The first half of 2020 has been interesting to say the least. At CFSEK in addition to interesting, it has been busy. Three granting opportunities have recently concluded with the awarding of over $72,500 to 29 non-profit, educational, governmental, or religious organizations.
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Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Foundation Grants
The Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Foundation (GBL) awards grants up to $500 for projects and activities of area organizations to support and promote Youth Volunteerism keeping Dylan’s spirit of adventure, fitness, curiosity, generosity and a daily zest for life experiences alive. The GBL Foundation “is determined to break down the boundaries that keep people from living life to the fullest, whether those boundaries be social, economical or imaginary”. A total of $4,500 went to 9 organizations.
Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund Grants
Also providing grants this spring, the Women’s Giving Circle and the Circle of Friends granted funds to 12 organizations totaling $46,122. It was a special year of granting for the giving circles with the recent passing of Rita Bicknell, founder of the Rita J. Bicknell Women’s Health Fund. The mission of these giving circles is “to improve the health and well-being of women by supporting education, increasing awareness and sharing quality of life opportunities to benefit all women.” 2020 recipients were:
Women’s Giving Circle
- American Cancer Society – Giving Hope a Home – Kansas City Hope Lodge.
- Angels Among Us, Inc. – Financial help for the needs of cancer patients.
- Catholic Charities – SEKS Neighborhood Financial Stabilization Project.
- Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas – The Baby Box Project.
- The Family Resource Center – Crawford County Diaper Stock.
- Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters – One-to-one mentoring: Guiding girls toward promising futures in Crawford County.
- Pittsburg State University School of Nursing – Preemie Hal premature-infant-patient simulator.
Circle of Friends
- Fostering Connections – Foster-and-adoptive-moms wellness events.
- Labette Health Foundation – QCPR Resuscitation Baby and birthing stools.
- Pittsburg Mother to Mother Ministry – Parenting-program supplies.
- Safehouse Crisis Center – Safehouse Saving Hearts AED purchase.
- Special Olympics Kansas – Specialized fitness program.
Elm Acres Foundation Grants
The purpose of the Elm Acres Foundation, Inc. is to provide “support for at-risk youth in the Southeast Kansas community, Crawford, Cherokee and Labette counties), including supporting any entities that provide services for at-risk youth”. Elm Acres Foundation grant funds went to 8 local organizations for a total of $21,944. 2020 recipients were:
- Communities in Schools of Mid-America – Basic-needs assistance in the Pittsburg and Parsons areas.
- Fostering Connections – Free family-fun events.
- Horses of Hope Riding Center, Inc. – HOPE for Youth – Equine-assisted psychotherapy.
- Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters – One-to-one mentoring.
- SEK Interlocal #637 – Exercise for All at PCMS.
- Special Olympics Kansas – SEK Regional Games support.
- The Restorative Justice Authority – Evidence-based community programs.
- USD 250 – PHS Club 209A for students’ basic needs.
Congratulations to this year’s grantees!
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is pleased to be the host agency for these funds and is proud to assist them in the granting of awards on an annual basis. The Foundation along with the Get Busy Livin’ Foundation, Women’s Giving Circle, Circle of Friends, and the Elm Acres Foundation would like to congratulate the 2020 grant recipients.