A COLLABORATION AMONG ENTREPRENEURS YIELDS INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP — The Roasterie Café recently opened its newest shop adjacent to the H&R Block tax office at 4231 Main St. The two businesses divide the 4,000-square foot space, which H&R Block has owned and operated for more than two decades, just a few blocks away from H&R Block’s original location in 1955 at 4223 Main Street.
The collaboration between the two Kansas City-born companies is the fruit of a decades-long mentorship between their two founders: Henry W. Bloch, co-founder and honorary chairman of H&R Block, and Danny O’Neill, founder of The Roasterie.
More than six decades ago, Bloch and his brother, Richard Bloch, began preparing taxes for clients with a clear principle in mind: providing exemplary service for a fair cost. And in 1993, O’Neill started air-roasting coffee beans sourced from around the world with the goal of making exceptional coffee available to Kansas City coffee lovers. Bloch has served as a longtime mentor of O’Neill’s, offering practical advice and wisdom as the younger entrepreneur grew his business into Kansas City’s premier coffee purveyor.
“This is a dream come true for me, personally, and The Roasterie,” O’Neill said. “I have so much respect and admiration for what Henry and Richard did to create a global tax company that serves customers with excellence and integrity. The Roasterie’s values reflect the guidance I have been so honored to receive from Henry over the past 25 years. From this entrepreneur’s perspective, it’s been a priceless relationship that has continually elevated The Roasterie’s product and service.”
The Roasterie Café and Drive-Thru at H&R Block will be open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
CHRISTMAS MITZVAH PROJECT CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY — The Christmas Mitzvah Project, which has been coordinated by Suzanne Gladney since its exception, last month completed the 30th year it has coordinated activities at local Ronald McDonald Houses so that the employees and regular volunteers could spend Christmas with their families. It also marks the 29th year that the Gilman-Murray family has staffed the original Cherry Street Ronald McDonald House, serving dinner and staying overnight.
Tami Greenberg, CEO at Ronald McDonald House, is grateful for the project’s help.
“For me, personally, as the leader of the organization, I can’t overstate what a relief it is to know that our families, and our services, are in such loving and good hands during the holidays. We trust and value you all more than you know!” she wrote in a note to Gladney.
KANSAS CITY NEEDS GENTLY USED BRAS — The need for bras for domestic violence victims is a real-world issue, right here in the Kansas City metro, said MaryAnne Metheny, long time chief executive officer of Hope House.
When a woman leaves her home seeking protection from a violent, life-threatening situation, she rarely gets to pack a bag. She arrives at her safe refuge, like Hope House, with only the clothes she is wearing. Hope House will provide her with counseling, care, shelter, food and clothing. And all too often, undergarments are what is most lacking.
Thus, the great need for bras.
Since January 2005, Hope House has partnered with clair de lune, a locally owned lingerie boutique in Hawthorne Plaza in Overland Park, to collect gently used bras to provide women who seek out shelter and assistance to overcome domestic violence in their lives. Through The Great Bra Exchange, clair de lune customers may donate their gently used bras and in return, receive $15 off the purchase of a new bra. The Great Bra Exchange runs from Jan. 4 through Jan. 21.
“When we opened clair de lune 15 years ago, we wanted to give our customers a channel to help other women in need,” Terry Levine, clair de lune owner, said. “Representatives of Hope House told us that undergarments were all too often the items of clothing that they needed most, but tended to be overlooked through donations.”
The need has only become greater.
“Of course, our customers appreciate being able to get a bra for $15 off, but they are motivated by the simple act of helping other women in the area. Individual customers, even groups of women, will collect bras to donate to Hope House, inspired by our event,” Levine said.
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As of press time on Tuesday, no first Jewish baby of 2018 had been reported. If you have good news to report, please contact Barbara Bayer at 913-951-8425 or . Stay tuned!
