Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

The Perfect Gift

My three-year-old and seven-year-old are usually delightful and good-natured (!), except when they are fighting with each other. ("When they are good they are very, very good and when they are bad they are horrid," right?) The two girls share a room and a bed, and rarely does a night go by without some a tiff of some sort. "Lindy pulled my hair!" "Annie took my dog away!" Lindy is touching my blanket!"

So it was a true joy to watch Ann at Lindy's holiday program this year. Lindy sang a solo, and Ann enthusiastically coached her from her chair in the audience, waving her arms with gusto as she mouthed the words to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to encourage her little sister to keep singing. No one clapped louder than Ann. "Yay Lindy!" she shouted. "I am so proud of you!" Little did I know, Ann had been helping Lindy practice in bed every night after I turned off the lights and crossed my fingers that there would be no arguments that would require me to replay the bedtime routine.

The perfect gift. What a treat to watch Ann help Lindy be the best that she could be. And then it dawned on me. That is what we do every day at the Community Foundation. We help people help others be the best that they can be. Every time you make a charitable donation, you are helping those in need reach their full potential, something everyone deserves. I know I speak for all of us at the Community Foundation when I say that the privilege to serve donors like you as you make the lives of all Kansas Citians better is truly a gift to us.

Best wishes for the season.

Fan Mail

What's in your mailbox this season? Not the card from my family, since those are still sitting on my desk at home, begging to be addressed. Here it is electronically. Isn't technology great? 

It is always fun to pass along greetings of good cheer and heartwarming stories of giving. This year, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. used the Community Foundation's Charity Giving Card as the centerpiece for its holiday gifts. Below are just a few of the many positive comments directed to Fleishman-Hillard's General Manager. I am sure you will enjoy the fan mail as much as we did! And it is not too late to order your Charity Giving Cards—click here! 

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I just wanted to let you know that I think this is a great idea. I believe we all have found ourselves saying "I want to help others" but somehow most of us end up getting caught up in our daily lives with work and family. These cards help make the first steps towards giving back to a community that has so graciously provided us with our good fortune. This is an inspiration to me personally, to continue giving and will recommend this great idea to my family and friends.
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THANK YOU SO MUCH for the best corporate holiday gift I have EVER received!  I LOVE IT!!!  I'm not kidding, it is the most clever and festive gift.  What better gift to give than the gift of giving?? Everything is perfect- the box, the colors, the gloves (give someone a hand this holiday season…), the Ghandi quote. What a great community service for FH – you are basically supporting all of these local organizations (is there a way to track where all of your gift cards go??), but also, what a great promotion for the gift card program.

As a non-profit representative I am honored to receive this and it gets me excited about DonorEdge and the gift card program.  As your friend, I must say, THIS IS BRILLIANT!! Way to go!

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I've been meaning to send this e-mail to you all week, and it keeps getting away from me! I wanted to let you know how much we loved and admired the FH holiday gift of a charity giving card. I'm so proud my clients here in KC will be getting it - what an awesome way to show the community what kind of people we are at FH.

We spent it almost immediately on Sunday morning - it gave us the opportunity to give something more this year to The Children's Place, which I really appreciated! I've told so many people about it already, and plan to give a few out for Christmas myself.

Thanks for getting us something that truly has a lasting impact and gave us the opportunity to make a difference. I cannot think of anything better.

Now That's Pretty Slick

Things are pretty slippery at our house—inside and out. Not only do we have an ice-covered driveway, but we also have a toddler learning to walk who refuses to wear her shoes, so she slides all over the floor in her socks. Boom!

If you thought the icy roads were slick, check this out! The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Kansas City have just announced a new partnership that will help our 129 area United Way agencies. With the merger of four Kansas City area United Ways into one organization, starting next year the United Way will begin using the Community Foundation’s DonorEdge® profiles for recertification of United Way agencies during the interim two years between formal certifications. And remember to visit  www.donoredge.org to learn about more than 600 area nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life in Kansas City.

Now that’s pretty slick!

Twas the Season

Quite a year for football in our region, no? Whether you wear blue and red, or gold and black, one thing's for sure--givers are winners!

Did you know that Trent Green and his wife, Julie, established the Trent Green Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation to help Kansas City, Kansas, high school graduates pursue a teaching degree at an in-state college or university? As Trent explains, “Julie and I met while we were attending Indiana University, and earning a college degree was important to both of us. In fact, it’s such a passion for Julie that her degree is in education. We set up this scholarship fund because we believe that all students should have equal access to higher education, and we feel like this is how we can help in a meaningful way.”

Thanks, Trent and Julie, for allowing us to share your story! Got a story to share about giving? Click here! We want to hear from team players like you who are investing in Kansas City!