Introduction
Fore the Kids Foundation continues to raise funds to combat the ever-growing mental health crisis that the youth in our community face on a daily basis. In a Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the CDC, it was discovered that 20% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023. And that is something we will not stand for.
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Fore the Kids hosted the 4th Annual Lifting Spirits Bourbon Raffle presented by Garmin, with over 200 attendees at the event and hundreds more watching the livestream from home. The organization gave away 40 bottles of rare and highly allocated bourbons in the raffle and also featured a live and silent auction, raising over $200,000 for their mental health fundraising initiatives.
Welcoming the Community
The event started at 5:30 PM, and as attendees arrived, they were greeted by members of the Fore the Kids board alongside staff from Children’s Mercy. Guests were immediately immersed in the experience, handed a Glencairn glass—a tulip-shaped glass designed to enhance the aroma and flavor of spirits like bourbon and whiskey—and directed to explore the various tastings happening throughout the room.
The atmosphere of the room was warm and lively as guests mingled, enjoyed passed hors d’oeuvres, and browsed the vast selection of silent auction items and Fore the Kids branded merchandise. One tasting location even showcased exclusive Lifting Spirits Barrel Picks of Penelope, Blue Note, Old Forester, and Eagle Rare bourbons that guests could purchase and take home that evening.
Cocktail hour eased into dinner service provided by Nick and Jake’s, featuring a hot and delicious variety of dinner options. The venue had three bars throughout the room, each hosted by a different spirit distributor in Kansas, all showcasing specialty cocktails highlighting new and exciting bourbons from their portfolios.
After an hour and a half of appetizers, tastings, dinner, and drinks, it was finally time for the program to begin.
The Lifting Spirits Experience
The program opened with the National Anthem performed by local recording artist, Travis Marvin, followed by remarks from Tracy MacDonald, Executive Director of the foundation, and Dylan Queen, the current Chairman of the Board.
They shared exciting news, including the recent award Lifting Spirits earned from The Independent Magazine, naming it #1 of the Top 10 Impact Players of 2025, as the best fundraising event that wasn’t a gala or golf tournament. They also announced that the Fore the Kids annual golf tournament took 2nd place for charity golf tournaments, which led to the announcement that this year’s golf tournament will be hosted at a new course this year, Oakwood Country Club, utilizing one course rather than filling two courses as the event has done for the past six years.
Tracy then introduced the evening’s Masters of Ceremonies: Fore the Kids Founder, Kevin Timmons, and bourbon enthusiast, John MacDonald. Together, they kicked off the event with laughter, education, and one-of-a-kind stories that brought the room to life.
Kevin invited Dr. Leeder from Children’s Mercy to the stage for a heartfelt testimony before introducing the event’s keynote speaker, Zach Naasz from Sazerac, who walked the audience through an exclusive tasting mat featuring allocated Sazerac bourbons.
The three men told stories about the famed Buffalo Trace distillery while educating the audience on four exceptional expressions poured for the tasting, including the Lifting Spirits Barrel Pick Eagle Rare, Eagle Rare 12 Year, Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch, and Stagg Barrel Proof.
When the presentation was over, it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for—the raffle.
Rare Bottles, Big Hearts, and a Powerful Impact
The list of bourbons raffled off that evening was carefully curated and included many bottles that are nearly impossible to find at retail, such as Van Winkle 12-year “Lot B” and a bottle of William LaRue Weller. Raffle tickets were just $10, giving supporters 40 chances to have their names called. Many lucky winners were in the room, while several others joined the celebration from home via the event’s YouTube livestream.
But the moment generosity truly took center stage came when the Nigro Brothers announced the start of the live auction. The energy in the room became electric as bid paddles began flying.
Four of the five auction packages featured curated bourbon collections from Weller, Blantons, Redwood Empire, and Little Book. The final item of the evening was an experience most bourbon enthusiasts would dream about: a tasting for four of the entire Van Winkle lineup, paired with a dinner for eight at the new fine-dining restaurant opening later this year in Leawood, Kansas, Dick’s Steak & Oyster.
By the end of the night, the live auction alone had raised $36,000, bringing the grand total of the evening to more than $200,000 in support of youth mental health initiatives.
Conclusion
The 4th Annual Lifting Spirits Bourbon Raffle once again proved what can happen when a community comes together for a cause that truly matters. Through the generosity of donors, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees, Fore the Kids Foundation continues to make meaningful strides in supporting mental health resources for children and families across our region. With more than $200,000 raised in a single evening, the impact of this event will be felt far beyond the walls of the venue—helping ensure that more young people have access to the care, support, and hope they deserve.