*Sims with his executive team. L-R: Sherry Love who served as chief clinical officer, Paul Klayder who served as chief financial officer, Wayne Sims, and Anne Roberts who served as chief operations officer.

At the end of 2015, KVC Health Systems CEO Wayne Sims retired after 35 years of leading the organization. Sims grew KVC exponentially from a single home serving at-risk children in Kansas City, Kansas to a national organization serving nearly 60,000 children and families each year in Kansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Under Sims’ direction, KVC played a leadership role in pioneering child welfare system reform in Kansas when, in 1996, it became the first state to fully privatize children’s services. This successful public/private partnership led to consultation and training requests worldwide.

Sims shaped KVC’s culture by instilling values such as “Children can’t wait” and “Excellence is not an act; it’s a habit.” Learn more about KVC’s vision, mission and values.

The board of directors recently honored Sims by naming an expanded wing on its Olathe, Kan. headquarters as the “KVC Sims Family Center.” The Center is the hub of the KVC Institute for Health Systems Innovation.

In March 2016, the City of Olathe, Kansas recognized Sims with its Cathedral Builder Award, and in May 2016, the greater Kansas City community honored him as Nonprofit Professional of the Year at Nonprofit Connect’s 32nd Annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon.

David Ball of Ball’s Food Stores and Bob Regnier of Bank of Blue Valley nominated Sims for the award. They said, “Wayne’s goal is for every child to grow up in a family, not congregate care. The child welfare system and thousands of foster children have been positively impacted by his leadership at KVC.”

Thank you, Wayne, for dedicating the past 35 years to helping thousands of children and families! 

Learn more about Sims’ legacy and watch a video tribute here.

Wayne Sims – Nonprofit Professional of the Year – Nominated by David Ball and Bob Regnier

Sims giving a short speech after being named Nonprofit Professional of the Year

Summary of Wayne Sims’ accomplishments in the program

Hundreds of business and nonprofit leaders as well as philanthropists attended the awards luncheon

Sims with Ellen McCarthy, one of the women who founded in 1970 what is now KVC Health Systems