your Own Town Task Force. Zack earned a degree in finance and entrepreneurship from The University of Kansas. He is employed with The John A. Marshall Company. Volunteering with […]
Read MoreDecember 12th was the date for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City’s virtual Most Wanted Auction. This year, 31 individuals were honored as Kansas City’s Most Wanted. A record-breaking $1.35 million was raised to support the mission of creating life-changing friendships and changing futures for young people. Honoree Reed Erickson (Front […]
Read MoreSusan Campbell Heddens (Mrs. Barret Spencer Heddens III) will serve as the chairman of the 2021 Jewel Ball, which will be held on June 18th at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Susie is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Dean Robert Campbell. Susie attended Kansas State University and earned a bachelor of science […]
Read MoreA bouncing baby boy named Grant Allen Hoefer was born on August 8th to Whitney Hatfield Hoefer and Derek Hoefer of Lenexa, Kansas. The blue-eyed, blond-haired boy weighed seven pounds, five ounces, and was 18 inches long. His grandparents are Sarah Hatfield and Victoria McVicker, Lynn and Tom Hatfield, and Julie and Greg Hoefer. Great-grandmother […]
Read MoreNovember 21st was the date for the Folly Theater’s 6th Annual Folly Frolic (a socially-distanced benefit concert). The Folly was able to stage a live performance, as well as a virtual stream of the event, which featured blues singer-songwriter Kelley Hunt, joined by folk singer-songwriter Kelly Hunt. Co-chairmen Stacy Purvis and Gregory Porter arranged a […]
Read MoreNovember 21st was the date for Kansas City Ballet Guild’s 2020 Nutcracker Ball private broadcast event. The event was led by Co-chairmen Edie Downing and Gail Van Way. Guild President Juliette Singer Spinks presented the 2020 Pirouette Award to Bank of America for its contributions to the performing arts in Our Town. Also featured […]
Read MoreAll good artistic endeavors start with setting the stage, appealing to all of the senses… immersion. Let’s set the stage for The Town Company, the signature restaurant in the Hotel Kansas City. The former Kansas City Club is the backdrop for this newly-opened, significantly-renovated, yet historically-preserved hotel at 13th and Baltimore. Once inside the original […]
Read MoreFebruary 26th is the date for HALO’s Virtual ArtReach Auction, “The Main Event.” The action-packed evening will feature the HALO documentary short film premiere, live entertainment, silent and live auctions, and Special Guest Oprah Winfrey interviewing HALO Alumni, Marjai. Proceeds support homeless and at-risk children around the world.
Read MoreChildren’s Mercy’s Red Hot Night will be a virtual affair on February 20th. Randy Pope and Walter Porter are serving as co-chairmen of the 17th annual event. The evening promises to be great fun, including Dustin Colquitt as emcee, live entertainment, silent and live auctions, and inspiring mission moments. All proceeds will benefit the Children’s […]
Read MoreAs long as I can remember, I’ve always had a hosting heart that loves to entertain and be with friends. It’s something that is effortless for me, and welcoming friends and family into our home is truly a joy. For me, entertaining does not take one specific form, it’s more of what I, as the […]
Read MoreHoliday flowers? We’re thinking hyacinths. Why? In honor of Mary Adele Bryant Georgen, known as Adele, who served for many years as the hostess (the term in use at the time) of the Yuletide Tea Dance. The winter event at the Muehlebach Hotel (now the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown) was a […]
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