What exactly is HealthRise?

We could say it’s the big annual gathering put on by the Kansas Health Foundation, and that’s technically true. But it doesn’t really explain why the event exists.

HealthRise is not a fundraiser. It’s not an awards banquet. And it’s not just a networking event.

So, what is it?

We say, it’s part gala, part pep rally and part call to action. It’s a time to come together each year to celebrate progress made on health in Kansas. It’s also a time to challenge ourselves and others to take the actions necessary to continue to climb America’s Health Rankings from #28 all the way to #1.

To lead the nation in health, we must inspire, energize and inform. We must offer a helping hand. We must implore more collaboration. And not just any collaboration—bold collaboration. Because when we collaborate, and when we work side by side with those who might see the world differently than we do, we can see progress through a whole new lens.

The Journey

After time to network and enjoy food and beverages on the museum’s beautiful terrace, attendees were led on an interactive journey through the Wichita Art Museum’s galleries to arrive at the Ablah Great Hall for the program.

We called it a Journey of Perspective because this wasn’t just about going from Point A to Point B. Before a single step was taken into one of the galleries, everyone was handed a pair of special anaglyph glasses—either with blue or red lenses. What we saw through these lenses determined which gallery we entered, what messages we saw on the way-finding signage and what takeaways we would have from the path we were on.

And, because everyone ended up in the same place for the rest of the night, this visual game played directly into one of the key pieces of our Statement on Change: Going in the Same Direction, Differently.

The Program

Once everyone was seated, the evening’s program was divided into three main parts:

• An introductory overview
• A segment on bold collaboration currently shaping health in Kansas
• And a look toward the future on the topic of Upward Mobility

The introduction featured brief speeches by Board Chair C. Patrick Woods, Director of Community Partnerships Valerie Turner and President & CEO Ed O’Malley. These speakers talked about the importance of working together, shared more about the current vision of KHF and laid out how the rest of the program would be structured.

From there, we moved into presentations about the bold collaborations happening with the intention for Kansas to move up America’s Health Rankings.

• Teresa Lovelady, President and CEO of Wichita’s HealthCore Clinic, shared how the government, nonprofit, healthcare and private sectors came together to help provide grant funding to help a Wichita neighborhood ravaged by groundwater contamination.
• Ron Draper, CEO of Textron Aviation, joined Ed on stage to talk about his company’s purpose in using the Wings for Dreams event to raise millions of dollars for an exciting new collaboration to impact family’s in some of Wichita’s most challenged communities.
• Emily Brown, CEO of Attane Health in Kansas City, gave insight into her story of going from a mom on public assistance to a startup founder showing how the private sector can play a role in the Food is Medicine movement.
• Erika Debrick Kelly, the founding Executive Director of Hunger Free Kansas, let everyone behind the scenes into how collaborations of energy and funding are propelling Kansas forward on a bold agenda to end hunger in our state.

As we pivoted from what’s currently happening to what KHF plans to tackle next, our board vice chair Dr. Jennifer Bacani McKenney introduced the concept of Upward Mobility. In true Dr. Jen fashion, she did so with a mini-comedy routine full of medical puns only a doctor could get away with telling. But she also landed the seriousness of how someone’s economic status plays a key role in their health outcomes.

By taking on the issue of Upward Mobility, we’re looking to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive, with a heavy emphasis on workforce development, entrepreneurship and entry-level jobs.

Alejo Cabral, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, continued to drive this message home when he talked about how the beginning of every major health challenge at KHF involves listening to anyone, anywhere to get ideas on how we make progress. That even includes a music festival where people shared their “wish” for someone they knew struggling to make ends meet.

We then had a panel where Ed interviewed two Kansas executives leading the way on entrepreneurial development for those who may never have previously envisioned themselves as startup founders: Christina Long of Wichita’s Create Campaign and Sheila Ellis-Glasper of Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills. Their messages about creating opportunity and providing pathways to legacy and wealth were nothing short of inspiring.

Call to Action

No great event is complete without a great call to action. In this case, the audience heard both a high-level philosophical challenge and an explicit, tangible call as well.

Ed delivered the literal call to action as he explained how as attendees exited the event, everyone would receive three copies of our new book Leading Health. The first book, which was signed and personalized, was for each attendee to read. The other two copies were to give to others in Kansas who needed to hear (or in this case, read) about the same type of inspirational messaging shared by HealthRise speakers.

Speaking of inspirational, the night closed with a special message from Rev. Kevass Harding, a Wichita pastor and executive director of Hope Community Development Corporation, which helps build affordable housing in the community’s core. Rev. Harding told the crowd we all have a role to play, and that now is not the time to say it’s “someone else’s job” to make our neighborhoods, communities and state healthier and better. It’s our job! And it’s only possible if we “All Rise Together.”

Next Steps

Even though HealthRise 2025 is done, it’s never too early to start thinking about HealthRise 2026. Next year, we plan to return to Northeast Kansas (HealthRise 2024 was in Topeka), and it’s tentatively scheduled for late September. If you’d like to be on the invite list for next year, please sign up here.