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CSR Spotlight on Andrea Cowsar!

By Michelle Lizak, CMP

Andrea Cowsar

For the past few issues, we have brought you examples of companies that have been forward-thinking and compassionate about CSR movement. In this industry, companies are not the only ones that are focused on corporate social responsibility. Members of our own industry are actively involved in projects that are working to improve the lives of others.

One such member is Andrea Cowsar, a KCMPI member for 2½ years, current Director of Membership for our chapter and Convention Sales Manager for the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association where she promotes Kansas City to meeting planners to encourage them to hold their conventions in the area. Despite her extremely busy schedule in the hospitality industry, Andrea finds time to give back to her local community.

Through her church, Andrea is involved in Blessings in a Backpack. Blessings in a Backpack is a not-for-profit organization that provides backpacks with food for children grades K-5 in Title 1 public schools who qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Program and may not have any or enough food on the weekends. These children are provided with the backpacks to take home from school on Friday afternoons to provide the family with food to last through the weekend.

It was through her volunteer efforts that Andrea became aware of another growing organization called StandUp for Kids. StandUp for Kids is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1990 to help rescue homeless and at-risk youth. With national headquarters in Atlanta, Ga., StandUp for Kids is run almost entirely by volunteers. Currently, Andrea is the Co-Executive Director for the StandUp for Kids-Kansas City Program. In addition to helping homeless and at-risk youth with immediate necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and personal hygiene, StandUp for Kids offers a wide array of services, including: assistance in finding housing; educational assistance; vocational development; counseling; health services; transportation to self-help meetings; and legal assistance. Volunteers also conduct life-skills training, covering such areas as budgeting, banking, apartment cleanliness and safety, shopping and cooking, nutrition, and hygiene. Laundry services and lunch and snack facilities are made available, as well as mail and message services.

On any given night there are more than 2,000 homeless children in Kansas City. This spring, the Kansas City program intends to host its first project, "48 hours on the street." This intense program will have volunteers out on the streets searching for homeless children. StandUp for Kids was also recently mentioned on Celebrity Apprentice!

Andrea devotes more than 10 hours per week to these extremely important causes over and above her full-time job and active membership in MPI. On her spare time, Andrea enjoys cooking, partaking in happy hour with friends and traveling home to Tulsa to see her family.

So this month, the CSR Spotlight is on Andrea Cowsar! Thank you for your time and efforts in the local Kansas City community to make it a better place for children!

For additional information, or to make donations or volunteer with StandUp for Kids, please click on the links below or e-mail Andrea at andreac@standupforkids.org.

StandUp for Kids

Blessings in a Backpack

Author's Note: If you know of any additional KCMPI members that are currently active in community service, please contact Michelle Lizak at michelle.a.lizak@gmail.com. The next issue will focus on these members and their incredible stories of compassion and giving back to the community.

(Michelle is a Marketing and Corporate Events Manager for US Central and is KCMPI's 2009-2010 President. She can be reached at michelle.a.lizak@gmail.com).


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