On a cold winter’s night 50 years ago, a group of inspired friends gathered over a potluck dinner with a single goal in mind — to help families served by Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas. That night snowballed and became a spectacular annual fundraising event to provide for the most vulnerable in our community. 

Today’s Snow Ball is a stark departure from the first event in 1974 that was instigated by John Phillips and John Fogarty and at the time was called the St. Martin of Tours Gala. The event began as a $25 per couple potluck with friends and family, each bringing covered dishes to the former Glenwood Manor Hotel in Overland Park.

During the first four years the St. Martin of Tours Gala raised more than $50,000, and by 1981, when the event moved to the former Alameda Plaza Hotel, it was well known and sold out by mid-December. The proceeds raised began to almost double each year after that. The mission of the gala, however, had remained crystal clear to all those involved: to raise funds to support our brothers and sisters who are in need.

Inevitably each year, snow would fall around the time of the gala, sometimes on the evening of the affair. Because of the fluctuating weather changes in the Midwest, it took only a few years for it to be nicknamed Snow Ball by Phillips, one of the founders. The nickname stuck and finally after several years, it was officially given the name of Snow Ball.

By 1988, the event took another turn by seeking additional monetary gifts in addition to underwriting the cost of producing the ball. Organizers desired to have funds generated by Snow Ball ticket sales to cover the cost of the event, and added an additional giving opportunity, a Patron Gift, that would be a 100 percent tax deductible gift. In following years, efforts focused on introducing the event to the younger generation.

As the guest list grew, Snow Ball moved again to the Hyatt Regency, now the Sheraton Crown Center. The new location brought an even more elegant style to the festivities including valet parking, a cocktail reception and at one time a Sunday Mass the morning after the Ball for those who stayed overnight at the hotel. The net income exceeded $104,000 the first year held at the Hyatt and by 1994, the cumulative total for the first 20 years reached just over $1 million.

Snow Ball returned home to Kansas in 2017. Since then, nearly 2,000 patrons attend the event year-after-year at the Overland Park Convention Center. It raised over $3 million consecutively for the past three years, until hitting an incredible $4 million in 2023. Unlike most galas, all funds are raised prior to the event. The evening is truly a celebration of the generosity of the community.

“Don and I have been to numerous black-tie events over the years, I have to tell you out of all of them, Snow Ball is the most fun,” said Patty Kincaid. She and her husband, Don, served as Honorary Snow Ball presidents.

Like many, the Kincaids have made attending Snow Ball a family tradition. When they initially went, their seven children were intrigued. “The girls were in awe that we were getting dressed up,” Patty said. “Now, every one of our children have gone to the event. Like us, they look forward to it!”