Maurice Watson

Big news from Bloomstock! We are VERY excited to announce that Maurice Watson will serve as Bloom’s honorary chairperson this year.

Maurice is chairman-elect of the Husch Blackwell law firm here in Kansas City and is dedicated to many different causes in our community, both personally and professionally.

In his work capacity, Maurice represents public school districts, private schools, education associations and children’s hospitals. He speaks across the country on the legal rights of students and school employees.

Outside of the office, he is, it would appear, tireless in his continued contributions to Kansas City. He has served on the Board of Trustees for The Barstow School, the Children’s Mercy Hospital Foundation, the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, the Kansas City Art Institute and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals. Maurice has also given his time as a member of the Board of Directors of Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City Ballet, and The Learning Exchange. He has worked with FOCUS, the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City and the Heart of America Community AIDS Partnership.

He currently serves on the Community Advisory Council of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, the beneficiary of the annual Bloom party. The purpose of Kansas City Free Health Clinic is to promote health and wellness by providing quality services, at no charge, to people without access to basic care.

The Bloomstock chairs, co-chairs and planning committee are humbled and honored to have Maurice Watson serve as our honorary chair this year. His commitment to Kansas Citians in need – whether in the education or health care realms – over the years is inspirational.

Please join us in welcoming and thanking Maurice for serving as Bloomstock’s honorary chairperson!

THANK YOU, KANSAS CITY!

Bloom 2011 committee members Kurt Knapstein, Bill Pile, Kate McKinney, Scott Kaiser, Ryan Holmes, Anya Holmes, Bill Hans, Kiran Ross, Jen Greenstreet, Amy Jo Wimmer, Stacey Lukas, Joe Bellinger

Thank you all for making Bloom Hits South Beach such an amazing party. Crazy fun as always!

The Bloom 2011 committee (that’s a good portion of the committee in the photo above) met last week to review the final numbers from this year’s event. And we are ecstatic that $210,000 was raised as a result of this single event!

A record-setting $133,000 was collected in sponsorships, $10,250 from patrons and $30,700 in ticket sales.

$18,073 was raised during the silent auction, $13,850 was collected during the fund-a-need auction during the party and $4,325 was donated by folks who couldn’t attend this year (we call them “darn” donations).

A very solid six-figures will be going to the Kansas City Free Health Clinic as a result of YOUR generosity – and we couldn’t be happier.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all sponsors, vendors and party-goers!

See you next year!

Joe Bellinger from the Kansas City Free Health Clinic and Kurt Knapstein, co-chair of this year’s Patron Party, took a few minutes last
Saturday to talk about the Clinic and Bloom on the NBC Action News morning show.

Take a look:

Everything about South Beach is hot. The weather is hot. The clubs are hot. The bodies are hot. The cars are hot. Smokin’ hot. White hot. HOT.

When BLOOM Hits South Beach on April 8th, it will be no different. (Except, well, maybe the weather. We’ll say a little prayer…)

This party is going to be hot – in large part, due to the amazing line-up of entertainment.

If you’re planning to start the evening with us at the VIP Patron Party, you will enjoy the Latin-infused sounds of DJ Shaun Duval while being entertained by some very unique performances by members of Quixotic Fusion.

The main event will kick off with the beats of DJ Brent Tactic – and you will absolutely be drawn to the dance floor. The man knows how to start a party. After Brent, the stage belongs to live, classic hip-hop band Dolewite. And if you’ve never seen Dolewite, I don’t know that I can describe them any better than FUN. Flat-out fun.

And closing out the night is DJ Joe Maz, appearing at BLOOM from Miami. Joe usually spends his weekends playing in South Beach’s hottest clubs – Rok Bar, Gansevoort Pool, Mokai and Arkadia to name a few. But, on April 8th, he’ll bring a little South Beach to us, here in Kansas City. And you will very likely dance. A lot.

(Go to about 2:00 in this video to avoid some nausea-inducing camera work!)

Anyway, my point? When BLOOM Hits South Beach? It’s gonna be pretty freakin’ HOT. Hope to see your hot self there.

Bloom 2010 was bigger than big. The biggest crowd yet. The biggest fundraising total yet for the Kansas City Free Health Clinic. BIG. So, how do we top that?!

Don’t worry your pretty little heads about it. It’s going to happen. The planning committee for Bloom 2011 has been hard at work for many months to make sure that BLOOM Hits South Beach will take your breath away, knock your socks off, blow your hair back and, yes, be the BIGGEST Bloom yet. Big room, big crowd, big style, big sound, big fun.

