CEOpen Raises $62,500 for Local Charities
by David Smale
Yes, it was a beautiful day on the golf course (that’s from the Department of Redundancy Department—it’s always a beautiful day on the golf course). Yes, the cocktail reception and gourmet buffet had a mouth-watering sampling of food from some of Kansas City’s finest restaurants. Yes, getting a day away from the office to mingle with some of the area’s most accomplished executives was great.
But that’s not the point.
The first annual CEOpen raised $62,500 for three local charities—that’s the point!
The American Cancer Society’s Heartland Division received $25,000 as the primary beneficiary. INTRUST Bank, the winner of the Corporate Division, selected the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute as its charity of choice for a donation of $12,500.
Ameristar Casino, the winner of the Open Division, selected the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City for its $12,500 donation. Ameristar has agreed to match the donation, which is on top of a $205,000 donation to the Institute in January. The $205,000 represented Ameristar employee contributions that were matched by Ameristar Casino, Inc. and CEO Craig H. Neilsen’s Foundation.
The American Cancer Society plans to use the money to fund research, something everyone involved in the CEOpen could agree was a worthy pursuit. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that everyone in the field knows someone who has been impacted by this terrible disease.
“The American Cancer Society is very excited about this opportunity to team up with leaders from across Kansas City in the fight against cancer,” said Ted Buckland, CEO of the Society’s Heartland Division.
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy and service.
In addition, each team was playing for a charity of its choice, making it more than just light-hearted competition. Play at the top of your game, and for your favorite charity would benefit.
Such was the case for INTRUST, who selected the Cancer Institute, a division of the University of Kansas Medical Center. Mike Maddox, President of the Northeast Kansas Region for INTRUST, has seen the excellent care provided by the Institute for his father-in-law, who is being treated there currently.
The mission of the Cancer Institute is “to build a world-class Cancer Center that is at the forefront of discovery, development and implementation of know-ledge, technology and novel therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of cancer.”
It is coordinating the efforts of the Medical Center’s commitment to advancing the cancer research, education and patient care activities throughout the region. All schools, institutes and centers in the Kansas University system are eligible to participate, as are the clinical and research affiliates of the KU School of Medicine. These include, among others, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Univer-sity of Kansas Hospital and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
The mission of the Rehabilitation Institute is “to build brighter futures for children and adults with disabilities.” It was born out of a desire to offer services that individuals with disabilities needed to progress to their high-est potential—physically, socially and vocationally. It is the only provider of both medical rehabilitation and employment services in the Kansas City area.
The Rehabilitation Institute, which opened in 1947, serves every disability group and has the reputation as the “place to go” for treatment for the most challenging disabilities, such as spinal cord injury; traumatic brain injury; stroke; birth defect; developmental delay and neurological disorders.
With more than 140 medical and vocational profes-sionals on staff, it provides programs that are highly individualized and goal-oriented, and assists individuals at all stages in life, from birth to death.