Union Station 2022 Impact Report

Union Station

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Roy Inman Photosgraphs©

Where Kansas City Celebrates

Impact Report 2022

C elebration In the late morning hours of a Saturday this past February, two elderly sisters were seated under our historic Union Station Grand Hall Clock. Each dressed elegantly. Their smiles were big and genuine. When asked why they chose to visit Union Station that day, one enthusiastically said, “Because every time we’re here, it feels like a celebration.”

A celebration, indeed. And that’s a great way to think about and reflect on 2022 and the tremendous 2023 that’s unfolded.

Countless celebrations – of all sizes – in and around your Union Station.

In fact, when we think about the word “celebration” in the broadest terms, it’s a perfect fit for everything we do.

Science City powered by Burns & McDonnell, is a celebration of innovation, exploration and discovery of the big STEM world around us. Our Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium is a celebration of the endless and exhilarating mysteries of space. The Bank of America Exhibition Gallery is where we celebrate diverse cultures and topics, as in 2022’s MAYA: The Great Jaguar Rises. And the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre is where the magic of movies celebrates topics that span the range.

And we can’t talk about celebrations at Union Station without highlighting those unending personal moments of joy that happen throughout the year. Engagements, weddings, anniversaries, promotions, graduations, quinceañeras and on and on.

Then there’s the huge community celebrations for which Union Station is now famous. Music events like Bank of America’s Celebration at the Station. Grand traditions like our massive Holiday Reflections experience. Sports-themed events to help kick off seasons for our Royals, KC Current, Sporting KC and CHIEFS. Plus, post-season gatherings at Union Station that have reached iconic status, from Super Bowl Rallies to most recently the NFL Draft watched by 54 million fans worldwide.

So, why celebrate? Because in celebrating, we stay connected.

And in memorializing our talents, accomplishments and perseverance, we motivate ourselves and each other to keep reaching for even bigger goals. And it’s fair to say – in the case of Union Station – that after 109 years of history in

Kansas City, big goals have been met but we’re just getting started.

There is so much more to do in building new bridges to our dynamic and diverse communities. There are more Union Station Members to welcome, more donors and supporters to embrace, and more enrichment to offer our guests . . . from the youngest learners to those who have been part of many decades of treasured history.

In the pages of this Impact Report, you’ll read nouns and numbers that most certainly impress. Our success continues to be remarkable and it’s because of you that we’re now self-sustaining and reinvesting on a regular basis to keep Union Station vibrant and vital to Kansas City and beyond.

It’s always been about the people. The more than 2 million guests who visit annually. Our small but mighty professional team. And our dedicated and visionary Board of Directors who help leverage our past and position us for a very bright future. Among them is Ramón Murguía, our immediate past Board Chair. Ramón helped us bring brilliant, new Early Learning additions to Science City. He guided us through the challenges of COVID and ensured the hugely consequential Auschwitz.

Not long ago. Not far away. exhibition happened for the more than 330,000 guests who visited from all 50 states and 6 countries. Ramón recently handed the leadership reigns to Ray Kowalik, Chairman & CEO of Burns & McDonnell and our new Union Station Board Chair.

We owe Ramón and Ray – as well as our entire Board of Directors and volunteers – sincere thanks and ongoing appreciation. And they, in turn, would quickly deflect that appreciation to you, for your patronage and support of Kansas City’s visual voice and historic home . . . Union Station.

From all of us, thank you and please enjoy the shared successes and bright future outlined in these following pages.

With Endless Gratitude,

George Guastello President & CEO

Ramón Murgía & Ray Kowalik

Peggy Dunn, Board Treasurer

2022 Board of Directors Ramón Murguía, Board Chairman Attorney at Law, Murguía Law Office

Dr. Mauli Agrawal

Chancellor, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Dr. Kimberly Beatty Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College

Bucky Brooks Principal, Copaken Brooks

Michael J. Brown

Chairman & CEO, Euronet Worldwide

Jon Cook

CEO, VMLY&R

Mayor, City of Leawood, KS

Michael R. Haverty Retired Executive Chairman, Kansas City Southern

Ray Kowalik, Board Vice Chairman Chairman & CEO, Burns & McDonnell

Dan Lowe Partner, Legacy Development

Thank You

To Our Generous Donors Gave $1,000+

909 Properties, Inc. & the Privitera Family Dena & John Adams Sue & Mauli Agrawal Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation, Peter W. Brown, Barton J. Cohen, UMB Bank, N.A., Trustees Ash Grove Charitable Foundation B & B Theatres Operating Co., Inc Bank of America Dr. Kimberly Beatty BioNexus KC BlueScope Foundation, North America BOK Financial Broadcom Foundation Mike & Millie Brown Bucky Brooks Burns & McDonnell Foundation John & Kay Callison The Campbell Family Foundation Canadian Pacific Kansas City Catalent Pharma Solutions LCC City Wide Facility Solutions Jon & Lisa Cook