The 2011 committee chairs met again last night to go over the plans for this year’s event (Friday, April 8, 2011 at Starlight Theatre). Kurt Knapstein and Terry Bax brought everyone up-to-date on the VIP Patron Party plans, which will move this year to a larger space at Starlight due to increased Patron Party attendance.

Scott Kaiser and Bill Pile walked the other committee chairs through the event timeline and the party space to give a sense of what Bloom looks like when it hits South Beach! From start to finish, it will be like nothing you’ve ever seen before in Kansas City! So excited! Tickets will be available for sale VERY SOON.

This year’s Honorary Chairs are Rita Cortes and Mary McLean. Bloom 2011′s Event Co-Chairs are Anya & Ryan Holmes and Jen Greenstreet & Bill Hans.

The 2011 Bloom Committee is: Terry Bax, Katie Campbell, Melissa Cooper, Carol Conrady, Carly Farrell, Sheri Gormle, Alicia Hutching, Anne Hyvrard, Scott Kaiser, Kurt Knapstein, Kathryn Lewis, Stacey Lukas, Kate McKinney, Leah Masonbrink, Bill Pile, Carla Powers, Kiran Ross, Bernard Shondell, Dennis Sweeny, Joe Sweeny, Erika Sword, Leah Vomhof, Dan Walsh and Amy Jo Wimmer.

Leading this motley crew, as usual, is Joe Bellinger, Special Events coordinator at the Kansas City Free Health Clinic.

Stay tuned here, on Facebook and on Twitter for more and more BLOOM info as we get closer to April!

The numbers are in:

$128,000 in Sponsorships

$18,025 from Celebrities and Patrons

$31,635 from Ticket Sales

$25,725 in Auction Bids

$9,350 in Darn Donations

$21,000 from the First “Fund a Need” In-Party Call for Donations

ONE AMAZING PARTY!

Thank you to our committee members, our sponsors, our auction donors, our patrons, our partiers, our vendors and to Kansas City.

With your help, Bloom is Studio 54 raised a

record $234,000!

Tonight’s the big night – BLOOM is Studio 54!

The Tivol VIP Patron Party is set to begin at 6:30pm with the Full-On Party to follow at 8:00pm. We’ll be eating, drinking, dancing and god-knows-what-else! Quixotic and Kaivalya Hoops dancers. DJ sets by Bill Pile, RaviDrums and NOMATHMATICS. Breakdancers, roller derby girls, ballerinas. You probably haven’t even imagined the sensory impact this party will have!

Starlight is in the process of being transformed. See you there in a few hours!

We’ve been talking lots about BLOOM and the fun, folly and general glamour that goes along with it.  What can you do to help beyond April 9th’s event, you might ask?  What can you do to support The Kansas City Free Health Clinic even if you are unable to attend BLOOM is Studio 54??

The Clinic relies on its wonderful staff and volunteers to provide high quality, compassionate, accessible health care and services for all of KC!  Over 500 volunteers gave 40,000+ hours of service to the Clinic LAST YEAR alone!  There are lots of different volunteer opportunities, many which you may have never even considered.  Please take a minute to read through them and give thoughtful consideration as to where your time and talents could best be utilized…and go for it!  The staff, volunteers and most importantly– the patients and our community thank you!

There are three (3) types of Volunteer Applications from which to choose. Click here to visit the Clinic’s website where you can determine the appropriate application, download and submit.  The Clinic also hosts several Volunteer Orientations each year.  Call the Clinic’s Volunteer Coordinator at 816/777.2761, or email suzannel@kcfree.org.  THANK YOU!

Volunteer Positions:

Physician: Provides assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up decisions related to the health needs of patients.

Dentist: Provides assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up decisions related to the dental needs of patients.

Certified Nurse Practitioner: Provides assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up decisions related to the health needs of patients. The CNP must maintain a Collaborative Practice Agreement as per the Missouri Nurse Practice Act.

Psychiatrist/Psychologist/Therapist: Counsels Behavioral Health patients from diverse populations and with diverse modalities. Staff supports the volunteer’s therapy efforts with psychopharmacology, case and care management.

Certified Medical Interpreter: Interprets patients’ complaints for care providers and providers’ instructions for patients. Interprets clients’ voicemail messages for providers and returns phone calls as needed. Translates brochures and patient education materials.

Pharmacist: Provides consultation to providers, medication education, dispenses medication, and assists with maintaining medication room.

Registered Nurse, LPN, and EMT: Provides nursing care in compliance with the Missouri Nurse Practice Act including: initial assessment, patient education, dispensary, laboratory, and provider support. The Nurse also initiates physician referrals to other clinics for special procedures, draws and processes laboratory samples, prepares and cleans exam rooms, and stocks supplies as needed.

