Don

“I was taught by my church growing up that providing assistance and care for others was a primary purpose of life. Looking for ways to be of service and responding whenever possible is just what one does. A second early influence was the Boy Scouts in both elementary school and junior high, which also promoted service to others.”

Don’s past career covered a wide range of experiences, from serving as executive director of the Kansas City Interfaith Peace Alliance to project funding coordinator for Outreach International to community and rural development training in the U.S. and internationally, with his longest assignments in India and Belgium. After he retired in 2004, he dedicated that same energy to an equally diverse range of volunteer service, including volunteering at Harvesters for 16 years, serving as a board member and officer for the 49/63 Neighborhood Coalition and Block Captain for Rockhill Ridge Neighborhood Association. He is an active member of Empower Missouri, a board member and officer for the United Nations Association of Kansas City, and work with The Missouri Alternatives to the Death Penalty, the Mary Ellen Center Foundation and Stand Up KC.