Awards Celebration

2026 AWARDS CELEBRATION
Presented by BOK Financial

The Nonprofit Connect Awards Celebration isn't just an event—it's Kansas City's oldest, largest, and most prestigious tribute to nonprofit leadership and impact. For 42 years, this signature luncheon has been the stage where Nonprofit Connect shines a spotlight on those who make our community thrive. We have proudly honored more than 350 extraordinary nonprofit leaders, organizations, and dedicated business partners whose contributions leave a lasting mark on Kansas City.

APRIL 21, 2026

The Sheraton Hotel at Crown Center

2026 Sponsorship Opportunities

Every day nonprofits make an incredible impact, strengthening our community and improving lives. This is why we do it. We believe in lifting up the changemakers and celebrating their dedication.

By becoming a sponsor of the 2026 Awards Celebration you are championing the mission driven work that makes Kansas City a better place to live and work. Your sponsorship directly empowers Nonprofit Connect to provide essential support, education and connections that help nonprofits fulfill their purpose.

For questions regarding sponsorships for the 2026 Awards Celebration please contact events@npconnect.org.

Sponsorship Opportunities

2026 Honorees

Equity in Action - Large Organization
Cornerstones of Care - Represented by Merideth Rose

Merideth Rose serves as the President and CEO of Cornerstones of Care, a 156-year-old behavioral and mental health nonprofit supporting over 14,000 youth and families annually. Since her appointment in 2022, Merideth has aligned mission and operations to deepen community impact. Under her leadership, the organization nearly doubled its spending with disadvantaged business enterprises—surpassing $2.5 million—and achieved its seventh Sanctuary™ recertification for its trauma-responsive culture.

Merideth’s career spans human capital leadership, public education, and FEMA disaster operations. As a foster care alumna and adoptee, her leadership centers on the belief that community support can reveal a child’s potential long before they see it themselves. Her personal resilience informs her commitment to both people and systemic change.

A 2025 Pinnacle Prize recipient and Kansas City Business Journal Woman of Influence, Merideth accepts the Equity in Action Award on behalf of her 700-member team, whose dedication advances healing and belonging throughout the region.

Equity in Action - Small Organization
Tiny Pantry Times - Represented by Jennifer Parker

As a college professor and community advocate, Jennifer Parker founded Tiny Pantry Times in September 2020 in response to the profound socioeconomic shifts brought on by the pandemic. What began as a front-yard initiative distributing 2,500 pounds of essentials has evolved under their leadership into a high-impact regional operation. Today, Tiny Pantry Times operates from an expanded facility, distributing between 40,000 and 60,000 pounds of food and hygiene products monthly.

The organization’s success is built on a robust network of strategic partnerships, including major retailers like Costco, local vendors from the Overland Park Farmer’s Market, and Kanbe’s Market. Supported by a dedicated base of over 70 volunteers—ranging from student groups to senior organizations—Tiny Pantry Times bridges the gap for underserved populations. By fostering a culture of mutual aid and "village" support, Jennifer Parker has turned a localized crisis response into a sustainable model of community resilience and dignity.

Stronger Together
3DE by Junior Achievement of Greater KC Collaborative

Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City’s 3DE collaborative has rapidly become a regional model for educational innovation, bringing together Kansas City Public Schools, Olathe Public Schools, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, and Hickman Mills School District to drive measurable change across the education ecosystem. The 3DE by Junior Achievement model is redesigning high school education from the inside out, shifting school culture, strengthening student engagement, and boosting academic performance. Together, this collaboration is preparing students to graduate with a vision for their future, confidence in their abilities, and a path to achievement, while demonstrating what’s possible when districts and communities work in alignment.

As a recognized leader in experiential learning, Junior Achievement is accelerating economic mobility for youth at a scale the region has never seen. Junior Achievement ensures students gain the skills, confidence, and exposure needed to thrive in career and life. Signature experiences like JA BizTown, presented by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, and 3DE are driving lasting, system-level change, leveraging career-connected learning and preparing the next generation for lifelong success and choice-filled futures.

Nonprofit Catalyst Staff Member
Natasha Bailey - Thelma's Kitchen

Natasha Bailey is a distinguished Kansas City–based chef, community leader, and advocate dedicated to the transformative power of food. As the Executive Chef and Program Manager at Thelma’s Kitchen, Kansas City’s inaugural pay-it-forward café, she champions food security by providing wholesome meals that prioritize dignity and social connection.

Her influence extends beyond the kitchen into systemic advocacy and culinary storytelling. Natasha serves with the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition and is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, where she mentors women in the hospitality industry. A respected voice in the field, she has served as a judge for the prestigious James Beard and IACP Awards and co-hosted KCUR’s podcast, Hungry for Mo.

