Polsinelli’s Russ Welsh to be Honored with the Adele Hall Spirit of Caring Award; Garmin to Receive the Pinnacle Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Community

Kansas City, Mo. – As the United Way of Greater Kansas City (UWGKC) embarks on its 101st year of raising essential funds to provide a network of support for those in need, it is recognizing one individual who has dedicated many decades to community leadership, and a Kansas City-area company for the significant contributions it has made over many years to the community.

W. Russell Welsh, chair emeritus of Am Law 100 firm, Polsinelli, will be honored with the Adele Hall Spirit of Caring Award, for his leadership as a community champion and volunteer. The Pinnacle Award will be bestowed upon Garmin International, Inc. for its outstanding contributions to the community.

“Both Russ Welsh and Garmin are valued partners of the United Way, and tremendous champions for those in need in our community,” said Brent Stewart, president and CEO of UWGKC. “Russ has provided steady and valued guidance to our organization for many years as a Trustee and as Board Chair. Garmin and its employees are to be commended for their longtime fundraising and volunteer service, which have made a huge impact on improving lives in Kansas City. We owe both Russ and Garmin our deepest gratitude.”

The Adele Hall Spirit of Caring Award honors community leaders who exemplify extraordinary compassion and selflessness of the late Adele Hall. Welsh is being recognized for his longtime service in the community and as a UWGKC Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees, leading the organization’s work in the areas of health, education and financial stability. Welsh currently serves as Chair Emeritus on the Board of Trustees and generously gives his time and talents to the organization, just as he has to dozens of other Kansas City non-profits over several decades.

Each year, UWGKC recognizes one company for its outstanding contributions to the greater Kansas City community. Garmin will receive this year’s Pinnacle Award for its outstanding community impact, volunteer engagement and philanthropic engagement. 

Donors, volunteers and community leaders devoted to changing lives in Kansas City will gather at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, Sept. 11 to launch the 2019 annual giving campaign, and to celebrate the generosity and good work of these two philanthropic pillars of the greater Kansas City community.

Since 1918, UWGKC has served as a catalyst for meaningful and lasting change across the five-county region, working to ensure individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, financial stability and healthy lives.

UWGKC has raised more than $3.75 billion and assisted more than a million citizens in the community over the course of the past 101 years. The organization currently provides funding to 190 nonprofit agencies across the Kansas City metro area.

For more information about the Spirit of Caring event, visit www.unitedwaygkc.org/spiritofcaring2019