Robert D. Regnier Retired Executive Chairman & CEO, Bank of Blue Valley

Dr. Thomas Sack President & CEO, MRIGlobal

Charles Sosland, Board Secretary President & CEO, Sosland Companies

Conference on Jewish Material Claims Matthew Cooper Copaken Family Foundation The DeBruce Foundation Peggy & Terry Dunn Courtney R. Earnest Edward F. Swinney Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Eurofins Viracor, LLC Evergy Services Inc Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation David & Geri Frantze Stacchya & Joseph Gray Joe Guastello Deborah & Gregory Guthrie Hallmark Corporate Foundation Mike & Marlys Haverty Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, LLC Shirley & Barnett Helzberg, Jr. Henney-Graham Fund Home Builders Charitable Foundation Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technology

Integrity IT Solutions Jackson County, Missouri JE Dunn Construction Company JPMorgan Chase & Co. Mary Lockton Carol & Fred Logan Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation Ann McCort Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation MilliporeSigma Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri Department of Transportation The Missouri Humanities Council Morgan Jones & Corrie Sifers Charitable Fund MRIGlobal Ramón & Sally Murguía Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund Marcy A. Nelson Nicholas Kuehn Powell Family Foundation Olsson Engineering Sharon Parker Janice Pearson Pierpont’s at Union Station

PNC Foundation Regnier Family Foundations Tom & Patty Sack Sam & Vera Doutt Charitable Fund Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. Charlie & Jeanne Sosland The Sosland Foundation Steven & Karen Pack Family Fund Erin Stucky Tension Envelope Foundation Terracon Jason Tobler Rob & Connie Waldrop II Mary Clare Vaughn Victor E. and Caroline E. Schutte Foundation, Bank of America N.A., Trustee The W. K. Kellogg Foundation Womack Foundation

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Erin Stucky President & CEO, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City

Mayor Quinton Lucas, Ex-officio City of Kansas City, MO Union Station Leadership Team: George Guastello, President & CEO • Jerry Baber, Executive Vice President & COO Nale Uhl, CFO • Michael Tritt, CMO • Duane Erickson, VP of Building Operations & Exhibitions Sara Lissauer, VP of Community Engagement & Development • Dennise Day, CSO

RevenueS uccess EARNED

71%

13% CONTRIBUTIONS

16%

ONE TIME SOURCE

Revenue for 2022 saw strong growth from diverse sources. As a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, that receives no federal or local tax funding, we’re fortunate to have the majority of our income generated from ticketed attendance while also benefitting from community support spanning the business, foundation and individual donor landscape.

Together, these funds help maintain this 18-acre campus for generations to come. Economic diversity is our fiscal strength and YOU are an important part of it. For a complete list of ways to engage and support our exciting future, please contact Sara Lissauer at 816-460-2059 or SLissauer@unionstation.org

Voted Kansas City’s Favorite Family-Friendly Attraction

Science City S uccess 309,000+ GUESTS. The second highest attended year since opening. This is a 49% INCREASE over 2021.

But the numbers don’t stop there – In April of 2022, the sixth Battle of the Brains competition came to an end. The winning school from Raytown Challenge was awarded the grand prize of $50,000 for their submission of “Riveting Robots”. Over the course of a year, the students work alongside STEM professionals at Burns & McDonnell to transform their idea into a $1 million dollar exhibit at Science City. “Riveting Robots” is scheduled to open Fall 2023. And the next Battle of the Brains competition launches

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this fall. Educators and students across the Kansas City metro area will compete in the K-12 STEM competition in hopes that their students will inspire the next $1 Million exhibit at Science City.

Internationally awarded, Science City continues to grow and evolve, finding new and exciting ways to continue bringing world-class educational programming and hands-on fun to all who step foot inside our doors. Centrally located in the heart of Kansas City and open to everyone.

Planetarium 56,000+ GUESTS reclined in the fully immersive, 360-degree dome at the Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium.

This represents 48% GROWTH over 2021.

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Science and education are at the heart of what we do. And the Planetarium is no different – our partnership with NASA allows us to share real-time astronomical data and images – as it’s discovered.

2022 gave way to some exciting astronomical findings. Never-beforeseen images from the James Webb Space Telescope was an exciting opportunity for us to do real-time deeper dives into space with our audiences and share what it means about our planetary system today.

Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre 55,000+ GUESTS – THE HIGHEST

ATTENDANCE for the movie theatre since re-opening in 2013. This was a 131% increase from 2021.

Movie goers weren’t the only ones hitting the screen last year. In early March 2022, a new laser projection with cutting-edge color, contrast and brightness was installed thanks to a generous grant from the Regnier Family Foundations. More than a movie. It’s an experience.

