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KVC Health Systems

2018 KVC Hero Luncheon Inspires Caring for Children in Crisis

2018 KVC Hero Luncheon

On Wednesday, May 30, over 600 people from Kansas City and the surrounding metro area attended the 7th Annual KVC Hero Luncheon at the Overland Park Convention Center. 41 Action News Anchor Kevin Holmes acted as emcee and welcomed all guests to the event. KVC Health Systems President and CEO Jason Hooper spoke to the audience about how increased community needs have led KVC to bolster its efforts to stabilize and strengthen families in crisis, recruit and support more loving foster families to care for children, and expand its mental health and psychiatric treatment services. He also recognized the event’s sponsors.

The crowd gave a standing ovation for the family of Phyllis and Eric Watson of Gardner, Kansas after viewing their moving story. The video features the journey of two newly licensed foster parents who had the only home in both Kansas and Missouri that was able to welcome a sibling set of four teenagers into their home, keeping the brothers and sisters together. The video showcased interviews with the siblings about the neglect and abuse they endured before entering foster care, and the journey of reunification with their biological family until that wasn’t an option any longer. Watch the video highlighting the foster/adoptive parents’ journey as well as the children’s journey to finding their forever family:

Sports Radio 810 host Nate Bukaty joined KVC for the fourth year in a row, this time interviewing award-winning sportswriter Joe Posnanski. Posnanski offered behind-the-scenes stories from his coverage of Major League Baseball and his interactions with some of the world’s top athletes. Posnanski has also authored four books, and attendees received an autographed copy of his latest book, “The Secret of Golf: The Story of Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.” Bukaty and Posnanski also played a fun game in which they guessed the meaning of words Posnanski coined to explain sports and everyday interactions.

We’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to our presenting sponsor Holmes Murphy and lead sponsors Garmin, Bank of Blue Valley and all of our generous sponsors listed below; to our VIP featured guests including Joe Posnanski, Nate Bukaty, and Kevin Holmes; to the Watson family for sharing their incredible story and to everyone who attended the luncheon to discover how your time, donations and support can be heroic for children and teens experiencing mental health crisis, abuse or neglect, and the families who care for them.

Thanks to the support of so many heroes, we raised more than $150,000 to help children and families in our community!

If you didn’t get a chance to sign up as an Everyday Hero, there’s still time for you to help and we need your support! Visit www.everydayhero.org for more information. You can also learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent here. Or if you want to educate yourself on child welfare system challenges and solutions, check out this helpful infographic.

Watch the Facebook Live video recording of the event
Or view photos from the 2018 Hero Luncheon on Facebook

or click through this slideshow:

Thank you to our sponsors!

Holmes MurphyHero Luncheon Sponsors