Heartland Humanitarians
Chuck and Colleen Foudree
For nearly 40 years, Chuck and Colleen Foudree have invested their time, talent and treasure into making the heartland region a better place to live. Honored with the 2000 THCF Jackson County Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Foudrees continue to achieve their charitable goals through their Donor-Advised Fund.
Together the Foudrees have been active members of Christ United Methodist Church and served on many charitable boards across the community. Chuck’s community involvement has included service to Independence Jaycees, Independence YMCA, St. Mary’s Hospital of Blue Springs, Metropolitan Community College Foundation, St. Paul’s School of Theology and Truman State University. Meanwhile Colleen has added committed herself to the work of Independence and Missouri Jaycee Wives boards, Junior Service League and Hope House.
“Through our fund we stay connected to our charitable interests. We know our contributions are building the kind of future we want for our community”, say Chuck and Colleen.
Allen Lefko
For more than 45 years, Allen and his wife, Barbara, have enriched the lives of heartland residents. Together with their three children and six grandchildren, they have made significant philanthropic achievements in our community. In 2002, Allen was honored with the THCF Jackson County Humanitarian of the Year Award for the vital role he has played in the economic development of our region.
Allen’s volunteer contributions have touched a myriad of professional and nonprofit organizations including the Grain Valley Economic Development Council, Independence Chamber, Independence Rotary, Association for Industrial Development, Kansas City Clearing House Association and Suburban Banker Association.
He has also been an active volunteer at the YMCA, Boy Scouts, and Choices programs for Grain Valley and Independence. Allen and Barbara have been instrumental in continuing their faithful contributions to Grain Valley Arts and Beautification Council, Grain Valley Senior Citizens Nutrition Program and the Association for Industrial Development Scholarship through their Donor-Advised Fund at THCF.
Barbara Potts
Barbara Potts is a lifelong resident of eastern Jackson County and has given life to the heartland community for many years. Her husband, Don, left his home in New York to marry Barbara and today they have four children and eight grandchildren. They have committed their lives to causes that touch the hearts of many and build stronger communities. Barbara was honored in 1997 with the THCF Jackson County Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Through her service on boards, committees and task forces for more than 30 organizations, she has helped improve the lives of thousands of heartland residents. Her community service is matched with her commitment to public service serving as Mayor of Independence, representative and chair of the Mid-America Regional Council, Director and President of the Missouri Municipal League and President of the Missouri Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation.
Barbara has given generously to Crossroads, Eye Foundation of Kansas City, Hope House, Jackson County Historical Society, Kauffman Fund for Greater Kansas City, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Park College, Truman Library Institute and the Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Don and Barbara continue their legacy of lifetime giving through their charitable fund at THCF. They continue to passionately serve the causes they care about.
Fred Hahn
When Fred and Marge first married, they made a commitment
to each other to use their financial wealth for traveling, which
was usually associated with a Rotary International project that
benefited humanity. Today, the Hahns have traveled to more
than 70 countries throughout their 50 years of marriage working to eradicate polio from developing and underdeveloped
countries. In 2006, Fred was honored with the THCF Jackson
County Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Fred learned the value of hard work and determination as a young man growing up on a 120-acre farm in Iowa. Admiring his immigrant father, Fred modeled his fairness and belief in giving leading him on to serve in the military, followed by a life in the medical profession and civic involvement. He has been involved in the Independence Chamber, Community Services League and Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas.
Fred believes, “there is honor in all charitable work, and each person who gives gains more than he gave.” Fred and Marge give generously through their fund at THCF to support the initiatives they care about and their commitment to making our region and the world a better place to live is evident and admired by many.
Byron Constance
For more than 50 years, Byron Constance has made immeasurable contributions to the heartland’s economic development. Senior partner in the firm Constance, Stewart & Cook, his business pursuits have varied from cable television, mortgage banking, real estate investment and development, and retail sports merchandising. Serving on the I-470 Development, Inc board, Byron has also served on many bank boards across the community.
Byron has generously given of his time and financial resources to expand philanthropy in heartland communities. Serving as the first Chairman of the Board for the Truman Heartland Community Foundation, Byron has been engaged in the growth and development of many civic organizations, namely American, Missouri and Eastern Jackson County Bar Associations; Greater Kansas City Epilepsy Foundation; Independence Chamber of Commerce; Independence Rotary Club; Independence Square Redevelopment Corporation; Midtown Truman Road Corridor Redevelopment Corporation; his church home and many other organizations.
Listing his involvement in the community does not, however, demonstrate the influence, devotion or competence he lends to each endeavor undertaken to make our community a better place to live. Honored with the first THCF Jackson County Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1996, Byron’s commitment to philanthropy has been adopted by his two children and four grandchildren. Their fund at THCF has been a tool to help him continue his commitment to the heartland community.
Helen French
For more than 45 years, Helen French has given generously to the heartland region. In 2001 Helen was honored with the THCF Jackson County Humanitarian of the Year Award. In big ways and small, Helen’s collective contributions of time, talent, treasure and enthusiasm have added up to a lifetime humanitarian gift that has touched many individuals and organizations.
Specifically in the areas of health and welfare, education and the arts, Helen’s charitable contributions began with her church home, First Baptist Church of Independence. Later, she served at the Harry S. Truman Library, co-founded the EJC Voluntary Action Center, chaired the Community Arts Association’s Multiple Piano Festival, participated in AFS and co-founded a musical kindergarten to teach her students passion for music and lifelong learning. She also served on the Independence Board of Education, THCF Board of Directors, Heart of American Family Services and the Mid-Continent Public Library.
Helen has continued her humanitarian gifts through her fund at THCF and has continued to model the importance of charitable giving to her three children and four grandchildren.
Junior Service League
For more than 60 years, Junior Service League has been connecting women leaders to charitable needs. Today JSL has
become a vital and influential force in the heartland community. Over, 300 members strong, JSL trains volunteers for leadership and initiates service in response to community needs while offering women opportunities for personal growth.
In 2004, JSL received the THCF Jackson County Humanitarian of the Year Award for its rich history of community service. Women volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Youth Friends, Drumm Farm, Community Services League as well as serving on the boards of many agencies throughout the region. Through their Community Trust Fund, the women of Junior Service League have made grants to support the restoration of the Truman Depot, Kids on the Block Puppet Show, Parents as Teachers Organization, Hope House, CAPA, restoration of the Truman Memorial Building, Jackson County Free Health Clinic and many other seed projects.
Through their fund at THCF, the women of Junior Service League also offer the Bess Wallace Truman Scholarship to area women preparing for their undergraduate education and demonstrating a commitment to service and upholding the high ideals of Bess Truman.
David Ross
Kansas Citian David Ross has made charitable giving a lifestyle. Nations Bank’s Senior Vice President and Manager Charitable Team of the Kansas City Private Client Group, David was the 1998 recipient of the THCF Jackson County Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Now retired, for over 30 years, he specialized in charitable giving. His team was responsible for more than 300 charitable relationships totaling more than $700 million in assets. He was responsible for discretionary grants of $8 million to charitable, educational, and faith-based issues in the heartland community from charitable accounts in which Nations Bank served as trustee.
Named one of Ingram’s Magazine’s “1997 Local Heroes”, The People who Drive Philanthropy in Kansas City, David continues to do philanthropy through a fund at THCF established on behalf of his newest venture, Nonprofit Business Solutions (NBS). He now works to help charities create earned income business plans to meet ongoing funding needs. THCF is proud to partner with David and NBS in reaching new heights for the heartland’s charitable community.