philanthropy

Public gardens have been a topic of this blog on several occasions over the years, primarily because I usually make a point of visiting such places when I am traveling. In April 2025 my wife and I were in Kansas City having lunch with a friend who told us to make sure we stopped by the Kauffman Memorial Garden before heading back home. She mentioned that the tulips and other spring bulbs were in full bloom and that we would be amazed by the displays of color and design. Among the many advantages of being retired is the flexibility of our schedule, which meant we felt no pressure to get back on the road. We took our friend’s advice. She wasn’t exaggerating. The wow factor was in overdrive.

Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, Kansas City, MO

Approximately two acres in size, the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden is the centerpiece of Legacy Park, an urban greenspace in the historic Rockhill neighborhood of Kansas City that is owned and operated by the Ewing Muriel Kauffman Foundation. There is no charge to enter the garden, and parking is free. The garden is not available for private functions, including weddings, receptions, or parties. Organized photo sessions, including portraits, are also prohibited. Children must be accompanied by adults. Dogs other than service animals are not allowed. Brick pathways make the garden accessible to almost anyone, regardless of limited mobility. This tranquil space is truly an oasis nestled in a metropolitan area of over 2 million people.

According to the website, the garden opened on Memorial Day weekend in 2000. Its design is inspired by the gardens of Europe, complete with fountains, pools, statuary and other artwork, planting containers, benches, and a greenhouse all enclosed within a stone and wrought-iron wall. It features more than 350 varieties of perennials, a collection of ornamental trees, and numerous annual beds that change seasonally. For our visit, we were greeted by a resplendent display of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, pansies, crocus, and several other species I couldn’t identify. The colors were spectacular, and the palette design was careful and deliberate.

The namesakes of the foundation and the garden have a fascinating and close connection to Kansas City, and their legacy is a large one. Among his many accomplishments, Ewing Marion Kauffman established Marion Laboratories in 1950 and created the Kansas City Royals baseball team as an expansion club in 1968. His wife, Muriel, served as the treasurer and first legal counsel for Marion Laboratories. They started a foundation that would eventually become a powerhouse in funding the performing and visual arts, but the reach of their philanthropy extended to so many other areas. The garden serves quite literally as a memorial to the couple – they are buried on the grounds. They left a remarkable charitable footprint, and this garden is a showcase of their generosity and love for their home, Kansas City.

Thanksgiving Day and the religious holidays that follow tend to make me more conscious of how fortunate I am to have a spouse and partner who adores me and who means the world to me. I also have two sons that I love dearly who are independent and responsible people, finding their own path in life. I am proud of them. I have an extended family that loves me; we have a lovely house in a good neighborhood; I have a great job; and as far as I know, we are in pretty good health for our age and habits. I know how lucky I am to live in a country that is mostly prosperous, reasonably governed, and quite beautiful. In so many ways I have lived a charmed life, which I cannot necessarily attribute to wise decisions or abundant skill sets. On too many occasions to count, I have been in the right place at just the right time.

What I am also reminded of at this time of year is the contrast between my comfortable existence and the plight of so many people here and around the world. I know that living conditions have improved for most of the world’s population over the last hundred years, but the disparity between the haves and the have nots has only widened further. Throw in a pandemic, a few civil wars, wide-spread political unrest, and several natural disasters, and the last two years have presented a setback for a whole lot of people. Those of us who never have to worry about our next meal, a place to sleep, or adequate healthcare have a moral responsibility to share from our abundance with those who struggle just to survive.

I have spent a good portion of my career trying to raise money for charitable causes, mostly associated with education and historic preservation. For me, philanthropy was a commodity I peddled. As important as these activities were, they did not address the most serious challenges that people face. My wife and I also work with and financially support organizations that provide services to people in our community and elsewhere who are in need. We enjoy being involved in directly helping local folks, mostly through our Episcopal parish. On the rare occasions that I pause and give it much thought, I know I’m not doing enough.

If all goes according to plan, we will be retiring in a few years, which means that our schedules will drastically change with a lot more free time on our hands. Like many retirees, we hope to travel and enjoy leisure activities that entertain us. But we also have talked about the desire to volunteer for local organizations, and I am feeling more compelled these days to concentrate my efforts on helping the most vulnerable people in our town. I haven’t been generous enough with my time and resources through the decades. Promoting philanthropy is fine, but I need to spend the last chapters of my life living it.

If You Want My Opinion

Here it is!

Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden

A Charitable Manifesto