February 25, 2026
Dysart Taylor shareholder/director Amanda Pennington Ketchum recently celebrated Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance’s (LEAP) 32nd Annual Mardi Gras Event. Ketchum serves as the board president for the organization which benefits and supports Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City.
LEAP’s Mardi Gras Celebration is an annual fundraising event to help raise funds to support Operation Breakthrough, an organization that strives to help children living in poverty reach their fullest potential by providing safe, loving and educational environments. The center also supports and empowers children’s families through advocacy, referral services and emergency aid.
During the celebration this year, the group of Kansas City attorneys were treated to a singing performance by kindergartners from Operation Breakthrough and special comments from 5th graders. The group also raised $110,000 to donate to the organization and presented the donation to Mary Esselman, Operation Breakthrough’s CEO and president.
The celebration is also a time to recognize the LEAP Mardi Gras Royalty, a recognition given to a ‘King’ and a ‘Queen’ to highlight their contributions to LEAP, the community and the children of Operation Breakthrough. This year’s honorees were Esselman and Mark Parrish, treasurer of LEAP.
Ketchum has been involved with LEAP since early in her career and has served as a member of the board of directors for over a decade, and she currently serves as the board’s president.
Contact Amanda Pennington Ketchum at aketchum@dysarttaylor.com or (816) 714-3066 for more information.
