Philanthropy Industry Outlook

Philanthropy Community Focuses On Inclusiveness

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving proved a lively time to discuss key issues facing Greater Kansas City’s philanthropic community. Some 25 leaders in this community gathered at the Ronald McDonald House for a provocative assembly co-sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and McCownGordon Construction. Chairing the meeting were McCownGordon’s CEO Pat McCown and Jean-Paul Chaurand of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

This assembly was part of Ingram’s ongoing effort to highlight issues of significance in Kansas City’s metropolitan area. And no issue is more important than the continued viability of the philanthropic community, specifically the efforts to make that community more inclusive.

Although there was honest and animated talk about a range of issues, the mood was upbeat and the outlook positive.

In his best seller, Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam made the compelling case that Americans have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors and our democratic structures.

To some degree Kansas City has resisted this trend. One of the reasons is that companies like McCownGordon have taken a leadership role. Pat McCown sees an ongoing need “to encourage the other firms, the other companies, the other organizations that we’re involved with to step up and be involved in the phil-anthropic community, because that, I think is just key for the success of any city.”

(seated, left to right)

Janet Mark, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art
Pat McCown, McCownGordon Construction (Co-Chair, Co-Sponsor)
Ann Jerome, Ronald McDonald House (Host)
Jean-Paul Chaurand, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation (Co-Chair, Co-Sponsor)
Joanna Sebelien, Harvesters

(standing, left to right)

Kala Stroup, American Humanics
Susan Melton, Council on Philanthropy
Dan Dechant, Morgan Stanley
Sr. Vicki Perkins, Cristo Rey School/Sisters of Charity
Jan Lewis, Catholic Charities Archdiocese KCK
Jim Stilley, Truman Heartland Community Foundation
Brett Gordon, McCownGordon Construction
Jennifer Furla, Jeffrey Byrne & Associates
Tracy McFerrin Foster, Hall Family Foundation
Robin Winner, Synergy
Pam Sibert, Kansas City Art Institute
Cathy Breidenthal, YWCA
Mary Ellen Clark, Providence Health
Mike Deggendorf, Kansas City Power & Light
Diane Marty, Starlight Theatre
Daniel Doty, City Union Mission
Tom Dugard, Heart of America United Way
Bob Dunn, J.E. Dunn Construction Co.
Karen McGuigan, Girl Scouts of Mid-Continent Council
Crystal Williams, Swope Community Enterprises
Marjorie Smelstor, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Richard Wetzel, McCownGordon Construction