Our 16th Annual Challenge Your Fashion presented by Pro Athlete was held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in the Count Basie Ballroom on the second floor of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.
Thanks to our guests, volunteers and event sponsors for making this year's event a big success. We also want to thank CiCi Rojas and Jeanette Prenger for co-chairing the event, as well as the 2024 planning committee for their hard work. Your support helped make this event so successful!
This great night for a great cause benefits the YMCA of Greater Kansas City's Challenger program, which provides children with disabilities the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and make friends through sports programs, swim lessons, social events, before and after school programs and more.
Challenge Your Fashion guests enjoyed delicious food and beverages, silent and live auctions, a photo booth, like music from KC All Stars as well as special appearances from Kansas City Royals Mascot Sluggerrr and Kansas City Chiefs Mascot KC Wolf.
The highlight of the night was the fashion show featuring YMCA Challenger athletes and buddies, and celebrity guests from our local sports teams and organizations. Celebrity guests this year included former Kansas City Royals pitcher Mike Boddicker and outfielder Les Norman, former Kansas City Chiefs center Tim Grunhard, former University of Kansas and NFL linebacker Mike Rivera, KC Current defenders Mallory Weber and Hanna Glas, former Sporting KC defender Ike Opara and midfielder Roger Espinoza, Chiefs Cheerleaders Ashton, Cassidy and Davanna, Kansas City Ballet Second Company Dancers Laila Madison and Troy Monger-Levin and President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick.
Our celebrity guests were joined on the runway by Challenger athletes and buddies Bennett, Emma and Lia Fischer, Gianni Southall, Ian Browne-McClain, Jacob Karley, and Kenzie White. All the models wore clothing provided by Dillard's Zona Rosa and watches provided by Garmin.
Emcees Steven St. John, co-host of the Border Patrol on Sports Radio 810, and Jillian Carroll, lifestyle anchor for My KC Live! on KCTV5. Jillian hosted the live auction and was joined on stage by auctioneer Kaleb Drinkgern. Steven was honored on stage for his advocacy toward our Challenger programs while serving as emcee for Challenge Your Fashion since 2015! He was presented with a football signed by several of our Challenger athletes. Thank you for your many years of dedication, Steven!
The night also honored Jenny Burkhead with the Buddy Award for her tremendous support of the Challenger program since 2006. Jenny was an original Challenger Advisory Council member in November 2006. She hosted a wine tasting and auction benefiting Challenger in 2007 that was the first of 18 events that evolved into Cheers for Challenger. Over the years, she has attended Challenger events and supported the Challenger program, sharing the mission with her friends, family and networks to raise awareness about the program.
Craig and Michele Fischer, parents of Challenger athlete Bennett, along with his sisters Emma and Lia, talked about the impact the Challenger program has made on Bennett. You can learn more about the Fischer family in a video that premiered during Challenge Your Fashion.
Take a look at our Google Photos gallery for event photos. For the latest announcements, photos and news, follow the fun and excitement of YMCA Challenger activities and events on Facebook!
