It’s Business Drive Time® in Kansas City!
As previously mentioned, we’re currently engaged in a leadership and innovation tour of high-performance companies that are propelling business progress forward not only in Kansas City but also across other markets. For more information, visit www.alphaboardtour.com.
As part of this tour, we’re proud to pay tribute to a remarkable innovator whose impact resonates far and wide, even beyond his time among us. This individual, now deceased, left an indelible mark on the Kansas City region, across the nation, and around the globe. His enduring legacy lives on through his groundbreaking work, his lifelong commitment to philanthropy, and a forthcoming special project set to enrich the Kansas City community.
Jeff Hanson, known for his extraordinary talent as a contemporary artist, embarked on his remarkable artistic journey as a means of therapy following a childhood brain tumor diagnosis. Despite facing significant visual impairment, Jeff’s artistic prowess flourished, catapulting him into the realm of renowned contemporary artists. His philanthropic spirit was evident from an early age when, at just 12 years old, he initiated a “charitable” lemonade stand (Jeff’s Bistro), selling painted postcards and baked goods ultimately raising $15,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. This altruistic endeavor marked the inception of a series of benevolent art projects that continued to expand throughout his life.
By the age of 15, Jeff was formally recognized as a professional artist, channeling his talent into both selling and donating paintings across the nation. What set Jeff apart was not only his artistic brilliance or his triumph over adversity but also his immense compassion. Over the course of his relatively brief career spanning just over a dozen years, Jeff’s philanthropic contributions through his art surpassed $7 million, benefitting charitable causes worldwide. His artwork garnered admiration from collectors worldwide, including notable figures such as Sir Elton John and Warren Buffett.
Jeff’s parents, Hal and Julie Hanson, are steadfastly committed to realizing his goal of raising $10 million for charity. In partnership with the City of Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, and Zahner (www.Zahner.com), a Kansas City based metal architectural firm, they are spearheading the creation of the “Growing Kindness” art sculpture (www.KCKindness.com), based on Jeff’s signature poppy paintings.
The 35-foot sculpture is slated to adorn grounds of the new LongHouse Visitors Center at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (https://bit.ly/3SRgSJV), ensuring that Jeff’s legacy of kindness and creativity endures for generations to come.
For more information on Jeff’s life and career, you can watch a recent interview with Jeff’s parents at: https://bit.ly/3URy6Jt To learn more about the “Growing Kindness” campaign, visit: https://bit.ly/4c06nwC