{"id":5245,"date":"2022-05-17T14:29:38","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T19:29:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekcblog.com\/?post_type=engage&p=5245"},"modified":"2022-05-17T14:29:38","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T19:29:38","slug":"summer-2022-from-the-heart-blue-kc-loves-kansas-city","status":"publish","type":"engage","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/engage\/summer-2022-from-the-heart-blue-kc-loves-kansas-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer 2022 – From the Heart: Blue KC Loves Kansas City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Don\u2019t Miss Out: Hearts On Display Until the End of May<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They don\u2019t call it \u201cThe Heartland\u201d for nothing. Geographically speaking, Kansas City is located smack dab in the middle of the United States. If you want to get technical about it, the exact center of the contiguous 48 states is located about two miles northwest of Lebanon, Kansas. That said, our city serves as the symbolic heart of the country. The tie between East and West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kansas City has been known to wear its heart on its sleeve, quite literally. Chances are, you own a Charlie Hustle t-shirt emblazoned with a KC heart. But did you know the iconic KC heart symbol originated with the Kansas City Monarchs? Satchel Paige, Buck O\u2019Neil, and other Negro Leagues stars proudly wore the KC heart patch \u2013 stitched onto the left sleeve of their uniforms \u2013 as they won the 1942 Negro Leagues World Series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And speaking of winning, KC certainly has the heart of a champion. Between the Chiefs, Royals, Sporting Kansas City, the KC Comets, and the KC Current, the city of fountains has been awash in victories in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But at the heart of things, what really makes Kansas City special is our collective care for each other. We support our communities, our local businesses, and our artistic institutions. And with the recent launch of \u201cParade of Hearts<\/a>\u201d \u2013 a philanthropic public art installation \u2013 Kansas City is doing just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The region-wide initiative officially launched on March 7, with 154 hearts installed across the metro. \u201cParade of Hearts\u201d aims to energize the local economy, boost tourism, and revitalize retail and service sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue KC is a presenting sponsor of the project, in partnership with JE Dunn and nbkc bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeeing the Parade of Hearts come together has been a special experience with our partners. When Kansas City puts its heart into something, we accomplish great things,\u201d said Erin Stucky, President and CEO, Blue KC. \u201cThe funding generated from the Parade of Hearts will go a long way in helping our city recover from the impacts of the last two years and Blue KC is pleased to serve as a presenting sponsor. I can\u2019t wait to see all these beautiful works of art throughout our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Selecting the participants was no easy task. An independent jury panel reviewed over 700 entries before choosing a diverse group of 123 artists to take part in \u201cParade of Hearts,\u201d each crafting a truly unique work in the form of a five-foot-by-five-foot fiberglass heart. The artwork is placed in prominent locations throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. For those who venture out to see these spectacular symbols in person, be sure to find the scannable QR code placed on each sculpture, which provides detailed information about the artist, their inspiration, and the surrounding neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue KC was honored to choose eight hearts\u2019 locations to bring attention to several of our community partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNUESTRO CORAZON\u201d<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n