Explore Industries’ Ann Butenas Receives Presidential Lifetime Achievement Medal
Healthy Kansas City is proud to announce, Ann Butenas a long-time contributing writer to the magazine has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Medal. Ann has graced the pages of Healthy Kansas City for almost nine years and with many more accolades under her belt is very deserving of this award. We’re honored to have her talent and heart in each article she contributes. Congratulations Ann!
– Britt Miller, Publisher/Editor in Chief
Explore Industries’ Copywriting Specialist Ann Butenas has been awarded the President Biden Lifetime Achievement Medal for 2024, recognizing her dedicated work in the fight against human trafficking through her involvement with WEModel USA. The prestigious honor acknowledges her commitment to raising awareness about this critical humanitarian issue.
WEModel USA, where Ann focuses her advocacy work, is a Washington, DC-based model search company that uniquely combines high-profile fashion events with anti-trafficking initiatives. The organization creates international fashion showcases complete with red carpet experiences and collaborations with renowned designers, but their mission extends far beyond the glamour. They leverage these platforms to spotlight human trafficking issues while providing crucial support systems for survivors and establishing reporting mechanisms for suspicious activities. Through their work, WEModel USA empowers models to become advocates for change, transforming fashion industry opportunities into channels for social impact. The organization demonstrates how the fashion world can be harnessed as a powerful force for addressing humanitarian concerns, creating a space where style and substance work in tandem to combat trafficking.
Ann brings significant experience to this cause, drawing from a writing career that spans several decades. Starting at age 12, she has contributed to numerous media outlets with thousands of bylines, including the Midwest Section PGA, Kansas City Homes & Style Magazine, Healthy Kansas City Magazine and other Lifestyle publications. She served as editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman Magazine and authored multiple books. Her extensive portfolio includes running her own freelance writing agency, ANZ Publications, for 25 years, writing online dating profiles for Match.com for 11 years, hosting multiple Kansas City area talk radio shows, and speaking alongside notable figures like the late Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and the late United States Senator Arlen Specter. She has also authored “Koraspondence: Living Life to the Letter,” a touching tribute to her grandmother who lived to nearly 108 years old, subsequently embarking on a speaking tour to share her grandmother’s story. Currently at Explore Industries, she develops content to support the company’s brands and marketing initiatives, while continuing her commitment to meaningful causes.
Please join us in congratulating Ann on this well-deserved recognition of her contributions to combating human trafficking and supporting WEModel USA’s vital mission.
