IFMA Wichita - Vice Mayor Maggie Ballard - April 2024

Maggie Ballard was elected to serve as the District 6 council member in November 2021, and was sworn in on January 10, 2022.
Ballard was born in Wichita and raised in Riverside by her parents, Doug and Michelle. She attended Woodland Preschool, Riverside Elementary, Marshall Middle School, and North High. Maggie owns a home in Riverside where she lives with her son, Paxton, who attends Marshall Middle School.

Ballard felt the business spark early. She bought her first business, Maggie's Scotch and Soda, at the age of 22. A few years later, Ballard bought the Riverside Perk, where she had her first job at 14 years old.

In 2016, Ballard founded a nonprofit organization with her son Paxton to help address food insecurity in our community. Paxton's Blessing Box has grown to more than 100 mutual aid distribution points across the nation. Every day, generous folks use the boxes to donate critically needed items, including nonperishables, to vulnerable residents free of cost, without judgment and available 24/7.

Prior to being elected to the Wichita City Council, Ballard served as a member of the Sedgwick County District 4 Citizens Advisory Board and Family Promise. Ballard is active in various community organizations including Junior League, American Cancer Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Love Your Community and Alpha Delta Pi - Tau Chapter.

When not working, Ballard enjoys attending Paxton's baseball and soccer games or grabbing tacos from a local restaurant.