More than 750 Kansas City and supporters gathered at the 7thannual Pride Diversity Breakfast to raise a record-breaking preliminary amount of $84,223 for LGBTQIA student scholarships. Additional donations continue to pour in.
Planning Committee Chair Raymond Cattaneo, M.D., M.Ph., opened the program by thanking everyone, including the Kansas City community, for supporting UMKC students.
“The impact of your presence is being felt immediately,” Cattaneo said. “Love wins. This breakfast proves it.”
A cast of UMKC alums and supporters expressed gratitude for making the 2015 Pride Breakfast a success. Sen. Jolie Justus, graduate, thanked sponsors and made the ask for financial support at the breakfast. “Every dollar helps our students,” Justus said.
The keynote speaker, Tony Kushner, contributed in large part to the record-breaking fundraiser. Kushner is an American playwright, author and screenwriter best known for his two-part epic play, “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.”
“His play saved lives,” said Eric Rosen, director of the Kansas City Repertory Theatre and nationally-recognized playwright, during his introduction. “Without Tony’s play, we wouldn’t be here raising money for our students.”
Reviewed 2015-03-16