Ingram's December 2022

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PROFILES IN PHILANTHROPY

CLASS OF 2022

W e all know the maxim about “to whom much is given,” but Debby Ballard knows that those implied gifts are not defined by the size of one’s investment port folio. The daughter of a Baptist minister and a kindergar ten teacher in Kansas City’s public schools, she was raised to see other treasure all around. “Even though we were not wealthy, I knew we were rich in all the things that really mattered—faith, family, friends, health—and that we had a responsibility to first give back to the church and then to those who needed help,” she says. “My par ents put into action: ‘Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.’” Those lessons informed into her work during a 35-year career with Sprint, cul minating as president and CEO of the former telecom’s foundation and director of community affairs. “I was fortunate to retire from my dream job,” she says, and now has her own non-profit consultancy that draws on her experiences. “I learned so much and connected with so many amazing individuals/organizations doing incredible

R ockhurst High Sch- ool slapped a diplo ma in Peter Browne’s hand in 1985, then sent him off with a mission: Live the Jesuit commit ment to being a Man for Others. “On top of the great education, I received a framework of service, justice, dia logue and advocacy that I’ve held close to in my professional career,” Browne says, extending from serving

PETER BROWNE

co-workers, clients, and developing leaders in oth ers. The co-founder of Kissick Construction, which he launched with his late uncle, Jim Kissick, in 1994, has done just that, whether measured by his service to the Kansas City Public Library’s board or leadership roles with Notre Dame de Sion, the Folly Theater, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Heavy Constructors Association or KCU’s Community Advisory Board. And before that, working on behalf of the Roanoke Park Conservancy, Kansas City Industrial Council, and Kansas City Area Development Council. The capstone might have been his selection early this year as the first new president of the library’s Board of Trustees in 17 years. “As a native of Midtown Kansas City, I’ve grown up finding inspiration in the Westport, Plaza and Central branches—and they continue to be important places I go on a regular basis,” he says. His wife, Julie Walker, teaches English and language arts, so they both hold the library in high regard. They served as event co-chairs for the Writers for Readers annual event to support the library and UMKC’s master’s program in creative writing, and Browne served on the campaign committee for the Vote For Your Library ballot initia tive in 2018. No less a civic icon than Jonathan Kemper helped instill that commitment as long-timer board president, and “has been a wonderful mentor to me,” Browne says. “Mr. Kemper continues to serve as a trust ee and valuable resource to the organization.” Browne’s interpretation of servant leadership includes “recogniz ing our obligation to walk with the excluded and work to improve the social and economic arrangements that can move us forward together,” he says, “and, finally, acknowledging our duty to civic institutions that are vital to an informed and engaged society.” The folks at Rockhurst, then, must have known what they were doing: 37 graduating classes after his, the school named Browne its 2022 Alumnus of the Year.

work.” Corporate work also made clear that leadership roles were lacking minority faces. “So I decided to focus on connecting people of color with intention al leadership opportu nities, including equip ping them to navigate the unique and complex challenges they face as emerging leaders or exec- utives of non-profits,” she says. “My experience also prepared me to

DEBBY BALLARD

help non-profits understand what corporations/foun dations look for when making funding decisions. This is an area where a lot of organizations struggle.” She applies those skills on behalf of causes that support education, women and children, especially with various ties to UMKC, where she chairs the board of trustees. She’s also bolstering the missions of the Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, United WE, Turn the Page KC and Awesome Ambitions, among others, and serving on corporate boards as with First Business Bank. “One of the wonderful things about retirement is that I get to really focus on the causes that I am personally passionate about, and I can go deeper with my level of commit ment,” she says. She encourages her cohort—10,000 Baby Boomers reaching retirement age every day—to hear their own call to serve. “When I think about those numbers and what is possible, I get really excited,” Ballard says. “The potential to make a huge impact on a specific problem or a community is a reality.”

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December 2022

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