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Celebrating 30 Years of Impact: Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park Day

On July 19, 2025, the City of Overland Park proudly celebrates Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park Day, marking 30 years of transformative contributions to the community. A Legacy of Impact Established in 1995, as the Overland Park Parks and Recreation Department Foundation, Inc., the foundation was created to support and enhance the city’s … Read More

Meet the ARFOP Board: Bess Wallerstein Huff

Bess Wallerstein Huff brings nearly three decades of arts leadership to the ARFOP board, backed by an impressive career in Kansas City’s cultural scene. Bess was instrumental in establishing the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, where she spent over a decade leading marketing and community engagement. She continued to leave her mark on Kansas … Read More

ARFOP Welcomes Sonya McLelland as New Executive Director

The Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park (ARFOP) is pleased to welcome Sonya McLelland, CFRE, as our new Executive Director. McLelland succeeds longtime executive director Vicki Lilly, who is retiring after 26 years in leadership positions with the organization. McLelland comes to ARFOP with nearly 30 years of fundraising and marketing experience and has … Read More

Meet the ARFOP Board: Ken Selzer

Ken Selzer is a dedicated and accomplished board member with a wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors. His extensive background in fundraising, organization, business, and leadership uniquely qualifies him to contribute meaningfully to ARFOP’s mission. Ken Selzer is a Certified Public Accountant and experienced leader who served as the Kansas Insurance … Read More

Milestone Mix & Mingle Membership Event

On a stunning fall evening, nearly 200 members of the Friends of the Arboretum joined us for our Milestone Mix & Mingle Membership Event on October 8, 2024. The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens’ vibrant autumn colors and crisp air set the perfect backdrop for a night dedicated to celebrating some of our organization’s … Read More

The ARFOP Mission Extends to Germany

A note from the Foundation’s Board President, Phil Bressler: On behalf of the entire ARFOP organization, I was fortunate enough to join the City of Overland Park delegation in late August to visit our sister city, Bietigheim-Bissingen, located just outside of Stuttgart, Germany. The primary purpose of the trip was to celebrate the 25th anniversary … Read More

Friends of the Arboretum August Newsletter

Dear Friends, This time of year is a busy one at our Arboretum. We seem to have so many wonderful events that take place later in the year after the summer blooms begin to give way to the fall colors. This year is no different. On August 1, you received an email to let you … Read More

Friends of the Arboretum July Newsletter

Dear Friends, We are thrilled to share some exciting news about our ongoing commitment to making the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens a welcoming place for all. Over the past few years, the FOTA Advisory Board has been dedicated to an initiative called “Nature Encounter for All.” This project aims to enhance the experience … Read More

Friends of the Arboretum June Newsletter

  Dear Friends, Summer is in full swing – and so is your Arboretum. In previous months, we recapped all of the great things available to you and your family at the Arboretum. There is just so much to do and see all around us each and every day. From slow walks through the gardens, … Read More

Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Draft Horse Depot

May 2024 marked a significant milestone for Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead as we gathered to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the brand-new Draft Horse Depot. This momentous event represents the culmination of years of dedication, planning, and hard work. As the Friends of the Farmstead (FOF), the nonprofit fundraising group that made … Read More

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