The new system gave movie goers an unmatched cinema experience to widely popular, blockbuster films such as “Top Gun: Maverick” and family favorites such as “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, “Elf ” and “Polar Express” that play during our Holiday Classic Movie series. And while out of home entertainment prices continue to rise, the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre is one of the best family values in town with tickets as low as $5.

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Featuring first-run movies and educational films that share fascinating history and take viewers to amazing places.

Touring Exhibitions Nearly 143,000 ATTENDED in 2022

Membership

2022 began with Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away. The exhibition opened in June 2021 and closed mid-March 2022 it was the highest attended exhibition in the Station’s history by welcoming over 318,000 people.

The Bank of America Gallery then transitioned to welcome Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises in August of 2022.

Fulfilling our mission of preserving and sharing history as well as celebrating diverse cultures, these two exhibitions (and many more) welcomed guests from all 50 states and multiple foreign countries. Guest comments affirmed our commitment to promoting cultural understanding and the power of inclusivity.

in 2022. Our numbers grew 22% as more people discovered the enriching experiences we provide.

7,000+ MEMBERSHIPS

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We’re committed to listening to our members and delivering what matters most to them: engaging content, interactive learning, exclusive invitations, and valuable family-focused opportunities.

to the Marion & Henry Bloch Family Foundation, Union Station was DID YOU ableThanks a 77% discount to guests with an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) KNOW? card toto provide both Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away. and Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises.

HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS A family-favorite, Holiday Reflections, the ticketed walkthru experience that fills Grand Plaza was a hit welcoming

nearly 156,000 GUESTS setting a new record and further establishing Union Station being where Kansas City Celebrates.

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More sights and sounds. Miles of garland and twinkling lights.

Christmas trees and smiling faces around every corner. We’re constantly at work, looking for fresh and new ways to continue delivering magical experiences for all, especially during the Holiday season.

Preservation Caring for Union Station’s historic structures is an ongoing and essential part of what we do every day. In 2021, several key transformations on the campus began thanks to a $5 Million dollar grant from the Sunderland Foundation. The grant directly supports the preservation, restoration and improvements across the 18-acre campus and covers many projects either already completed or currently in the pipeline.

Projects Completed In 2022 Include: • Renovation of Grand Hall Restrooms • Touching up of the historic ceilings • Floor polishing of Grand Hall and Grand Plaza • Window restoration • Modernization and energy conservation of the LINK and more Grants such as these help us maintain our historic building and ensures vibrancy for years to come.

Volunteers Volunteers are an integral part of Union Station’s success.

They are at the heart of everything we do and without them, this historic monument wouldn’t be where it is today.

In 2022, we were prosperous thanks to

177 Total Volunteers Who Served 15,310 Hours And Filled Nearly 3,700 Shifts.

Scan Here to Volunteer!

Scholarships In 2022, Union Station was able to provide 7,714 students

educational opportunities across our attractions including FREE visits to: Auschwitz: Not long ago. Not far away., Science City and Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises. This was made possible by generous donations and scholarships through Jackson County Outside Agency Funds, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and Joyce DiDonato.

Mini-Ride on Train

The historic Jones Store train is a family-favorite tradition for many of our guests. Each year, the little ones ride on the train around Santa’s village.

Now part of the Holiday Reflections experience in Grand Plaza,

nearly 21,000 littles rode on the beloved train.

Additionally we added a new Virtual Sleigh Ride for guests of all ages.

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Holiday Classic Movies

A beloved tradition that continues year-after-year on the big screen: Holiday Classic Movies. At $3.50 a ticket plus a $1 popcorn, it’s an experience the whole family can look forward to.

Last year, we welcomed over 18,000 guests over the

course of six weeks. This was a 46% increase from 2021. We can’t wait to bring these beloved classics back and welcome new and returning families this Holiday season.

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Photo by Gabriel Reyes, KC Escapades

Our Visual Voice Reaches Around The World

S uccess

SOCIAL MEDIA

Impressions: 85,967,085 Engagements: 5,570,356 Followers: 204,736

Nearly 105M Impressions

Over 92K Messages Received

Nearly 6.3M Engagements

(Messages or comments directed specifically to our accounts)

Impressions: 7,300,555 Engagements: 278,299 Followers: 66,795

6,495 Published Posts

Impressions: 8,282,129 Engagements: 220,954 Followers: 65,463

Over 230K Click-throughs

Impressions: 255,330 Engagements: 19,687 Followers: 2,240

Over 4.2M Video Views

across Union Station channels

What People are Saying “Simply one of the most profound experiences in my life.”

Auschwitz Exhibition Guest Comment by J.R.

“This place is HUGE, and there is so much to do for all ages!

We went with kids 3-11 years old and were there for almost 3 hours and didn’t even get through everything! I cannot express enough how much we enjoyed Science City!”

“Holidays at Union Station have been part of our family tradition since I was young. Now it’s my turn to make new memories.”

Holiday Reflections guest feedback