By CHRISTINE OLIVA The Kansas City Star
Date: 04/07/00 22:15
Copyright © 2000 The Kansas City Star

More than 1,500 volunteers and local celebrities took to the streets early Friday to peddle Royals Opening Day editions of The Kansas City Star for the 13th annual Greater Kansas City Day.

From the Country Club Plaza to Crown Center to the corner of 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue, volunteers faced oncoming traffic, screamed, yelled, begged, groveled and did whatever was necessary to raise more than $100,000 for the Rotary Youth Camp and other area children's charities.

Lisa Foxx of radio station KNRX-FM staked out the northeast corner of 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway and began selling papers at 6 a.m. In between stopping the morning traffic and running up and down the street, Foxx was broadcasting live from the radio station van, parked next to the J.C. Nichols fountain.

"I'm having a blast," she said. "I'm just trying to make sure they know what this is for."

Across the street, Hammerhead and Sweet Charlie of radio station KCHZ-FM engaged in a little friendly competition with co-workers Kim Kavanaugh and Christa Patrick to see who could raise more money.

"I didn't realize how hard selling papers was," Patrick said. "There's some heavy lifting going on here."

By 7:30 a.m., many drivers already had been approached by hawkers. Volunteers were positioned on almost every block near the Plaza. But donations still were coming in.

"We might not get them at the first corner or the second, but by the third or fourth it eventually sinks in," Patrick said. "People are pretty generous."

Sean Tyler and the folks at KPRS-FM have been working the corner of 63rd and Prospect on and off for the last six years because they don't have to worry about adequate volume at the busy intersection. Broadcasting live from two vans, Tyler said he would do anything for youngsters at the camp.

"Holding up traffic, singing, table dancing, whatever -- we do it all," he said. "I had to get on my knees and give a pathetic look, but it was a $5 donation. It was worth it."

Other celebrities who made appearances and even hawked a few papers included former Chiefs players Marcus Allen and Danan Hughes, and musician Tony DiPardo.

Former major-league umpire Steve Palermo and former Royals relief pitcher Jeff Montgomery were honorary co-chairmen. Rick Adie of the Hyatt Regency Crown Center and Dave Bryan of Midwest Binding were the event's general co-chairmen.

Julie Sexton bought the paper with the grand prize. She received tickets to Friday's Royals game, a limousine ride to and from the game, dinner at Peppercorn Duck Club and two round-trip tickets on Vanguard Airlines.