Medical/Patient Assistant: Takes patient to available exam room and assists patient in filling out Patient Registration and Medical History forms as needed. Obtains vital signs, weight, and chief complaint from the patient, assists provider as needed, assists in laboratory and dispensary as needed, and cleans exam room after patient use.

Medical Student: Provides assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up decisions related to the health needs of patients under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Dental Student: Provides assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up decisions related to the dental needs of patients under the supervision of a licensed dentist.

Pharmacy Student: Provides consultation to providers, medication education, dispenses medication, and assists with maintaining medication room under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

Front Office Volunteer: Greets patients, assists with completing appropriate paperwork, files, charts, monitors patient flow, and directs patients to appropriate clinic.

Special Events Volunteer: Participates in the planning, preparing for, and conducting of a special event. Some are involved in monthly meetings to plan and coordinate the entire event. Others work the day of the event in setting up, registration, serving, monitoring, and/or clean up.

Administrative Assistant Volunteer: Collates media packets, prepares mailings, performs data entry, researches information, and assists with maintaining records.

Counseling and Testing Volutneer (CATS): Counsels patients who request HIV testing, conducts testing, and counsels patients about results. Requires extensive training to perform this volunteer assignment.

Special Projects Volunteers: Volunteer groups are needed at times to provide special services such as, painting, cleaning, sorting, copying, preparing mass mailings, etc. Individual volunteers staff educational booths at health fairs.

Dan Nilsen

This year’s Bloom honorary chairperson, Dan Nilsen, has been a longtime supporter of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic – and of Bloom. In fact, he co-chaired this event in 2007. A huge thanks goes out to Dan for years of dedication to the Clinic and to Kansas City.

Dan and his company, Bishop-McCann, have graciously donated SIXTEEN hotel stays at some of this country’s most amazing hotel properties to this year’s Bloom silent auction.

Get your checkbook and your frequent flyer miles warmed up – because you won’t want to miss out on these decadent digs:

• Two night stay at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square with dinner for two at the Urban Tavern restaurant

• Two night stay at any Millennium, Copthorne or Kingsgate Hotel worldwide

• Two night stay at the Intercontinental San Francisco with breakfast for two daily at Luce

• Two night stay at the Fairmont Dallas with dinner for two at the 4-star Pyramid Restaurant & Bar

• Two night stay in a one-bedroom suite at the Saddlebrook Resort near Tampa with a round of golf for two on one of two championship courses

• Two night stay at the Hyatt Regency Kansas City with breakfast for two daily at The Terrace

• Two night stay in an Executive King Peabody Guestroom at the Peabody Orlando with two spa treatments and dinner for two (two separate two-night stays available for auction)

• Two night stay with deluxe accommodations at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

• Two night stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale with breakfast for two each morning at LV Bistro

• Two night stay at the Fairmont San Francisco in standard accommodations

• Two night stay at the Fairmont Chicago and $50 gift certificate for the Aria Restaurant

• Two night stay at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina in standar accommodations

• Two night stay in a Mediterranean Suite at the Riviera Resort & Spa in Palm Springs with breakfast for two each day in the Circa 59 Restaurant

• Two night stay at the Marriott Downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile in standard accommodations

• Two night stay at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills in deluxe accommodations

Each hotel package ranges in value from $350 to $700.

You can’t win if you don’t play! Click here to get your tickets online – and don’t delay because tickets are going fast! Hope to see you at Starlight on April 9th!

Kansas City is blessed to be called home by an array of extremely talented artists. And Bloom is Studio 54 is blessed to count some of those artists amongst its friends and supporters. This year’s Bloom silent auction is shaping up to be quite the art show.

We’ve previously showed you the found object sculpture of Anthony Pack and the original paintings of Cynthia Hudson. Here are a few more pieces that we can’t wait to see on April 9th!

“Candyland”, an original painting by Kansas City artist Jennifer Janesko, valued at $1,800.00. This piece is 19″ x 27.5″ and is framed. to
the auction valued at $1,800. It is 19 x 27.5″ and has been framed by Central Park Gallery.

“Blooms”, an original watercolor by Halls art director Jake Marshall. This piece is 25″ x 25″ and is matted and framed.

An original painting by Prairie Village artist John Ferry, valued at $900. He is represented locally by the Jan Weiner Gallery and the Dolphin Gallery.

These are just a few of the many amazing items which have been donated to this year’s auction. You won’t want to miss them!