23rd ANNUAL LEAP MARDI GRAS LUNCHEON 

Operation Breakthrough kids sing at the Luncheon. 
Thank you to everyone who attended the 23rd Annual LEAP Mardi Gras Luncheon and to those who made a donation to support Operation Breakthrough.  The $70,000 raised and donated by area lawyers, judges, and organizations brings the total amount donated to Operation Breakthrough to more than $1.4 million. 





LEAP Queen, Samantha Wenger and King, Hon. Alok Ahuja. 
Honored at the Luncheon for their continued commitment to LEAP and the children of Kansas City were LEAP's 2017 King and Queen, the Honorable Alok Ahuja and Samantha Wenger, respectively.

Click   here to see the work that Operation Breakthrough is doing for hundreds of families in Kansas City.


 
NEW BOARD MEMBER PROFILE  
SHAWN LEE
One of three new KCMBF board members elected in November 2016, Shawn Lee is an associate with Foland, Wickens, Roper, Hofer and Crawford, P.C. He focuses his practice primarily on civil action for deprivation of rights, personal injury, insurance defense, and veteran appeals. Law is a second career for Shawn.  He previously served for eight years on active duty in the United States Army as an enlisted infantryman. 

Why is KCMBF important to you?
KCMBF's Military Matters program fills a crucial role I believe in.  One benefit is pro bono representation to veterans in the Kansas City area, but another benefit is the creation of new legal advocates in a field sorely needing them.  Military personnel and veterans are at the forefront of modern healthcare, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and administrative law.  Volunteer attorneys typically take on issues like family law, criminal law, contract review, and tax law which can be a tremendous weight off the shoulders of a person in need at the expense of a couple of hours of a lawyer's time.  However, through this minor act of kindness they gain a better understanding of the issues driving the terrible substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, and suicide rates within the military and veteran community.  I believe greater understanding of these issues among talented legal minds will lead to long term change for the better.

Interesting Facts
Favorite Travel Destination -

My favorite place to travel to has to be the middle of nowhere in the mountains.  The Ozarks are certainly wonderful but its currently a toss-up between the Hindu Kush Mountains and the front of the Laramie Range in Colorado for favorite.  You never realize how many stars there are in the sky until a lot of miles lay between you and the nearest light bulb.

Favorite Movie-
Scent of a Woman 
 
What is something most people don't know about you?
My first job was at Little Caesar's Pizza holding a promotional sign outside of the store.  I did not have any spinning tricks. 
 
What is the quality you most admire in others?
Personal Courage  
 
What advice can you give to other attorneys just starting their careers? 
Build a relationship with people who can mentor you. Find a few clients, do good work for them, and take care of your health. 
 

SAVE THE DATE! 


SUPPORT KCMBF AT NO COST TO YOU

You can support the work of KCMBF at no cost to you when you shop at Amazon. 

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support KCMBF every time you shop.  The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible Amazon purchases. 

Click here to designate KCMBF as your beneficiary! 
 

  Sincerely,
  Kelly Dillman
  Foundation Director
  KCMBF
KCMBF | kdillman@kcmbf.org | Two Pershing Square, 2300 Main Street, Suite 100
Kansas City, MO 64108