(The following press release was published on November 18. Click here for results and photos from the 2015 Gala on Fire!)

Nonprofit leader KVC Health Systems will host its annual charity gala, “The Gala on Fire,” on November 21 at the Historic Firestone Building in downtown Kansas City, Mo. benefitting more than 6,500 children in foster care and their families. While historically hosted on a Friday evening, this year’s Gala will take place on a Saturday with doors opening at 7 p.m. The event is chaired by Bonne Illig and her team from Leawood, Kan. private jeweler VanBrock. Lead sponsors for the event are The Kelly Family Foundation, VanBrock, Bank of Blue Valley, Garmin, Holmes Murphy, KC Magazine, the Darol Rodrock Foundation, and the Kansas City Royals in partnership with KCP&L.

The Gala is an upscale party that combines gourmet food and drinks, live painting demonstrations from local artists Allan Chow and Rebecca Pashia, amazing performances by MoonDrop Circus and Atlantic Express, and a unique auction to raise funds to enhance the lives of children and families served by KVC. More details are online at www.kvc.org/gala.

KVC Health Systems is a leader in child welfare and behavioral healthcare. The private, nonprofit organization provides family preservation, foster care and adoption services in 30 Kansas counties on behalf of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and also helps youth at its children’s psychiatric hospitals such as KVC Prairie Ridge Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Past KVC Gala proceeds have helped create an Interactive Family and Adoption Center and made it possible for hundreds of foster families to attend KVC’s annual Resource Family Conference free of charge.

This year, Gala guests will need to bring their charged smartphone to bid on silent auction items, purchase surprise boxes, make a donation, and check in and out. The event’s mobile bidding technology makes it easy, entertaining and fun for guests to make the most of their Gala experience. Guests who have already purchased their ticket to the event are encouraged to pre-register their phone prior to Saturday, allowing them to bypass the line to enter the Firestone Building.

Guests at the KVC Gala, and even participants not present at the event, can enter for their chance to win a $10,000 cash prize or a one-year (13 month) lease of a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300W4 from Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City. Suggested minimum entry is $100 and the winner will be announced the night of the Gala. Winner need not be present to win. Learn more and enter at www.kvc.org/car.

Additional event sponsors include: AC Printing, Susan and Scott Asner, Campione Interior Solutions, Central Bank of the Midwest, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Enterprise Bank and Trust, Enterprise Fleet Management, Hen House Markets, IMA, JE Dunn Construction, Lathrop and Gage LLP, Lockton, Netsmart, Olathe Chamber of Commerce, Olathe Health System, Regents Flooring Co., Debra Ball Simpson, Squad Builders, State Farm Insurance Agent Debbie Swinney, Validity Screening Solutions, Americo, Debbie Douville, Linda and Larry Kaminsky, CPA and PA Kelly T. Davis, Liz and Greg Maday, Ellen K. McCarthy, Parisi Artisan Coffee, U.S. Bank The Private Client Reserve, Karen and Keith Roberts of Roberts Chevrolet and Buick, Michelle and Jarret Schmidt, Walker Medical Linens Services, Gretchen and Chad Anderson, Katie and Mark Arensberg, Renny and Mark Arensberg, Elizabeth Croney and James Clark, Janet and Pat Curran, Caroline and Wiley Curran, Nicole and Tyler Feltz, Foulston Siefkin LLP, Susan and John Goodman, John and Bernice Hamra Foundation, Shirley and Barnett Helzberg, Jan and Steve Howard, Marilyn Jacobson, Dr. and Mrs. Andy Kaufman, Michelle and Greg Lawrence, Local Source Marketing, MarksNelson, Juliet Miller-Martin and John Martin, Laura and Hatch McCray, The Meidel Family, Novation IQ, Marta and Dr. Richard Padula, REACTOR Design Studio, Seigfried Bingham, Dr. and Mrs. Greg Stelzer, Erin and Chris Stucky, Carol and Fred Watts, and Jayne Neely and Brian Wood.

Tickets are $150 per person with a limited number of discounted tickets available for guests under age 30. The Historic Firestone Building is located at 2001 Grand Boulevard in Kansas City, Mo., and complimentary event valet is provided. The Young Friends of KVC invite guests to join them at the after-party across from the Firestone Building at The Cashew. KVC has also partnered with Uber to ensure guests have a safe and reliable ride to and from the Gala. First-time users can get up to $20 off their ride by downloading the Uber app and entering promo code GALAONFIRE.

For more information, visit www.kvc.org/gala.

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About KVC Health Systems, Inc.

KVC Health Systems, headquartered in the greater Kansas City area, is a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that enriches and enhances the lives of over 50,000 children and families each year by providing medical and behavioral healthcare, social services, and education. KVC’s diverse continuum of services includes foster care, adoption, in-home family therapy, behavioral healthcare, and children’s psychiatric hospitals. In its 45-year history, KVC has grown since from a single Kansas home for boys to a national organization serving tens of thousands of children in five states. Learn more at www.kvc.org.