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Representatives from area nonprofit agencies had around $191,000 more in their pockets Thursday night after the annual Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas annual grant celebration.
“Any time we can get philanthropists and grantees together in the same room, it’s a great evening,” said Kim Clark, CFSEK director.
“As a foundation, we are committed to be stewards of charitable dollars,” said Barbara Rhodes, 2010 foundation president.
The foundation has handled quite a few of those dollars.
“From the time the foundation started to about October, $15 million has come through the doors of the foundation, and $8 million has gone out in impactful ways,” Clark said.
The first grants announced came from the Rosalie Manley Endowment Fund, established through an estate gift of around $500,000 from Manley’s estate. These grants went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Labette County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Catholic Charities, Children’s Advocacy Center, Wesley House and a capacity building seminar for nonprofit agencies.
General grants, made possible through the CFSEK General Unrestricted Endowment Fund and Kansas Health Foundation Endowment, went to the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition, CLASS LTD, Elm Acres Foundation, Bourbon County 4-H Council, Family Life Center, Crawford County Restorative Justice, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush, Labette County Emergency Assistance Center and the Hangout.
In 2003 the Pittsburg Arts Council established an endowment fund at CFSEK for the purpose of creating a vehicle that would provide long-term support for arts and culture activities in Pittsburg. This year’s grant went to Pittsburg Community Theatre.
In August CFSEK granted the final portion of the Nutrition and Physical Activities Grant to the four counties served by the foundation. These grants went to Visioning a Healthier Bourbon County, Live Well Crawford County, Healthier Labette County and the Health and Wellness Advisory Board of Cherokee County.
CFSEK hosts two giving circles, which are composed of persons who pool their money for a common goal.
“The Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund was started about four years ago, when Rita was declared a breast cancer survivor, and wanted to help women who did not have as great services as she had,” said Lynda Wilkinson, a circle member. “I shared that passion, and we started talking to other women in the community.”
This year the circle gave gifts of $12,252.50 to the Pre-Med Club Clinic at Wesley House, Labette Health Foundation, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and the Women’s Resource Center.
Representatives from area nonprofit agencies had around $191,000 more in their pockets Thursday night after the annual Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas annual grant celebration.
“Any time we can get philanthropists and grantees together in the same room, it’s a great evening,” said Kim Clark, CFSEK director.
“As a foundation, we are committed to be stewards of charitable dollars,” said Barbara Rhodes, 2010 foundation president.
The foundation has handled quite a few of those dollars.
“From the time the foundation started to about October, $15 million has come through the doors of the foundation, and $8 million has gone out in impactful ways,” Clark said.
The first grants announced came from the Rosalie Manley Endowment Fund, established through an estate gift of around $500,000 from Manley’s estate. These grants went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Labette County, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Catholic Charities, Children’s Advocacy Center, Wesley House and a capacity building seminar for nonprofit agencies.
General grants, made possible through the CFSEK General Unrestricted Endowment Fund and Kansas Health Foundation Endowment, went to the Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition, CLASS LTD, Elm Acres Foundation, Bourbon County 4-H Council, Family Life Center, Crawford County Restorative Justice, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center at Greenbush, Labette County Emergency Assistance Center and the Hangout.
In 2003 the Pittsburg Arts Council established an endowment fund at CFSEK for the purpose of creating a vehicle that would provide long-term support for arts and culture activities in Pittsburg. This year’s grant went to Pittsburg Community Theatre.
In August CFSEK granted the final portion of the Nutrition and Physical Activities Grant to the four counties served by the foundation. These grants went to Visioning a Healthier Bourbon County, Live Well Crawford County, Healthier Labette County and the Health and Wellness Advisory Board of Cherokee County.
CFSEK hosts two giving circles, which are composed of persons who pool their money for a common goal.
“The Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund was started about four years ago, when Rita was declared a breast cancer survivor, and wanted to help women who did not have as great services as she had,” said Lynda Wilkinson, a circle member. “I shared that passion, and we started talking to other women in the community.”
This year the circle gave gifts of $12,252.50 to the Pre-Med Club Clinic at Wesley House, Labette Health Foundation, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas and the Women’s Resource Center.
The Future Fund was started in 2005 to engage a younger group of donors, aged 30 to 50. However, Clark said that the fund now has contributors of all ages.
“It’s always a thrill to me when I get a gift from my 88-year-old friend, Dottie Miller, who says she wants to play with the young folks,” Clark said.
Future Fund grants in the amount of $5,001.97 went to Catholic Charities, Crisis Resource Center, Elm Acres Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Crawford County, Kansas Children’s Service League, Mother to Mother Ministry of Crawford County, Mount Carmel Foundation and New Hope Special Olympics.
John Lair of New Hope Special Olympics said that the funds will be used for the winter sports program.
“Without the Community Foundation, it would be very hard for us to have a winter sports program,” he said. “With this, we will be able to introduce about 14 individuals who have never skied or snowshoed or done any other winter sports to our program.”
Joella Reid of Pittsburg Community Theatre said the grant will be used to fund the Junior Starz Children’s Drama Workshop for summer 2011.
“PCT exists solely because of the continued support and encouragement of people in this community and area,” Reid said. “Without them we would not exist and could not exist.”
