KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After the 15th annual Kansas City Restaurant Week, organizers of KC’s premier dining event presented the 2024 featured charity, Kanbe’s Markets, with a donation of over $100,000 in a ceremony Tuesday.
“Visit KC and Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association are incredibly proud to present this donation to Kanbe’s Markets,” said Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of Visit KC. “It’s our mission to support local charities making an impact within KC's food systems, and Kanbe’s has made itself known as a leader in combating Kansas City’s food insecurity.”
Representatives from Visit KC and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association joined together Tuesday to present Kanbe’s Markets with a donation of $101,608.
“So much of who we are as an organization was born in restaurants,” said Max Kaniger, founder and CEO of Kanbe’s Markets. “In the very beginning, we fundraised at bars and restaurants that just gave us a moment to say, ‘We have this idea. Will you help?’
“And that spirit of community built around food is the very soul of who we are as an organization, so to be selected for this opportunity is something we’ll remember forever.”
As part of KC Restaurant Week, participating restaurants pledge 10% of menu sales to three selected charities. In 2024, more than 200 restaurants participated in the January event.
Through the generosity of Kansas City restaurants and their diners, Kansas City Restaurant Week has now raised over $3.8 million for local causes throughout its 15-year history.
“The 15-year partnership between the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and Visit KC has been a resounding success for our entire community. This collaboration has brought significant benefits to both organizations, the nonprofits they support, and the communities they serve,” said Mike Burris, executive director of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association.
“Participating restaurants have enjoyed increased visibility and patronage, while the public has delighted in experiencing new menus at special prices. This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration in fostering community growth, supporting local businesses, and enriching the dining experiences of Kansas City residents and visitors alike.”
About Kansas City Restaurant Week
Kansas City Restaurant Week (KCRW) is KC’s premier dining event founded by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and Visit KC to support the regional restaurant community. 2024 marks the 15-consecutive year for the 10-day dining event, spotlighting KC as one of the country's premier dining and vacationing destinations. Each year, KCRW partners with local charities to raise funds for deserving causes. In 2024, restaurants boosted the event’s 15-year charitable total to $3.8 million. For more information, visit KCRestaurantWeek.com.
About Visit KC
Headquartered in Downtown Kansas City, Visit KC is the chief hospitality sales and marketing organization for the region. With a mission of creating global passion for Kansas City, Visit KC collaborates with nearly 1,000 community partners to drive the marketing, sales and service of the destination’s convention and tourism industry—a sector that supports more than 41,000 local jobs. For more information about Kansas City, go to news.visitkc.com.
About Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association
The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, as a chapter of the Missouri Restaurant Association, works with its membership to represent, educate, and promote the restaurant and hospitality industries in Northwest Missouri and in the counties of Johnson, Wyandotte and Leavenworth in Kansas.
About Kanbe’s Markets
Founded in 2017, Kanbe’s Markets eliminates food insecurity by empowering individuals and providing them with healthy choices. Through fresh food delivery and produce provided by 41 Healthy Corner Store locations, Kanbe’s Markets continues to deliver food justice in Kansas City, one neighborhood at a time. Learn more at kanbesmarkets.org.
