Step Into Giving at the Second Annual Snowflake Streak – Jan. 31, 2026

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By Nikki Balden, Administrative and Marketing/Development Support

A Winter Walk to Support Health Care Access for Our Uninsured and Low-income Neighbors

Snowflake Streak 2026 FlyerOn Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, community members will bundle up in their winter hats and gloves for Health Partnership Clinic’s second annual Snowflake Streak, a peer-to-peer fundraising walk at the Olathe Community Center and Stagecoach Park.

The event begins with a short program, followed by a brisk walk around the park’s 0.97-mile trail loop. Participants can also enjoy pre- and post-walk activities like face painting and a photobooth (provided by Truity Credit Union), breakfast, and a hot chocolate and coffee bar. Joe Lauria, evening news meteorologist for FOX4, will serve as the event’s emcee.

The Snowflake Streak offers a fun and meaningful way to support the clinic’s mission of providing quality, affordable, and accessible medical, dental and behavioral health care to those in need. Funds raised will help ensure that uninsured and low-income children and adults in the community can stay healthy and well.

Our goal is to bring together caring individuals, families and area businesses who want to help neighbors who are struggling physically, mentally and financially. This event is a great way to build awareness, strengthen donor relationships and support our patients.

Event Details

While there is no fee to participate, individuals are encouraged to raise at least $100—which helps cover the cost of providing two rapid RSV, strep or flu tests for uninsured children. Participants who reach the $100 goal will receive a limited-edition short-sleeve Snowflake Streak T-shirt.

Additional fundraising incentives include a Power Ring 15W Wireless Charger with light, blanket shawl, fleece jacket, and a Garmin Activity Tracker.

Prizes will also be awarded for: Best Dressed Team, Best Dressed Individual (Adult and Child), Top Fundraising Team and the Team with the Most Members.

Participants can walk as individuals, join an existing team, or register as a team captain and recruit others. Teams can consist of one person or more.

Sponsorship

2026 Snowflake Streak Sponsorship OpportunitiesHealth Partnership invites area companies, vendors, schools, civic and church groups, and community members to get involved—either by becoming a sponsor, forming a team or both. Current sponsors include Blue Gurus, City of Olathe, Davidson Promotional, Husch Blackwell, Olathe Ford, Olathe Noon Optimist Club, Scovell Remodeling, Simmons Bank, Walsworth Publishing and last but certainly not least – AdventHealth, our Premier Sponsor.

The fundraising event is led by our Marketing and Development team members Catherine Rice, VP of Marketing and Outreach; Nikki Balden, Administrative and Marketing/Development Support, and Hayward Lafferty, Director of Development.

The Snowflake Streak Committee includes Mary Ellen Clark, Community Member/HPC Development Committee; Cara Coleman, The Recovery Village Kansas City; Lucy Delsarto, TVH Parts Co., Health and Wellness Coach; Stephanie Heisler, Walmart; David Hunt, Truity Credit Union; Derek Richardson, Healthy Blue Kansas; Jim Terrones, HPC Board; and Jason Terry, Blue Gurus. Representing HPC are Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Behavioral Health Director and David Merschbrock, Operations Manager.

If you are interested in forming a team or walking, please contact Nikki Balden at nbalden@hpcks.org or 913-433-7592.

If interested in sponsoring our event, please contact our Director of Development Hayward Lafferty at hlafferty@hpcks.org or 913-276-7012.

First Annual Snowflake Streak Fundraising Event Raises Over $37,000 for Health Partnership Clinic

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By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach at Health Partnership Clinic

Snowflake Streak 2025Health Partnership Clinic’s (HPC) inaugural Snowflake Streak fundraising walk successfully brought the community together for a cause close to our hearts, raising more than $37,000 to support uninsured children and adults in our area. AdventHealth was the presenting sponsor. The event attracted over 200 participants and volunteers who enjoyed a family-friendly one-mile walk around the picturesque Stagecoach Park Loop at the Olathe Community Center, Olathe, Kan. Joe Lauria, evening news meteorologist for FOX4, served as the event’s emcee, and Olathe Mayor John Bacon made brief remarks and led the walkers.

The walk event included a “warmup minute” by Jonathan Fiser with AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, a short program, a photo booth compliments of Truity Credit Union, face painting and winter tattoos from Gardner Edgerton High School National Honor Society (NHS) students, individual and team prize presentation, door prizes and breakfast, compliments of Chick-fil-a (Olathe and Overland Park). Coffee was donated by First Watch and Sweet Tee’s Coffee Shop and hot chocolate was donated by Grounded Mobile Coffee.

The Top Fundraising Team was awarded to ScottieT, raising $4,585. A big thank you to Scott Tow, Team Captain, and his 20 walkers and more than 50 donors! The Most Team Members award was presented to TVH Parts Co. with 24 team members. The team will enjoy cookies and be the proud recipient of the Streak Traveling Trophy for one year. In addition, the Best Dressed Team award went to Team Paola Penguins, co-captained by Trish Fowler and Mayra Bocanegra, HPC staff members. The “Penguins” will enjoy an in-office pizza party. Prizes were also given to best dressed adult and child.

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HPC, which serves Johnson, Miami and Franklin Counties, ensures high-quality, affordable and culturally appropriate care is accessible to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay.

Snowflake Streak 2025“Thanks to our generous Snowflake Streak sponsors, team captains, walkers and donors we have raised funds that will help us maintain our mission,” says Amy Falk, HPC’s CEO. “This year’s event not only fostered a sense of community but also highlighted the importance of healthcare accessibility for everyone.”

She adds, “Events like the Snowflake Streak showcase the incredible spirit of our community and our shared commitment to health equity. Thanks to the generous support of our participants, sponsors, donors and volunteers, we are one step closer to making sure that everyone in our community can receive the care they need.”

HPC prides itself on serving as a collaborative hub for community partners, recognizing that teamwork is essential in overcoming barriers to health. The funds raised during the Snowflake Streak will go directly toward providing essential services and resources for those in need.

“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated, donated and volunteered,” adds Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing and Outreach. “Together, we are making a significant impact on the health of our community. Our first annual Snowflake Streak is a testament to the power of collaboration and community involvement. We look forward to continuing this tradition and making next year’s event even bigger and better.”

A huge thank you to the Snowflake Streak Committee. Community members included Cara Coleman, The Recovery Village Kansas City; Sara Freeman, Truity Credit Union; Stephanie Heisler, Walmart; Abigail Lano, MPH, Marketing Communications Consultant; Bill Schafer, Olathe Noon Optimist Club; James Terrones, HPC Board; Jason Terry, Blue Gurus; and Scott Tow, HPC volunteer/community member. Staff members include Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Behavioral Health; David Merschbrock, Administration; and Nikki Balden, Administration. Our fundraising team included Leilani Haywood, Marketing/Development Manager; Hayward Lafferty, Development Director; Catherine Rice, VP of Marketing/Outreach; and Debbie Sparks, Development/Marketing Manager.

A special thank you to the following Volunteers: Lori Boushahla, HPC; Mary Ellen Clark, community member; Joni Hiatt, Olathe Noon Optimist Club; Denise Kelly, HPC; Judy Leary, Olathe Noon Optimist Club; Tonja McCoy, community member; Nathan Rice, community member; Jody Rice, HPC; Raylee Saunders, Gardner-Edgerton NHS student; Brooke Schesser, Gardner-Edgerton NHS parent; Reese Schesser, Gardner-Edgerton NHS student; Jacob Swisher, Olathe Noon Optimist; and Scott Tow, HPC.

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