Chelsea Clinton to headline launch event
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chelsea Clinton will speak at the launch of a new effort to celebrate outstanding Kansas City women. Civic organizations from across the Kansas City metro are uniting to form the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame, which will recognize women from the Metropolitan Kansas City area and preserve the legacy of their accomplishments.
Clinton’s remarks will take place during the launch event on Feb. 24, in the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Swinney Recreation Center.
The Starr Women’s Hall of Fame bears the name of the late Martha Jane Phillips Starr, a Kansas City philanthropist and champion of women’s rights. Starr was one of the first women to become a member of the UMKC Board of Trustees. She also helped start the UMKC Women’s Council and their Graduate Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance to female students. She died in 2011.
“Martha Jane’s tireless efforts continue to impact and uplift Kansas City women to this day. Her story – and the stories of so many other diverse, outstanding local women – must be preserved to share with future generations. The Starr Women’s Hall of Fame will not just preserve these stories, but encourage and inspire future generations of Kansas City women,” Laurie Roberts, Starr Women’s Hall of Fame planning committee co-chair, said.
The hall of fame is made possible through the Starr Education Committee, Martha Jane Starr’s family and the Starr Field of Interest Fund, which was established upon her death through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. The idea for the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame stemmed from Starr Education Committee members.
More than 18 civic organizations that advocate on behalf of women and family issues have signed on in support of the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame.
“Martha Jane would be so thrilled by this initiative. She loved a grassroots approach to advocacy, and that’s exactly what the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame has become. From day one, it has been met with enthusiastic support from organizations all over the Kansas City metro,” Mary Kay McPhee, UMKC Starr Education Committee chair, said.
Chelsea Clinton will participate in the launch event in late February.
The first class of the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame will be inducted in the fall of 2014. The application process, criteria and deadlines will be announced at the launch event in February.
Chelsea Clinton, vice chair of the Clinton Foundation, works with her parents, President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, to drive the vision and work of the Clinton Foundation. Over the past 11 years, the Foundation has built innovative partnerships among governments, businesses, NGOs, and private citizens to strengthen health systems in developing countries, fight climate change, expand economic opportunity in Africa, Latin America, and the United States, and help Americans live healthier lives. Additionally, Clinton Global Initiative members have made nearly 2,300 Commitments to Action to improve more than 400 million lives in more than 180 countries. For tickets, go to UMKC’s Starr Women’s Hall of Fame website.
The following organizations have signed on in support of the Starr Women’s Hall of Fame: American Association of University Women, American Business Women’s Association, Central Exchange, Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri, Greater Kansas City Chamber’s Executive Women’s Leadership Council, Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, Jackson County Missouri Chapter of the Links Inc., Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City Athenaeum, Kansas City Young Matrons, Mana de Kansas City, National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators, Soroptimist International of Kansas City, Soroptimist Kansas City Foundation, UMKC Women’s Center, UMKC Women’s Council, UMKC Women of Color Leadership Conference, WIN for KC, win | win, Women’s Employment Network, The Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Women’s Public Service Network, Zonta International District 7 and Zonta Club of KC II.
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This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TT) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).