​​Come early to network while listening to live jazz and taking in the beauty of our Fountain of Life art exhibit featuring drawings, paintings, and other handcrafts created by our seniors. Please find your reserved seat before the program begins at 11:30 a.m. Your lunch order will be taken at the table. 

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Enjoy a lunch of American comfort food at its finest --with delicious starters, entree choices of either seared chicken, corned beef Reuben, blackened salmon or vegetarian pasta... and chocolate torte or key lime pie as dessert-- prepared and served by The Brass Onion while continuing to listen to live jazz by the Matt Baldwin Saxophone Quartet including a special performance of Fountain City Funk, an original piece composed and arranged by Matt Baldwin to celebrate Kansas City which is known as the City of Fountains. 

Then, sit back and enjoy a clarinet performance and intimate fireside chat session with Benny Lee, an accomplished businessman who successfully started and sold several companies in Kansas City. Benny will grace the audience performing both Western and Eastern selections on clarinet. With a passion for music and lifelong learning, Benny began playing the clarinet in his late sixties and performs non-professionally for many audiences both domestically and internationally. In May 2025, at age 78, Benny released his memoir, A Taiwanese Immigrant’s Journey to Kansas City: A Business, Music, and Community Leader, which achieved International Best Seller status on Amazon. You will even have an opportunity to purchase his book and have it autographed. 

Following the fireside chat, you will get to enjoy more Eastern music with a Guzheng performance by Hoi Kei Au, a notable civic leader in Kansas City who serves on the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City. Hoi Kei immigrated from Hong Kong to the United States more than 40 years ago. The Guzheng is a beautiful ancient Chinese plucked stringed instrument. 

After these special musical performances, we'll celebrate the people and partners who have demonstrated exceptional generosity towards uplifting the Asian American community and building bridges between cultures through announcing the 2025 Spirit of Generosity Awards and 2025 Spirit of Collaboration Awards. 

Finally, hear special remarks delivered by Fountain of Life's founder and executive director Jennifer Alexander. When Jennifer became her grandmother's part-time caregiver in 2021, she witnessed first-hand the toll of social isolation on older adults and challenges of cultural/language barriers to community supports. Through this experience, she was inspired to establish Fountain of Life to help connect limited English proficient older adults from the Asian community to social and civic engagement opportunities, healthcare and aging services, and mental health supports. 

Throughout the afternoon, you will have several optional opportunities to give towards Fountain of Life's mission through participating in a fun 50/50 raffle, bidding on silent auction items, making a donation, pledging a donation, etc.

 

In fact, you can give today by simply purchasing a ticket(s) to Fountain of Life's 2025 Gratitude & Giving Gathering! 

We hope to see you there!  (If you're unable to attend this year, consider buying a ticket for a friend, family member, or colleague to attend!)