Your Chamber at Work - April 13, 2020

Apr 13, 2020

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FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

This Thursday, April 16, is A Day of Giving for Greater Kansas City.

This health crisis has been difficult for all of us, but even more devastating for the poor and the vulnerable among us.

A coalition of KC organizations – the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Kansas City, the Mid-America Regional Council, and LISC Greater Kansas City – have come together to organize the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. The Fund will provide dollars for housing needs like rent, utilities, and mortgages; food assistance; access to healthcare services and more, with grants made to local 501(c)(3) charities and public organizations.

Thanks to contributions from area foundations and businesses, organizers have already raised millions toward their $10 million goal. On Thursday, local television and radio stations will be encouraging donations to the fund as we come together to provide relief to those most in need.

You don’t have to wait till Thursday to give. If you’d like to make an individual donation to the fund, click here.

Area businesses who would like to donate can contact Denise St. Omer, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation at stomer@growyourgiving.org.

Kansas City is a city with heart. We hope to prove that this Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City today launched the Employer Laptop Challenge, a new program that encourages companies and other organizations to donate used devices to nonprofits, schools, and refurbishers. It’s a worthy goal – as the Fed’s Jeremy Hegle says, “As Americans isolate themselves at home, those without computers and internet service are cut off from essential services, from learning, from family and friends.” For instructions on the donation process, visit the Employer Laptop Challenge page.

VIRTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING AND MEMBER STANDUP!

The KC Chamber knows staying connected to your fellow Chamber members, peers, colleagues, and friends is important right now as we work to support the KC business community. That’s why we’ve brought our Neighborhood Networking and Member Standup! events online. Each Friday we’ll alternate. Register now for Neighborhood Networking, this Friday, April 17 from 9 to 10 am through Zoom. We will be starting a half hour later than usual so you have time to make some coffee. Here’s how it works: we’ll offer prompts if conversations lull, but we mainly want to hear from you. You will have the opportunity to submit questions through the chat function that our moderator will relay to the group. We really are just excited to see your faces and hear about the great things you have been up to recently - we could all use a little positivity right now. If you can’t join us this Friday, register now for our additional upcoming virtual networking events:

The KC Chamber's 2020 networking sponsors are Mazuma, SS&C, and Sprint.

KCMO COMMITTEE MEETING

The KC Chamber’s April 21 KCMO Committee meeting will feature Councilwoman Katheryn Shields, Chair of the Kansas City Missouri Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee, who will discuss the newly passed City Budget, and share some of her budget and infrastructure concerns relative to the COVID-19 crisis. The committee will also have a presentation and be able to provide feedback on preparations for the region’s first Welcoming Plan - which includes a set of strategies to make the Greater Kansas City region a more welcoming community for all residents including immigrants, minorities, military veterans, LGBTQ+ community and more. Register here for this online open meeting.

HOW ARE YOU SUPPORTING THE KC COMMUNITY?

Distilleries making hand sanitizer. Hotels opening to the homeless. Early learning centers providing meals to families. Engineering firms now making PPEs. We see businesses and organizations across the region pivoting what they do to help in the fight against COVID-19. Has your business or organization shifted what they do and how they support the community right now? Tell us about it. We’re all in this together and the KC Chamber wants to shine our Member Spotlight on our members who are finding a new way to navigate the new normal. Email our Content Director Courtney Lewis at clewis@kcchamber.com to begin sharing your story.

CENTURIONS ONLINE INFORMATION SESSION

If you’re intrigued by the Centurions and their mission to learn, serve, and lead, you’ll want to learn more on April 21 at the next online information session. Find out about community involvement, how the service hours are counted, and how you’ll get to take an in-depth look at the region’s challenges and opportunities. This online event is free from 5 to 6 p.m. Register here.