Rita and Lamar Hunt, Jr. will serve as the honorary chairmen of the Symphony Ball, “The Firebird Ball,” presented by the Symphony League of Kansas City. Mary Leonida is serving as chairman.  The Hunts were married in 2003. Between them, they have nine children and eight grandchildren. Sports aficionados will recognize Rita and Lamar as […]

Dan Moye is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2020. He serves on the curriculum committee and is a member of the Economic Development Task Force. Dan has volunteered with JDRF’s Young Leadership Committee. He has worked for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City for four years. Dan is a principal development […]

Sara Welch and Terri and Doug Curran are the honorary co-chairmen of Kansas City Young Audiences’ Benefit Concert for Arts Education. The September 28th event will be held at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Renée Elise Goldsberry, who received a Tony Award and a Grammy award for her performances off and on Broadway […]

Karen Reed Vaughan and Mr. Joseph Harry Vaughan, Jr., both of Prairie Village, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Vaughan, to Eric Joseph Racki, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Francis Racki of Shawnee, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. DuMont Reed of […]

Kauffman Stadium was the setting for Diamond of Dreams, hosted by Royals Charities and the Glass family, on June 10th. Ben Aken was the chairman. Guests enjoyed appearances by current and former Royals players, a silent auction, performances by members of KC Aerial Arts, a concert by Chris Lane, refreshments, and a fireworks spectacular. The […]

Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City’s Legacy Invitational events were held on May 20th at Loch Lloyd Golf Course and on June 3rd at The National Golf Club. Guests enjoyed hot towel shaves, a coffee bar, a gift salon, on-course challenge holes, a car wash and detail, a 19th hole reception, and more. Rick and […]

The Jewel Ball Gentlemen’s Serenade was held on June 9th at Mission Hills Country Club. Ellen and Dan Bolen, Gentlemen of The Jewel Ball Serenade chairman, planned the festive event, where The Gentlemen of The Jewel Ball entertained their mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers with songs – and presented them with roses. Verlie Burlingame and Page […]

The fifth annual Eat, Drink & Be Jolly for the Folly! was held at the lovely Hyde Park home of Brian Williams, Folly Theater. The garden party featured summery cocktails, delicious picnic fare from Annie’s Catering, and fresh floral arrangements from Gregory’s Fine Florals. Proceeds support the Folly Theater’s general operations, jazz series, and kids’ […]

The Cast Party, KCRep’s 2019 Gala, was held on May 10th at The Abbott. Ellen and Irv Hockaday were honored with the inaugural Mac Award, named for KC Rep’s founder Dr. Patricia McIlrath, for their longtime support and advocacy of KC Rep and the arts in Our Town. Guests enjoyed a performance by Broadway’s Shoshana […]

More than 420 guests gathered for The University of Kansas Health System’s ninth annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Celebration. The June 11th event was held at The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center. Dr. Kirk Benson was honored with the Legacy Award. Catalyst Awards were presented to Cheryl Lockton Williams and to Kevin […]

Paradise Park was the site for Jackson County CASA’s 14th annual Carnival for CASA. Melissa and Dan Martin served as honorary chairmen for the event, which was held on June 9th. The festivities included pony rides, a petting zoo, hair and face painting, lunch with live music by the Jack Snaps, and all of the […]

May 24th was the date for The Bolender Society of Kansas City Ballet’s cocktail reception to celebrate the end of a wonderful performance season. The festive event was held at the offices of Lathrop Gage. Guests reminisced about Kansas City Ballet’s 2018-2019 season, which featured the world premiere of Septime Weber’s The Wizard of Oz, […]

June 6th was the date for ArtsKC’s fourth annual Summer Arts Party, which was held at the Crossroads Hotel. Community leaders, artists, and ArtsKC staff members enjoyed a summer evening benefiting the local arts community in the heart of the Crossroads. Israel Alejandro Garcia Garcia   Melanie Sherman, Katrina Revenaugh, Marissa Starke, Ada Koch, Cheryl […]

Reprinted from the May 9, 1942 issue of The Independent: Unheralded was Mr. and Mrs. Pasquale Di Cicco’s bow into Town’s social life last week-end. Guests at the Hotel Bellerive, the erstwhile Gloria Vanderbilt and her husband were initiated into Kansas City’s Saturday night merriment by Carol Hagerman and her Fort Riley house guests, Lieutenant […]

Glad tidings from London, England: Willa Linnea Porter was born on January 21st. Her parents are Anna Freedenfeld Porter and Troy Porter. The beautiful baby girl was born with blue eyes and brown hair. Willa weighed seven pounds, six ounces, and was 21 inches long. Her grandparents are Linnea Borg, Kevin McLaughlin, and Drs. Susan […]

Kathleen Johansen is a senior communications strategist at The University of Kansas Health System. Her love of philanthropy began more than 30 years ago when she became a Brownie in South Carolina. Fundraising clearly made an impact on her because she was consistently her troop’s top Girl Scout cookie seller. Kathleen volunteered at retirement homes […]

June 9th was the date for The Jewel Ball Debutante Tea, which was held at The Kansas City Country Club. Ellen Hockaday and Laura Hall were the co-chairmen.     (Seated) Tiffany Lynch and Annie Lynch (standing) Anne Russ, debutante chairman; and Jewel Ball Vice Chairman Susie Heddens   Reagan Mitchell and Gabby Hendren   […]

So lovely! The proposal, the ring, the wedding…  Oh, dear! The 10,000 details that go into planning the wedding…   Of course, you could always elope… In the early days of World War II, many young people were dealing with new and unpleasant realities. “’Til death do us part,” always a solemn statement, took on […]

The stress before the big day is done and finally the relaxing can begin! Your vacation packing checklist should include clothes, sunscreen, chargers, power adapters, and, of course, a great book. Here are a few of my recommendations for fun honeymoon reads: Southern Lady Code by Helen Ellis Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin My […]

Executive Chef Linda Duerr with The Restaurant at 1900 and Lon Lane with Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions give many couples options for memorable, festive dinners. Within the restaurant, Linda can create a spectacular dinner for a newly engaged couple or can provide delectable menu choices for a celebratory event. Lon can cater engagement parties, wedding […]

Cortney Leigh Patterson and Christopher Downey Barton were united in matrimony on March 1st at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. The bride is the daughter of the late Jeanne Lillig-Patterson and the late Neal Patterson. Cortney is the granddaughter of Frances and Paul Lillig of Kansas City, Missouri, and the […]