Human Rights Campaign – Kansas City Recognizes Local Employers

On Thursday, March 19, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) – Kansas City recognized local employers at its third annual Corporate Celebration of Equality, a celebration of local companies who ranked nationally in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The HRC’s CEI is the only nationally recognized measure of how equitably companies treat their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) employees.  Honorees have excelled in nurturing an inclusive work environment for the LGBT community.  More info about the CEI is available at www.hrc.org/cei.

First off, I’d like to thank all of the Honorees who participated in the event.  These dedicated organizations, as allies, employers, and friends, indeed work along side us to achieve fairness and equality for all.  The Kansas City celebration honored local businesses for their dedication and support to the LGBT community. Those businesses include:

HONOREES
Hallmark Cards, Inc., Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, J.P. Morgan, Mutual of Omaha, Polsinelli Shughart PC, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Sprint Nextel, Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, AMC Entertainment Inc., Cerner Corp., H&R Block, Inc., and University of Missouri - Kansas City

I would also like to thank our sponsors.  Without these generous organizations, our event would not have been possible.  I would like to take a special moment to thank Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. for their above and beyond dedication and work towards this years CEI.  Also, thank you Tivol for donating the exquisite awards that now adorn offices around the midwest.  This year, our sponsors include:

SPONSORS
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Tivol, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, Mutual of Omaha, Cypress Research Associates, Loquient Technology Services, Susan McSpadden Photography, Stinson Morrison Hecker, Trapp and Company

I would also like to thank the dedicated Human Rights Campaign – Kansas City volunteers who dedicated their time and talents to make this event run as smoothly as possible.  Among many, special thanks are given to Marjorie Troxel Hellmer and Tricia Hellmer, Corporate Relations Co-Chairs for HRC-Kansas City, for organizing the event and their dedication to HRC.  Also, thank you to Darren Sextro, Board of Governor for HRC-Kansas City, for always giving support and guidance when needed.  And thank you to many, many more, who made the event what it was: a fantastic reminder of what we are constantly working to achieve - equality for all.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone who attended the event.

We look forward to continuing to nurture our relationships with the above people and organizations, as well as developing many new ones.  Here’s to a bigger and better event next year!

Thanks again, everyone!
Matthew Kemp
Communications Chair, Human Rights Campaign – Kansas City