September 26th is the date for The Family Conservancy’s Blue Carpet Event, to be held at Pennway Place. Martha Comment and her family are the honorary chairmen of the event that will feature cocktails, dinner and silent and live auctions.  Also featured in the June 28th issue of The Independent Photo Credit: David Riffel Honorary […]

Chris Dove is a member of the Centurions, Class of 2014. He is a trial attorney in the intellectual property group at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. Chris provides pro bono legal services and volunteers with Legal Aid of Western Missouri and Jackson County Family Court. Chris and his wife, Beatriz Ibarra, recently moved to Kansas […]

Marlys and Michael Haverty will serve as the honorary chairmen of Union Station Kansas City’s Centennial Gala on October 30th. The Gala will kick off a weekend of special events, including the opening of a new history exhibit and a Centennial Open House on November 1st and 2nd. Also featured in the June 28th issue […]

Betsy Sharp Lynch is a member of the Rising Stars, Class of 2014. Betsy enjoys volunteering at Amethyst Place, the Volunteer Attorney Project, The Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, Habitat for Humanity, Read Across America, Happy Bottoms, Harvesters, and the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City. Betsy enjoys going to football games, […]

Sarah and Landon Rowland are the honorary chairmen, and Pamela Fleischer is serving as the chairman of The Symphony League’s Symphony Ball, “The Sun, the Moon and the Stars,” to be held on September 6th.  Also featured in the June 28th issue of The Independent Photo Credit:  Strauss Peyton Michael Stern, Kansas City Symphony; Anne […]

July 26th is the date for the WIN for KC Triathlon. The largest all-female triathlon in the Midwest will be held at Smithville Lake. To volunteer, visit winforkctri.org.  Also featured in the June 14th issue of The Independent  Volunteers checked participants in before the  2013 event.  

Dr. Rebecca Hierholzer, a board certified emergency physician, has worked in emergency departments since 1984. Rebecca co-founded COVERSA (Collection of Victim Evidence Regarding Sexual Assault) in 2000. She is a supporter of MOCSA, the American Heart Association and the Emergency Medicine Foundation. Rebecca helped to establish the Missouri Honor Fund within the American Medical Association […]

Darren Taylor served as the Corporate Walk Chairman for the 16th annual Light the Night Walk and made an incredible impact on the success of this year’s event. Darren serves as the CEO of Cobalt Talon, and is a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Mid-America Chapter’s board of trustees.  Also featured in the […]

September 21st is the date for the sixth annual Under a Harvest Moon at Powell Gardens. Diane and Ford Brent are the honorary chairmen, and Sheldon Andrew is serving as the chairman of the event that benefits youth education programs at the Gardens. Chef Linda Duerr, The River Club; and her husband, Chef Leon Bahlmann, […]

The March of Dimes’ Signature Chefs Auction will be held on October 13th at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Holly and Greg Mosher are serving as the chairmen of the event that will feature tastings from award-winning chefs from Our Town and across the nation and a unique and exciting auction. Debbie […]

August 23rd is the date for the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA’s) 10th annual Young at Art Cocktail Party and Auction at the Uptown Theater. Deanna and Greg Graves are serving as the honorary chairmen, and Melanie Fenske and Kim Harp are the co-chairmen. Guests will enjoy drinks and delicious fare, silent and […]

Sean Manners joined American Century Investments in 2010. He is an institutional strategies analyst and is responsible for identifying current market trends and establishing a positioning strategy to aide in business development within the institutional investment management industry. Sean is a member of the Centurions Class of 2014. He serves as the co-chairman of the […]

A native of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Luke Wade is a Rising Star, Class of 2014. Prior to his high school graduation, Luke enlisted in the Army National Guard and served eight years, including one tour of duty as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Luke moved to Kansas City and started KC Crew and SocialHeart. He […]

November 1st is the date for The Saint Luke’s Midwest Ear Institute’s 12th annual HEARAid Gala at Indian Hills Country Club. Clara and Joseph Paris are the honorary chairmen, and Felicia Siragusa Bondi and Pauline Siragusa Henne are serving as the co-chairmen.  Also featured in the May 31st issue of The Independent Photo Credit: David […]

Gary Davis is a member of the board of trustees at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. He has been a dedicated volunteer committed to making Catholic education affordable for families in Johnson County. Gary and his wife, Jackie, served as the chairmen of Extravaganza in 2012 and 2013. Jackie and Gary are the parents of […]

Chris Vukas is a member of the Centurions Class of 2014. He serves as co-chairman of the Benchmarking Trip Committee, where he is in charge of securing programming related to arts and culture, community development, entrepreneurship, and education in Philadelphia. Chris joined Greater Kansas City LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation) in 2011 and is responsible […]

Six community volunteers who were involved in planning the festivities when Union Station re-opened in 1999 are back leading the way for Union Station of Kansas City’s centennial celebration. Union Station Kansas City will mark its 100th anniversary with a series of special events, a new history exhibit about the Station and celebrations that will […]

Dawn Taylor was honored as a Rising Star, Class of 2014. She has spent her career in the non-profit sector, including 17 years in fundraising roles at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Dawn is an 11-year volunteer at Operation Breakthrough and a past board member of Quixotic Fusion and […]

June 29th is the date for Harvester’s Chef Classic to be held at The American Restaurant. Kent Sunderland is serving as honorary chairman and Michael Corvino, The American Restaurant; is the host chef. The visiting chefs are Gregory Gourdet, Departure Restaurant, Portland, Oregon; Gavin Kaysen, Cafe Boulud, New York City; and Stephanie Prida, Manresa, Los […]

A passionate Arthritis Foundation volunteer and board member, JiaoJiao Shen is willing to emcee any event, including Art for Arthritis, the Walk to Cure Arthritis and Commitment to a Cure. JiaoJiao’s commitment to the fight against arthritis is very inspiring.  Also featured in the May 17th issue of The Independent   

November 7th is the date for the March of Dimes’ Nurse of the Year Awards to be held at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. The event recognizes nurses from a variety of nursing practice settings whose strength, courage and perseverance advance their profession. Karen L. Miller, The University of Kansas School of Nursing; […]