Jan Kreamer Set to Retire as Leader of One of the Country's Largest Community Foundations; Kansas City leaders gather to honor 20 Years of Achievement at Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.KANSAS CITY Kansas City, two adjacent cities of the same name, one (1990 pop. 149,767), seat of Wyandotte co., NE Kansas (inc. 1859), the other (1990 pop. 435,146), Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties, NW Mo. (inc. 1850). , Mo. -- Jan Kreamer, the President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, is retiring after almost 20 years of service as head of one of the largest community foundations in the country. On Friday, Nov. 11, 2005, approximately 800 people gathered at the Hyatt Regency Regency, in British history, the period of the last nine years (1811–20) of the reign of George III, when the king's insanity had rendered him unfit to rule and the government was vested in the prince of Wales (later George IV) as regent. in Kansas City, Mo., to honor Kreamer and her leadership at the Foundation. Now a nationally recognized figure in philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. , when Kreamer assumed her role as president and CEO in 1986, the Community Foundation managed $14 million in assets. Today, the Foundation manages almost a $1 billion in assets and consistently ranks in the top ten in assets, gifts received, and grants made among more than 650 community foundations nationwide. Throughout her tenure, Kreamer has been an active participant in the national discussion on how philanthropy can change lives, improve communities, and make dreams a reality. The philanthropic phil·an·throp·ic also phil·an·throp·i·cal adj. 1. Of, relating to, or marked by philanthropy; humanitarian. 2. Organized to provide humanitarian or charitable assistance: model Kreamer put into place in Kansas City -- one of donor impact -- has been adopted by numerous community foundations around the country. In recognition of the significant contribution Kreamer has made to Kansas City, the Community Foundation has established the million-dollar Janice C. Kreamer Community Fund. The fund will be used to award "capacity-building" grants (focused on strategy, financial stability, business processes, and governance) to fundamentally strengthen area nonprofits. The fund also includes a new award to recognize area nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. leaders who exhibit exceptional vision, determination, and drive. "Kansas City is a better place due to Jan Kreamer," McKnight said. "The impact she has had over the last 20 years is truly immeasurable. Thanks to her leadership, we have much to be proud of, both as a foundation and as a community. This fund will ensure that we develop the next generation of community leaders to carry on Jan's vision." During Kreamer's tenure, the Community Foundation has become a leading advocate for social change and taken on some of the region's most difficult challenges. Over the past two decades, she has focused her attention and the attention of the Foundation on life sciences, homelessness, children and education, health care, culture and the arts, race relations race relations Noun, pl the relations between members of two or more races within a single community race relations npl → relaciones fpl raciales , and healthy neighborhoods. Her ongoing commitment to children and education was the driving force behind the creation of The Partnership for Children, YouthNet, and Youth Friends. After she steps down, Kreamer will continue to play an active role in Kansas City. She will be leading the resource development initiative for the Greater Kansas City Performing Arts Center A performing arts center, often abbreviated PAC, is a multi-use performance space that can be adapted for use by various types of the performing arts, including dance, music and theatre. , a crucial catalyst for the revitalization re·vi·tal·ize tr.v. re·vi·tal·ized, re·vi·tal·iz·ing, re·vi·tal·iz·es To impart new life or vigor to: plans to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; tried to revitalize a flagging economy. of downtown. She also will chair the Village Presbyterian Church Foundation, which has a true global vision and reinforces Jan's belief in the power and potential of faith-based philanthropy. Kreamer also will serve on the George K. Baum Foundation and the Gary Dickinson Family Charitable Foundation in Kansas City. Nationally, she will serve on the SC Johnson Foundation Johnson Foundation: see Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. She continues to serve on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. of Kansas City board, with a focus on wellness and promoting healthy lifestyles. The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation has been connecting donors to the needs in the community it cares about for more than 25 years. The Community Foundation, including its five affiliates within the Greater Kansas City region, is recognized as a national leader in making sure every philanthropic investment returns the greatest emotional, civic, and financial benefit possible. In 2004, the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and its donors granted more than $93 million to improve the quality of life in our community. The Foundation received more than $131 million in new contributions from donors, bringing the Foundation's asset total to approximately $952 million. For more information, visit www.gkccf.org. |
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