"Jimmy Frantzé is a guy who loves people, wine, his two restaurants, and doing good things for those in need. As the owner/managing partner of the venerable JJ's and its newer cousin, Frondizi's Ristorante, on either side of the Plaza, he is a frequent recipient of requests from charitable organizations for help.

Frantzé came into the business in an unusual way. Degreed at UMKC to become a teacher, he ended up surfing and then was in the oil business before becoming founding partner in Dos Hombres, for which he eventually left Oklahoma to manage. Then he started up Thirsty's, a Westport watering hole. He began collecting wine "modestly" and that eventually led to the desire for the creation of "fine dining," or JJ's, which this year celebrated its 18th birthday.

Both JJ's and Frondizi's are known for helping organizations. Both, of course, were at Harvestors' April event, Forks and Corks, where they served nearly 1,500 people tasty treats in Union Station. His participation there dates back nearly 20 years to when the event was held at City Market. He has helped at Jazzoo since its inception, too. The American Royal is another local organization that benefits from his largess. He believes the Royal is important to Kansas City: "It represents the roots of this town. We are in the middle of the grain belt and we need to remember our heritage." Hope House is another of the many causes to which he has made substantial contributions.

The organization closest to his heart is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, for whom he provides time, money, space, food, and drink many times a year. As the longest standing board member, he points to the difference that research has made in the survival rate of the disease's victims--too late to save his nephew 18 years ago but saving thousands of lives now.

Recently, Frantzé was honored with the National Chairperson Citation Award by the Leukemia Society. For the first time in his life, and arguably the last, he was speechless.

Jimmy says the reason he participates so fervently in so many causes is simple. "The Kansas City community has been good to me. It's a moral imperative that I give back."

It's a simple philosophy that helps thousands of people every year.

"The first words out of down- town Marriott's Director of Catering Joyce Spencer's mouth are,"I'm not anybody. I don't know why you'd want to write about me."

She's not kidding but the Mickey Mouse memorabilia in her office symbolizes an easy laugh and a clear sense of purpose. Her philosophy is a deceptively simple one these days: "I just try to do my best no matter what I'm doing."

What she's doing is pretty extensive. From a ten person meeting to a charity ball for 1000, she and her department take care of everything before, during, and after the event. It's a big job, one for which she credits the late Phil Pistilli, builder and operator of the Alameda Plaza Hotel 31 years ago. "He gave me, and many other women, the opportunity to try to do something no one else in the industry would let us do--there were so few women in management then. He always said, ‘You can do it . . . and you should do it.' He made a huge difference to so many of us."

Spencer makes a difference to the organizations she works with--and there have been thousands. Although she tells them never to tell what she's done "extra," her special gift is taking a limited budget and creating something unique. And there's the other thing she does for them--she spends tons and tons of time to make sure the event runs absolutely correctly. It's a rare contribution, one organizations such as the Leukemia Society, to name one among the many, thoroughly appreciate.

That's not to say that corp- orations do not receive similar treatment. What Spencer also does especially well is to work with her staff, showing them that it's not their revenue that evening that is so important, but that each guest be treated fairly and as if she were really important--because they are. She knows that a great evening means return customers--and her bookings reflect that loyalty.

Joyce Spencer is just a modest soul with a secret love of absurdity and a penchant for perfection.