Life Unlimited

06/18/2026

Today we're celebrating our CEO, Julie Edlund! 🎉

Julie has dedicated her career to championing opportunities for people with disabilities, transforming lives through her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to inclusion.
Under Julie's guidance, Life Unlimited has continued to grow its impact, helping more individuals live, work, and thrive in the communities they call home.
We're incredibly proud to see her recognized as a 2026 Kansas City Business Journal Women of Influence Honoree. Congratulations, Julie, on this well-earned honor! 💙

06/17/2026

Your voice matters—and right now, there are two important opportunities to advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families across Missouri.

📌 Ask Governor Kehoe to preserve FY2027 funding for developmental disability services: https://www.lifeunlimitedinc.org/advocacy/ #/35

📌 Urge Missouri to withdraw from Texas v. Kennedy and protect community-based disability rights: https://www.lifeunlimitedinc.org/advocacy/ #/36

These actions help protect services, strengthen community inclusion, and support independence for thousands of Missourians.

It only takes a few minutes to make a meaningful impact. Please take action and share with your network!

06/02/2026

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Mr. William H. Dunn Sr.
While many will remember Mr. Dunn for his extraordinary leadership of JE Dunn Construction and the lasting impact he had on Kansas City, we at Life Unlimited remember him and his wife, Jean, for something equally important: their vision, compassion, and belief that individuals with disabilities deserved the opportunity to live full and meaningful lives in their communities.

Bill and Jean Dunn were among the founding families of Immacolata Manor, one of Life Unlimited’s legacy organizations. Alongside other families, they challenged the status quo and helped create housing and opportunities for individuals with disabilities at a time when options were limited. Their commitment was rooted in a simple but powerful belief: that every person deserves dignity, belonging, and the chance to thrive.

The lives of countless individuals and families have been changed because of that vision.

As we reflect on Mr. Dunn’s remarkable 102 years, we are grateful for the foundation he helped build—not only in our city, but in the lives of people with disabilities who continue to benefit from the opportunities created by those early pioneers.

His philosophy of leaving the world better than he found it is reflected in the legacy he leaves behind.

Our thoughts are with the Dunn family as we celebrate a life well lived and a legacy that will continue to impact generations to come.

05/28/2026

Two important actions are open right now for Missourians with disabilities and their families.
📌 Urge Governor Kehoe to sign FY2027 funding for developmental disability services: https://loom.ly/1JpDQEI

📌 Urge Missouri to withdraw from Texas v. Kennedy and protect community-based disability rights: https://loom.ly/LrZiqE8

Both actions support stronger community inclusion, independence, and access to services across Missouri.
It only takes a couple minutes to make your voice heard. Thank you!

Lend your voice on crucial issues that affect people with disabilities and the staff, friends, family, and communities who love and support them.

05/27/2026

We’re honored to be selected for the first time as a United Way Impact 100 partner.
This partnership provides added visibility for our organization, along with unrestricted funding to help us meet our mission of empowering independence and creating opportunities for people with disabilities to live full, meaningful lives.

Thank you, United Way.

05/26/2026

Sponsored: Life Unlimited supports those with disabilities in the KC area. Provided services help people of all abilities to live independently, connect with their communities & pursue their goals.

05/21/2026

We are so grateful for our community. 💙

05/19/2026

There’s something special about getting to share what this work really means to people and the individuals we serve. 💙

We’re proud of Vincent for representing Life Unlimited at the Nonprofit Connect Catalyst Awards and sharing a piece of the heart behind our mission.

05/06/2026

Mary Beth Gentry’s life journey began 58 years ago, rooted in a career dedicated to health and service. Her early path led from inner-city youth ministry in Oakland, CA to the acclaimed St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where she served as Chief Nutritionist. While there, she helped lead a landmark research study on malnourished infants that contributed to the successful federal legislation funding the WIC program.

In 1998, Mary Beth transitioned to Kansas City as the Assistant Dean of the KU School of Medicine. There, she worked with an interdisciplinary team in designing an integrated approach to women’s health. By weaving together medical education, research, and clinical care, she gained a profound understanding of the daunting challenges women face. It became clear that true health required more than medicine; it required a support system that empowered women with the knowledge and skills to increase their resiliency and preserve their families.

Driven by this vision, Mary Beth founded Young Women on the Move (YWOM) in 2005 to help adolescent girls in Kansas City, Kansas, live empowered, healthy lives. Today, the program serves more than 1,500 students in KCKPS middle and high schools through workshops on mental health and healthy relationships. The after-school, multi-year Trailblazers programs help young women build the resilience, leadership and advocacy skills needed for long-term success.

Her most recent challenge has been leading a successful $3 million capital campaign to renovate YWOM’s 103-year-old former church building to provide the technology and resources to advance college and career readiness, entrepreneurship, leadership, and social responsibility.

In April 2026, her community impact was celebrated with her induction into the Kansas City Kansas Community College Hall of Fame. Mary Beth holds degrees from the University of Tennessee and the University of Kansas. This year, she celebrates 54 years of marriage to her husband, Jimmy. Their daughter, Kerry Gentry Hartnett, is their greatest joy. Kerry and her husband, Bill, continue the family’s legacy of community dedication in Overland Park.