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I ON PHILANTHROPY

Johnson County Library Foundation – Library Lets Loose

September 12th is the date for the Johnson County Library Foundation’s Library Lets Loose event. Cindy Wallis-Lage and Kent Lage are the honorary hosts for the party, which will be held at the Central Resource Library in Overland Park. Guests will enjoy libations, tasty fare, music, dancing, and activities. Also featured in the May 2, […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Davin Gordon

Davin Gordon is a member of the Centurions Spring Class of 2021. He has served on the Urban Neighborhoods Task Force and is a member of the recruiting committee. Davin has made a commitment to helping Kansas City’s underserved neighborhoods. As the business development officer for AltCap, he is promoting the catalyst for investment in […]

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Rising Star Reflections – Shelly Doucet

Since being named to The Independent’s Rising Stars, Class of 2017, Shelly Doucet has been extremely busy with her work at the UMKC School of Education, where she is raising scholarship funds for future educators. She completed her service as president of the local Association of Fundraising Professionals and remains on the board as past […]

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Catholic Education Foundation – Gaudeamus

Janet and Darren Lovick will serve as chairmen of the Catholic Education Foundation’s Gaudeamus. The October 24th gala will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center. Proceeds help children in need, ages kindergarten through 12th grade, with scholarships to attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Also featured in the […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Jessica Blubaugh

Jessica Blubaugh is a member of the Centurions Spring Class of 2021. She serves on the steering committee and will step into the role of steering committee chairman in her second year of the program. Jessica is the director of WIN for KC (Women’s Intersport Network). As a division of the Kansas City Sports Commission […]

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2020 Class of Rising Stars Ruth J. Brackney

Ruth J. Brackney may be a partner/attorney with Lathrop GPM, but she spends a lot of her volunteer time supporting causes that involve animals. She is a volunteer with Wayside Waifs, which is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets and is the largest pet adoption campus in Kansas City. Wayside Waifs does not […]

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Cheers to Volunteers! – SevenDays-Make a Ripple, Change the World

SevenDays-Make a Ripple, Change the World volunteers are taking a tragedy and turning it into a ripple of inclusion, wholeness, and nurturing, and creating a wave of positive change for the future. Each year, seven days in the spring are designated to a variety of programs and activities focusing on kindness. This year, Virtual SevenDays […]

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Helping Hands at Children’s Mercy

Each April, Children’s Mercy celebrates its incredible volunteers, who serve important roles in a myriad of functions and brighten days for patients and their families. These are just a few of the hundreds of volunteers who allow Children’s Mercy to fulfill its mission of pediatric health care. Stephanie Simpson “Going to the doctor can be […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Kim Gile

Kim Gile is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2020, where she has served more than 100 volunteer hours. Kim is the president-elect of KC Downtowners and is past president of Consensus. She earned a bachelor’s degree in international business management from The University of Kansas, and a master’s degree in information science […]

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2020 Class of Rising Stars India M. Williams

India M. Williams is the Director of KIPP Through College at KIPP Endeavor Academy. Her team supports students as they prepare and select the right college and career based on their interests and passions. In May of 2019, the Kansas City native was appointed by United States Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II to the Black/Brown Coalition. […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Audra Clark

Audra Clark is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2020. Her involvement has included helping plan the November Education Task Force and serving as co-chairman of the community leadership committee. Audra is the executive director of City Year Kansas City, a non-profit organization that focuses on keeping students in the Kansas City, Missouri, […]

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Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park – Stems: A Garden Soirée

What’s a garden without birds? Or, in this case, Byrds? Anne and Wayne Byrd are the honorary chairmen for Stems: A Garden Soirée, which will be held on June 27th at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Wayne was the founding president of the Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, which is celebrating […]

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Cheers to Volunteers! – Becky DeKnight

Being the mother of a sick child who was helped by Children’s Mercy 21 years ago led Becky DeKnight to her current role as a volunteer in the NICU. Her friendly demeanor and smiling face are just what the families need while navigating a medical issue. The staff is dedicated to helping the children, and […]

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Rising Star Reflections – Mark Mattison

Mark Mattison is a member  of The Independent’s Rising Star, Class of 2019. He is the director of major gifts for the UMKC Conservatory. Steering the work of volunteer committees of the Friends of the Conservatory, last year Mark helped set a record fundraising goal of $633,000 for their Crescendo gala. Mark also initiated the […]

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Cheers To Volunteers! – Kansas City Ambassadors

The Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors are a group of former Kansas City Chiefs players who support Our Town with local scholarship programs, charity golf tournaments, and numerous charitable visits and appearances. Members are selected based on tenure and their willingness to participate in Ambassador outreach events and meetings. This is the only group of its […]

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Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy – Civic Service Award Celebration

Pella Fingersh and Neil Sosland are serving as co-chairmen for the Civic Service Award Celebration. The event will celebrate Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s 54 years of educating and developing students to prepare them for fulfilling lives as contributing community leaders. The late Tiberius Klausner will be honored at the festivities, which will be held on […]

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Name Dropping – Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions

Kansas City native Jaime Geer Steinman is the new owner of Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions, and the company’s future could not be in better hands. “All I want is to do right by Marcia and Lon. They gave birth to an amazing brand, and I want to be a good stepmom,” said Jaime, laughing. Jaime […]

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Life Unlimited – Hats Off to Mothers

The 17th annual Hats Off to Mothers will be held on May 5th at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Ellen Merriman will be the chairman, and John Holt will serve as emcee. Six outstanding mothers will be honored for their remarkable ability to balance family life, personal achievement, and service to our community. This year’s […]

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The Independent’s 2020 Class of Rising Stars

  Ruth J. Brackney, Partner/Attorney, Lathrop GPM “A consummate giver of her time and resources, Ruth enjoys contributing to many local causes and charities. She is a board member with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City and a volunteer with Wayside Waifs no-kill animal shelter. Ruth was a board member from 2016 to 2019 at […]

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Cheers To Volunteers! – Saber Hossinei

The charges were dropped – but being wrongfully accused of a crime was enough to make Saber Hossinei decide to become a lawyer. He began volunteering with the Midwest Innocence Project, which reviews cases in which justice may not have been done. The work was important enough to Saber that a three-hour commute each way […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Kamera Meaney

Kamera Meaney is the special programs manager for Truman Medical Centers. She is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2020. Kamera has served as programming chairman for the annual retreat and as co-chairman of the Healthcare Task Force, in addition to being a member of the curriculum committee. She earned a bachelor’s degree […]

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