An evening of Dance, Diversity, and Inspiration.
Thank you to all who helped make our 35th Anniversary Gala a success! Your support allows us to continue to make dance accessible to all and to positively impact the lives of area youth!
Images courtesy of Mike Strong and Micki Cross
Proceeds from the 35th Annual Gala will benefit KCFAA’s 11 year-round education and youth development programs that teach 25,000 children critical life skills through dance in 2019.
Special Guests from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater included:
Robert Battle, Artistic Director
Judith Jamison, Artistic Director Emerita
Ailey II Dancers
Ailey II’s Amarachi Valentina Korie. Photo by Kyle Froman
35th Anniversary Gala Sponsors
EMERALD SPONSORS
Kathleen & Marshall Miller
Richard J. Stern Foundation
AMETHYST SPONSORS
Sharon & John Hoffman
Tom & Jean McDonnell
MaryJane* and Sheryll Myers
Jeannette Nichols*
Myra* & Lester Siegel
Ratana & Oscar Tshibanda
Phyllis Washington
OPAL SPONSORS
Alexander & Andrea Alford
Kay* & John Callison
Bunni & Paul Copaken
Harold & Marilyn Melcher
ANNIVERSARY SPONSORS
Marcia Bailey*
Burns & McDonnell
Gina Hull
Husch Blackwell
Marcia* & Lon Lane
Kansas City, Missouri Office of City Manager
Siobhan McLaughlin Lesley
Lewis Rice – Charles Miller*
Susan Stanton*
UMB
UMB Financial Corporation
Dr. Michael Weaver*
Zhou Brothers
PATRON SPONSORS
Gene Agee
Jamie & Chuck Allen
Debby* & Gary Ballard
G. Kenneth & Ann Baum
Debbie Brooks
Mark Bryant &
McClain Bryant Macklin
Lynn & Lance Carlton
Diana & Joe Carter
Dianne* & Emanuel Cleaver II
Commerce Bank
Consolidated Communications
Keith & Amy Copaken &
Jon & Shelley Copaken
Ellen & Jamie Copaken
Country Club Trust
Karen Curls, PhD
Chris & Amelia DeVolder
Tammy & James Edwards
Sally Firestone
Kim Klein & Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein
Allan Gray II & Hilda Fuentes
Greater Kansas City Links, INC.
Licia Clifton-James, PhD &
Aja James
Drs. Anne* & Nelson Johnson
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation
Lisa Klein, PhD
Pat Konopka
Sandra* & Dr. Willie Lawrence
Melanie & Skip Miller
Prairie Capital
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P
Cristina & Brandon Starks
Julianne Story
UMKC
Marissa & Jabari Wamble
Sherrie Wattenbarger
Roger* & Everlyn Williams
Brian D. Williams*
BENEFACTOR SPONSORS
Dr. Thomas & Karren* Crouch
Donna & Charles Davis
Julie & Brendan Donelon
Dunn Family Foundation
Barbara Loring Foster*
Suellen Fried*
GEHA
Robert & Sherry Gibbs
Donald J. Hall
John & Jenny Isenberg
Nancy Lee & Jonathan Kemper
Sandy* & Joel Leibsohn
Lisa Leonard
Yvette & Leo Morton
Barbara Nelson
Sue & Lewis Nerman
Charles R. & Jane F. Olsen* Fund
Roshann Parris & Jeffrey Dobbs
Deborah Moore Rainey
Lisa & Charles Schellhorn
Lynda* & Bob Shapiro
JoAnn and Bill Sullivan
Truman Medical Center
Ursula Terrasi & James Miller
zTrip
* Former Board Members & Honorary Gala Committee