Futures First Gala
A NIGHT TO NURTURE YOUNG LIVES
Futures First Gala
October 16, 2026
Join us for an inspiring evening dedicated to giving Kansas City’s youngest children the strong start they deserve. By attending, you help children take advantage of the most critical years of a child’s development. Together, we’ll celebrate the impact you make for children, families, classrooms, and communities.
What You Make Possible
“You’re not only making a child successful, you’re making a family successful and the community stronger.”
About the Betsy Vander Velde Award
The Betsy Vander Velde Award honors and recognizes the work of an individual or organization in the Kansas City community committed to improving the lives of at-risk children and families. This award is given each year at our annual gala.
The award honors Vander Velde’s selfless dedication to improving the lives of children and families — work which she carried out as the President and CEO of Futures First for 21 years before her 2014 retirement.