Nonprofit Connect Honors Watson for His Community Service and Leadership
On May 11, Kansas City’s Nonprofit Connect named Husch Blackwell Chairman Maurice A. Watson Volunteer of the Year during its 28th Annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon. The Kansas City Free Health Clinic nominated Watson for the award.
Nonprofit Connect assists local nonprofits with education, resources and networking opportunities so they may more effectively achieve their missions. The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an individual who impacts his or her community through sustained and wide-ranging volunteer service, demonstrates leadership and fundraising ability and serves as a motivator to recruit others to community service.
Watson works extensively in the legal, business and philanthropic communities and has dedicated his career to representing public school districts, private schools, institutions of higher education and national education associations. Watson also represents the interests of children’s hospitals in Washington, D.C., on legislative matters.
Watson’s interest in health and educational issues was inspired by his time on Capitol Hill working on similar issues as a senior aide for U.S. Senator John Danforth (1984-1987). Focusing his community service in these areas, Watson is currently on the Children’s Mercy Hospital Foundation’s Board of Trustees and has been an active supporter of the hospital for nearly 20 years, initially as Chair of the Hospital’s Board of Directors (1993-2007). He also Co-Chairs the Grant Committee of the Heart of America Community AIDS Partnership and sits on the Advisory Board of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic. Also passionate about education, Watson is a Board Member of the National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys, the Harry S. Truman Library Institute and the Kansas City Art Institute. Watson has served on the boards of directors for numerous other local and national non-profit organizations throughout his legal career.
View the Annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon video created by Nonprofit Connect.