Kay Barnes and Tom Van Dyke (right) watched grandchildren create handprints for the Children’s Wall.
Kay Barnes and Tom Van Dyke
Former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes and attorney Tom Van Dyke came to their love of the Kauffman Center through separate but convergent paths.During her time as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, Kay strongly supported the Kauffman Center vision. “I knew that it would be an iconic building and a wonderful gathering place for various populations in our community,” Kay said. She was a key player in securing the City’s agreement to build and operate the $47 million Arts District Garage that serves the Kauffman Center and surrounding neighborhoods.
During the Kauffman Center’s first season, Tom organized the Kauffman Center’s second organ recital, leveraging his board role with the National City Christian Church Foundation in Washington, D.C. to bring 85 local congregations in the denomination together to produce a concert that reached more than 700 people.
Tom’s interests also extend to the Kauffman Center’s educational work. “I think that connecting young people with the arts is such an important part of an overall education,” Tom says.
So when Tom and Kay married in May 2015, they were in immediate agreement about continuing to support the Kauffman Center as donors. When asked to renew his Spotlight Premier membership, Tom readily agreed. He asked if some of his donation might be used to connect the Kauffman Center with one of his favorite causes – Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kansas City. “I want to find a way for ‘bigs’ and ‘littles’ to attend performances. “Kauffman Center staff immediately made this connection a reality through the Open Doors Ticket Fund.
To learn how you can become a member of the Spotlight Premier program, contact Trisha Drape, Vice President of Development, at 816.994.7220 or tdrape@kauffmancenter.org.
