The Untouchables
Though Kansas City has a spirited and deep-rooted history of the frontier and city corruption and efforts to fight crime, this month we’re pleased to present a different breed of untouchables: People who give a whole new meaning to the concept of making a difference.
This is Ingram’s 13th annual Philanthropy edition, and the stories of exceptional people we’ve covered in this issue continue to inspire and credit folks who, frankly, have a difficult time accepting credit for their good deeds. The common thread among these philanthropists is that they give of their time and treasure as well as their contacts and creative resources to help many people. And they do it all year long and every year.
This month’s front cover includes one of KC’s most entertaining and outstanding casts of characters: George Nigro, David Nigro, Toby Tyler, and Ron Stricker, better known as Nigro Brothers Auction Co. For three decades, KC’s Cash Cowboys have served the community as auctioneers at literally thousands of charitable fund-raising auctions and events. Over the years, this foursome has become known by nearly everyone in the non-profit and corporate community. By their own count, they have helped to raise a jaw-dropping $200,000,000 since they began their volunteer auction services in the early 1980s.
George Nigro coordinates plans for many of the auctions at these fund-raisers. He told me that, a few years ago, they were averaging 100 volunteer auctions a year and needed to cut back on what had become a difficult task to keep pace with. But David, Toby, Ron and George are all bleeding hearts. As much as they needed to cut their volunteer efforts, they got soft again and continued to add to their overloaded, non-compensated schedule. Today, Nigro Brothers conducts roughly 150 volunteer auctions a year, primarily throughout the Greater Kansas City area. But the word about their heroics has spread—today they provide auctioneering services for actor John Travolta, former baseball great Johnny Bench and legendary country music star Garth Brooks among others. When asked how they can manage their daytime jobs, spend time with their families or even sleep, they did confess it was very difficult—but that they had amassed an extraordinary collection of gift ties from the organizations they serve.
I asked if the team had ever considered establishing its own foundation, which might be funded by gifts from the organizations they serve and perhaps live auction items from each event. While the formality of a foundation has yet to take root, they’re certainly keeping busy working on behalf of tens of thousands of people in need. As to their day jobs? George and David Nigro operate the long-established Nigro’s Western Store on Merriam Lane in Kansas City, Kan. and in Shawnee. Ron Stricker operates Stricker Auction Services in Gardner, Kan. and Toby Tyler serves the financial services industry by managing hundreds of ATM machines throughout the region.
Their commitment is extraordinary, but it’s only one example of the truly impressive efforts that so many Kansas City residents demonstrate in their quest to make this a better place to live. In this issue, Ingram’s also profiles among its other Corporate Champions the contributions of employees at the Government Employees Health Association, Hallmark Cards, Harley-Davidson and Holmes Murphy and Associates. Some have a couple dozen employees, some have thousands, but all have been examples in action of what it means to give back to the community that sustains you.
Other tales of inspiration come from this year’s Local Heroes, five people who have made unusually meaningful and lasting contributions to the region. People like Gene Land, the Raytown businessman whose abiding faith leads him to donate the lion’s share of his company’s earnings to charitable causes; Mai Gray, who has led a life dedicated to social justice and addressing the needs of children; Debbie Ward, a fixture on many area civic and philanthropic initiatives; Phil Smith, who is changing lives from the Jackson County Jail to the mountains of Guatemala; and Jack Kennedy, who has relentlessly served as chairman on behalf of Angel Flight Central and Starlight Theatre.
Their boundless generosity should stand as an example to all of us that we’re in this together—and that each of us can help make it better. We hope that sharing their stories will prove as inspirational to you as they have been to us. 
Joe Sweeney
Editor-In-Chief & Publisher
Sweeney@IngramsOnLine.com