Four Inane Questions with Parade of Hearts Board President LaVon Colhour
Photo Courtesy of LaVon Colhour
LaVon Colhour is—for lack of a better term—a philanthropic mover and shaker. Since 2009, she’s been a touchstone at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and Greater Horizons. As the organization’s vice president of community engagement, Colhour leads a team that works with over two hundred national corporations to build each company’s unique giving program.
For Colhour, she’s well aware of the importance of giving back. She tells us she takes extraordinary pride in helping donors create a culture of giving back within their communities.
She was also front and center at the recent unveiling of Parade of Heart’s new 2026 Hearts of Unity initiative. As the board president, Colhour will play a big role in the rollout of the new artsy-heartsy public art experience—just in time for KC’s 2026 FIFA World Cup debut.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Colhour tells us her love language is cooking. And when she’s not being active in the community, she’s busy “whipping up something amazing in her kitchen to enjoy with family and friends,” she says.
We caught up with KC’s diva of do-gooding in between events to ping her with our sub-par questionnaire. She didn’t so much as bat an eyelash at our oddball query. Bless.
Photo Courtesy of LaVon Colhour
The Pitch: Spring has sprung. If you could only plant one flower—and one flower only—which one, would it be?
LaVon Colhour: I choose morning glories for the following reasons:
For one, morning glories come in so many fun bright colors, just as humans have diverse personalities and talents that make each of us unique and vibrant in our own way. Next, morning glories grow quickly, like how humans can also quickly learn and adapt, especially when motivated or inspired.
Also, morning glories’ ability to climb and reach new heights can be likened to human ambition and the drive to overcome challenges and achieve goals. And finally, the heart-shaped leaves of morning glories could symbolize the warmth and kindness that people can show to one another. Should we declare morning glories the flower of Parade of Hearts?
What was your first big girl concert? I need the scoop.
My first big girl concert was the Jackson 5 at Municipal Auditorium in 1972. I was four years old and wore a purple denim pantsuit. The song I vividly remember them performing was “ABC.” It’s my all-time favorite Jackson 5 song. My mom was a teenage mom and loved music, especially R&B, so we attended every major R&B concert that came to KC.
I still, to this day, love live music and concerts with my fabulous 30-year-old daughter. In case you’re wondering, my daughter’s first big girl concert (with me) was NSYNC at Arrowhead Stadium in 2001. She was seven years old.
Photo Courtesy of LaVon Colhour
In your humble opinion, what’s your all-time favorite corporate logo?
It would have to be Hallmark’s Gold Crown. The most obvious reason is that it’s iconic to Kansas City, where Hallmark was founded and is headquartered. The Gold Crown symbolizes quality, tradition, and a sense of warmth. It evokes a feeling of nostalgia and connection. The elegant design of the crown itself is timeless and instantly recognizable.
Plus, I’m that person who enjoys sending cards through the mail—thank you cards, birthday cards, anniversary cards, Valentine’s cards, just because cards, etc. And I’ll pay $10 for a beautiful greeting card, even though I know it might end up in the trash. Oh well, it makes me happy sending that $10 card.
In a hyper-competitive game of charades, are you better at acting stuff out or being the ultimate guesser?
I’m definitely the ultimate guesser. I have a knack for quickly picking up on subtle clues and interpreting even the most abstract gestures. My ability to react quickly and connect the dots makes me an asset to any team. Plus, I enjoy the thrill of the challenge and the satisfaction of getting the right answer under pressure.
While acting can be fun, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of being the one to crack the code and shout out the correct guess!