With a career spanning landmark institutions like Eden Alley and Green Dirt Farm, Natasha views food as a vital catalyst for belonging and economic opportunity. She remains committed to building resilient communities, one meal at a time.

Nonprofit Catalyst Staff Member
Vince Bustamante - Life Unlimited

Vince serves as the Vice President of Training at Life Unlimited, where he leverages over 26 years of dedicated experience in the nonprofit sector to empower employees to maximize their impact in their work with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Holding a degree in Sociology and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Innovation, Vince has dedicated his career to workforce development, education, and training.

Under his leadership, the Life Unlimited Training Department has earned local and national acclaim, including the 2024 eitas Innovation and Excellence Award and the 2025 ANCOR Moving Mountains Award. Vince is the architect of a comprehensive Supervisor Training Series specifically designed for the IDD field, and co-author of a positive behavior support curriculum taught to all Life Unlimited employees. He is deeply committed to professional development, especially through the cultivation of emotional intelligence and self-exploration using the Enneagram.

Beyond his professional life, Vince is an avid cyclist, reader, and board game enthusiast. He resides with his wife, Adelina, and their beloved pets, Zoey and Galaxy.

Nonprofit Catalyst Executive
Larry Lewis - Growing Futures Early Education

Larry J. Lewis Jr. has dedicated over 25 years to championing the well-being of children and families. As the Executive Director of Growing Futures Early Education Center, Larry leads with a strategic focus on high-quality early education and comprehensive family support systems. His leadership ensures that parents and caregivers have the necessary tools to thrive alongside their children.

A former collegiate athlete at Kansas State University, Larry’s career is built on the belief that safe spaces and education are transformative. His expertise spans fundraising, board development, and community advocacy, with a particular emphasis on fostering meaningful partnerships between nonprofits and local stakeholders. Larry is a vocal advocate for multi-level investments that nurture child development and create lasting community progress.

Residing in Olathe with his wife and three children, Larry remains deeply committed to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow. He continues to focus on expanding resources and opportunities, ensuring every child has a foundation for lifelong success.

Nonprofit Catalyst Executive
Tam Singer - Great Plains SPCA

Tam Singer is a dedicated animal welfare executive with over two decades of experience in leadership, advocacy, and community outreach. Originally from the United Kingdom, Tam transitioned from a successful corporate career as a Director of Recruiting to follow her passion for service. In 2017, she joined Great Plains SPCA as Chief Operations Officer before stepping into her current role as Chief Executive Officer in 2018, where she has cultivated a signature culture of kindness and accountability.

A veteran advocate, Tam founded the nonprofit MTPRC in Nashville, successfully campaigning against breed-specific legislation and inhumane tethering. Her leadership has earned her "Humane Hero" honors and a spot on KC Magazine’s 2024 "Kansas City Power Players" list.

Beyond animal welfare, Tam serves on the board of Kansas Pet Advocates and was appointed by the Mayor of Overland Park to the Racial Equity in Community Program. She lives in Kansas City with her family and beloved pets, remaining committed to systemic community improvement.

Excellence in Impact
Prep KC - Represented by Susan Wally

Susan Wally is the founder, President, and CEO of PREP-KC (Partnership for Regional Educational Preparation-Kansas City). Since 2006, she has led the organization in developing scalable college and career pathways for urban students, driven by the conviction that a student's zip code should not dictate their future opportunities.

Under Susan’s leadership, PREP-KC partners with nine urban school districts and a network of over 1,000 industry volunteers to bridge the gap between education and the workforce. Notably, she pioneered the Market Value Assets (MVAs) concept in 2016 to provide students with tangible, real-world credentials. Her extensive career includes serving as Vice President of Education at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, following her foundational years as a teacher and principal.

Susan currently serves on Kansas Governor Kelly’s Council on Education and several nonprofit boards. Her impact has been recognized with prestigious honors, including the United Way’s Impact 100 and Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders awards.

Preserving Advocate
Artists Helping the Homeless - Represented by Kar Woo

Kar Woo, Founder and Program Director of Artists Helping the Homeless (AHH) emigrated from Hong Kong to pursue the American Dream, studying business, psychology, and counseling at the Universities of Iowa and Kansas. While operating his Kansas City business, J.M. Porters, Kar encountered the local unhoused population and recognized that simple, targeted acts of support could catalyze profound change. In 2008, he founded AHH to formalize these efforts.

At the request of Saint Luke’s Hospital, Kar developed a groundbreaking, transportation-based hospital diversion program to address the rising number of unhoused individuals in emergency departments. This initiative evolved into a sophisticated network of care, including a respite home for men awaiting treatment and a system for inter-agency coordination.

Studies confirm that AHH’s programs have saved millions in emergency service costs while improving outcomes for safety-net agencies. Under Kar’s leadership, AHH has removed systemic barriers for tens of thousands of individuals, helping them reclaim their own path toward the American Dream.