Non-Profit Spotlight: What iF Puppets

Year founded: 

1987

Tell us about the mission of your non-profit:

What iF Puppets exists to inspire play and cultivate connections through the art of puppetry. Our purpose is to support the social, emotional, and creative development of young children by delivering high-quality performances and educational programming that are accessible, inclusive, and grounded in community partnerships. We use puppetry as a powerful tool to engage children, educators, emerging artists, and families in imaginative learning experiences that build empathy, strengthen classroom skills, and promote school readiness. We serve the greater Kansas City metro area and the Midwest region providing affordable puppetry experiences to youth, educators, and families through partnerships with libraries, schools, and arts organizations.

What's a recent success story or milestone you're proud of?

We recently premiered our newest production "T-Rex Took My Toothbrush" at the Midwest Trust Center during the last week of September and received wonderful feedback from our audience members. One parent noted: “My toddler loved it! We actually played "puppets" last night. Lol! It made an impression for sure! Plus, just opening up a new world of pretend play ideas. It's pretty awesome.”

How can our Chambers best support and be involved with your non-profit?

First off, we love for community members to experience our programming whenever possible. To learn about what we are next offering, visit our website to find out about our upcoming puppet shows as well as special events.

Additionally, we are always looking for ways to bring our education programs and touring shows to more schools and libraries who may not have the funding for arts-based experiences. If you have the ability to sponsor our programming, we would love to connect in order to bring our work to more young people across Kansas City.

Lastly, we are actively building community opportunities for local artists and art enthusiasts, we host quarterly Puppets in Progress events that are free and open to the public. It is a great chance to see our puppets up close and to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work we do!

To connect with us directly, you can email info@whatifpuppets.org or call us at 816-756-3500.