About the HSFT Cosmo Club

The HSFT Cosmos were formed as a merger of two Cosmo clubs in 2016.  The Santa Fe Trail Cosmos were established in 1970 as a men's breakfast business club.  The Heartland Cosmos were established in 1992 as a co-ed club meeting once a month on the third Thursday for dinner.  The combined club welcomes singles and couples.  We meet on the third Thursday of each month in a rotation of different locations around the Johnson County area.

We have several fundraising events each year (described more below) to raise money for our causes.  We also have several socials throughout the year as a way to enjoy fellowship with club members.  Past social events have included wine tours, hayrides, live theater events, brewery tours, holiday parties, and more.

Our club's main focus is to support diabetes-related needs and other local community needs.

Cosmopolitan International was founded in 1918 in Kansas City.  The primary focus of CI is to unite ". . .in a social, charitable, fraternal, civic and educational society citizens . . . for their moral, intellectual, social and business welfare . . ."

Today, Cosmopolitan International has about 1,600 members in clubs across the U.S. and Canada.  

As a total organization, CI has donated over $5 Million in the search for a cure for diabetes.

HSFT Cosmos provide support to several organizations.  Recent donation activity includes:

• American Diabetes Association, Camp Planet D for diabetic children.  HSFT Cosmos have donated over $250,000 in the last 10 years, with matching grants of over $50,000 as well.
• Operation Breakthrough has received HSFT Cosmos support.
• CARES (Canine Assistance Rehabilitation Education and Services has received HSFT Cosmos support in the breeding, development and training of support dogs.
• Tour de Shawnee - support for bike event benefiting JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).
• Harvester's - largest foodbank in the Kansas City area has received HSFT support.
• Kindness Connection has received HSFT support.

The HSFT Cosmos provide community support and service in the form of volunteer service time as well.  Some of the volunteer activities of the club are listed below:

• Camp Planet D (ADA camp for diabetic children in Linwood, KS) has received over 1,200 hours of HSFT Cosmos time over the last 10 years.
• American Diabetes Association (ADA) has received numerous hours from HSFT Cosmos to assist with various fundraising events.
• Harvester's has received many hours from HSFT Cosmos to assist with packaging, sorting, and processing food items for distribution.
• Tour de Shawnee bike event to benefit JDRF has received numerous hours of HSFT Cosmos volunteer time.
• Operation Breakthrough has received many hours of HSFT Cosmos volunteer time to support "Adopt-a-Family" programs at Christmas time for many years.

In order to provide funds to donate in the community, HSFT members and other helpers participate in various fundraising efforts. 

A primary source for our fundraising is the HSFT Cosmos Funnel Cake Trailer.  This is used a two major events - Old Shawnee Days in Shawnee, and Old Settler's Days in Olathe.  These are very large events and efforts requiring 100s of hours of Cosmos time for each occasion.

In addition to the funnel cake sales, other fundraising efforts  have included, garage sales, pig roasts, cooperative programs with local restaurants, gift wrapping during the holidays, and raffle sales.

Volunteering time to assist with fundraising efforts is a major expectation of HSFT Cosmo members.

Part of being a HSFT Cosmo is to make friends and enjoy fellowship and socializing with other Cosmos.  We have a variety of social gatherings and outings, usually about 4-5 per year.  Examples of some social events include:

• Wine tasting at Holyfield winery
• Visit to Harry S. Truman Library followed by a meal at Ophelia's Restaurant
• Brewery tour of KC craft brewers
• Halloween Party
• Attending a KC Monarch's baseball game
• Private tour and dinner at Strawberry Hill Museum
• Christmas Party
• Visit to Stonehenge exhibit at Union Station in Kansas City
• Participating in a Cosmo bowling tournament

FACEBOOK Link:

   https://www.facebook.com/don.gentry.7773

A video with a description of our club: 

 https://youtu.be/y3bSstj30M8 

A video for International Diabetes Day

 https://youtu.be/yP-mDpGrsJM