Our People
A message from our CEO, Chris Rosson:
OUR UNITED IMPACT 2023-24
At United Way of Greater Kansas City, we believe in the power of community. Our community is facing tough challenges: from soaring costs for housing, utilities, food, and medical care to increased violent crime. Our community is also strong, resilient, and together, finds a millions ways to be united.
2023 was a year of building upon a dynamic roadmap of thoughtful and progressive action toward a better Kansas City. We listen and respond to our community’s needs with real-time solutions—which was especially evident as we began 2024.
#KCStrong—A call to turn our collective outrage into action is showcasing the true power of our community. In response to the Feb. 14th mass shooting following the Chiefs parade, United Way partnered with the Kansas City Chiefs to create the #KCStrong fund to quickly, responsibly deploy assistance to victims and their families, while also supporting work in the areas of violence prevention and mental health, and to assist first responders.
Direct Inflation Relief to Kansas City Families—Thanks to support from generous community donors, we distributed more than $800,000 in prepaid debit cards, averaging just more than $1,000 each to individuals and families in need. While funds were not restricted, we saw the vast majority of funds were utilized to meet basic, everyday needs including housing, clothing, food and transportation. This is on top of our ongoing commitments in the areas of eviction prevention and utility assistance.
Investing in Communities of Color—More than $1.6 million has been invested into small nonprofits led by or primarily serving communities of color. This funding has been life-changing for organizations that often face significant challenges in accessing capital. Grant dollars have helped nonprofits hire staff, add programming, expand physical space and so much more.
Celebrating our CommUNITY Spirit—We brought together hundreds of individual and corporate volunteers in our first ever CommUNITY Fest, a reimagined Day of Caring in 2023, and are excited to bring this event back in September 2024. Groups helped package food, hygiene and dental kits, create welcome signs, set up an apartment for a family, tend to a community garden, and more. It was a shining example of how we can amplify our impact when we come together to make a difference.
At United Way, we’re riding this tide of momentum into 2024 and beyond. Being named Kansas City Current’s official charity and front-of-kit partner is just one of the exciting ways we’re reaching new audiences and getting creative about ways we can enhance our impact and reach. We know it takes diligence, patience, and passion to get where we’re going. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our mission to create a Kansas City where all can thrive.
Our Leadership Team
Chris Rosson
Chief Executive Officer
Nora Freyman
Chief Marketing Officer
Jessica Blubaugh
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Precious Stargell-Cushman
Chief Impact Officer
Ann Gaffigan
Chief Operating Officer
OUR STAFF
Amber Abram, Manager, Creative Services
Amelia Crowl, Vice President, Corporate Partnerships
Amy Haas, Community Impact Coordinator
Andres Chaurand, Manager, Community Impact
Andriana Sanchez, Manager, Facilities
Ayannah Haskin, Senior Community Resource Navigator
Ayesha Baig, Manager, Events
Brian Shapley, Afterhours Contact Center Manager
Brittany Connor, Director, Corporate Partnerships
Brooke Tippin, Director, Events
Callie Knust, Resource Center Manager 211
Cheryl Adler, Vice President, Finance
Chrissy Rapp, Vice President, Operations
Demetria Warrior, Accounting Services Specialist
Dustin Wolfe, Vice President, Corporate Partnerships
Essence Yancey, Director, Community Impact
Gabrielle Jacobs, Manager, Development Operations
Hannah Boehm, Director, Events
Hilda Caballero, Donor Services Assistant
Jackie Feeney, Vice President, Philanthropy
Jadell Foutz, Staff Accountant
Jared Freemon, Director, Finance & Accounting Services
Jim MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Community Impact
Joey Schmidt, Director, Corporate Partnerships
Jolanta Liu, Director, Grants & Development Operations
Judy Simonitsch, Donor Services
Justin Grawe, Manager, Corporate Partnerships
Karen Gettinger, Director, Community Impact
Katie Walden, Manager, Philanthropy
Kenzi Hoyle, Vice President, Corporate Partnerships
Kera Mashek, Director, Communications
Kimberly O’Hare, Manager, Donor Choice
Kristen Engelbrecht, Director, 211
Latrice Parker, Resource Specialist, 211
Lauren Hogle, Manager, Corporate Partnerships
Lenetta Warren, Day Contact Center Manager 211
Libby Buss, Senior Executive Assistant
Matthew Applebury, Data Analytics & Salesforce Manager
Mike Lager, Director, Philanthropy
Nichelle Renaud, Donor Services Assistant
Nikki Jones, Director, Donor Services
Patrice Brown, Director, Human Resources
Pete Stedman, Vice President, Information Technology
Safiyah Grant, Accounts Payable Specialist
Sammy Snow, Manager, Corporate Partnerships
Sean Callahan, Director, Data and Insights
Stephanie Clark, Manager, Development Operations
Todd Jordan, VP, Community Impact & Exec. Dir. 211
Vickie Riddle, Emergency Food & Shelter Coordinator
Virginia Trickey, Manager, Communications
Board of Trustees
Board Officers
Laurie Roberts
Parris Communications
Board Chair
Greg Sweat
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City
Board Vice Chair
Patrick (Duke) Dujakovich
Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO
Board Secretary
Bill Johnson
Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
Board Treasurer
Our Board Members
Amy Hatch, Polsinelli
Art Silva, Helzberg Diamonds
Bill Johnson, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
Carol Levers, Kansas City, Kansas Public Libraries
Chris Rosson, United Way of Greater Kansas City
Dana Jermain, Deloitte
Dan Crumb, Kansas City Chiefs
Dred Scott, Kansas City Civic Council
Ed Elder, Colliers-Kansas City
Ginger Williams, OPTUM
Greg Shondell, Heathwood Oil Co., Inc.
Greg Sweat, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City
Irene Caudillo, Unified Gov. of Wyandotte Co., Kan.
J. Randall Vance, Sunderland Foundation
Kevin Zimmermann, HTLF Bank
Laurie Minard, Garmin
Mario Azar, Black & Veatch
Mark Moreland, Lockton
Mary Bristow, J.E. Dunn
Mike Perry, Hallmark
Patrick (Duke) Dujakovich, Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO
Rick Viar, Southern Bank
Robin Winner, Synergy Services
Rosemary Podrebarac, Attorney, Private Practice
Shannon Johnson, UMB Bank
Shawn Long, The University of Kansas Health System
Shellie Clausen, Heartland CocaCola Bottling Company
Tom Carignan, CommunityAmerica Credit Union
Troy Schulte, Jackson County Government