KCIce, Kansas City

"You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon." So said renowned hockey coach Herb Brooks, and so says the group of business, hockey, and civic professionals who founded KCIce. Their mission is to create an "uncommon community" where local companies can show their support for youth organizations and charities and young hockey players and figure skaters can pay it forward by volunteering their time and talent. The president of the company is four-time Stanley Cup champion and New York Islanders Hall of Famer Ken Morrow, who recently demonstrated what it means to give back. In January 2013, the rink hosted an event in which people could pose for photos with Morrow and his old friend Lord Stanley—the infamous cup. The gathering not only supported their own charitable efforts but also reaped three large barrels of canned goods for Harvesters: the Community Food Network.

As part of their community-mindedness, KCIce brings families and friends together with activities such as outdoor skating, pickup pond hockey, and sand-based volleyball in warmer months. Ice skaters can sit on the ledge of a stone fire pit on chilly evenings, keeping warm with hot chocolate, s’mores, and chilidogs. Strings of orb-like lights help illuminate the rink at night, making the freshly laid skate marks and the droplets of sweat on the hardworking zamboni glisten.