Philanthropy

Philanthropy Community Focuses On Health Issues

The Monday after Thanksgiving proved to be a lively time for a discussion of the key issues facing the health care philanthropic community. Some 20 leaders in this community gathered at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for a provocative assembly on this subject. The event was sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation and ably co-chaired by Kauffman Vice President Bob Litan.

This assembly was part of Ingram’s Magazine’s ongoing effort to highlight issues of significance in Kansas City’s greater metropolitan area. And no issue is more important than the continued viability of the health care industry. Although there was honest and animated talk about a range of subjects, the mood was upbeat and the outlook generally positive in the face of some very real challenges.

Challenges

The one question that everyone at the table was asked to answer pertained to those challenges, specifically the most serious one that each organization faced.

“Our biggest challenge,” said Peter Yelorda of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, “is in general the overall cost of health care and in specific the cost of the uninsured.” This challenge is compounded, as Rex Archer noted, because despite the money spent on health care in America, “We’re 25th in life expectancy in this country compared to any country in the world.”

Operating in an era of rising cost is a situation that everyone at the table faced.

(front row, left to right)

Gene Dooley, YMCA of Greater Kansas City

Larry Jacob, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Bob Litan, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (chair)

Kala Stroup, American Humanics Julie Welch, Meara King & Co.

Steve Roling , Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Peter Yelorda, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City

(standing, left to right)

Michelle Sweeney, Ingram's Magazine

Alice Ellison, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City

Bill Bruning, Mid-America Coalition of Healthcare

Jeff Ellis, Lathrop & Gage

Mark McPhee, Saint Luke's Hospital

Mike Tarry, American Red Cross

Tom Dugard, Heart of America United Way

Rex Archer, Kansas City, Missouri Health Department

Joe Sweeney, Ingram's Magazine Terry Snapp, Truman Charitable Foundation

Brenda Sharpe, REACH Healthcare Foundation

Gayla Brockman, Menorah Legacy Foundation

Bob Dunn, Dunn Family Foundation Davoren Tempel, Children's Mercy Hospital