Employees from CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions in Great Bend recently presented checks to grant recipients of the Barton County Quality of Life Endowment, a donor advised fund at the Golden Belt Community Foundation. After submitting a letter of inquiry and presenting the needs for their funding requests, awards were given to: Central Kansas Dream Center for their cafe, Great Bend Zoological Society for the Butterfly House Accessibility Project, and USD 428 - Park Elementary for Park Elementary Playground Equipment.  
“CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions is committed to improving the quality of life in Barton County. These projects will provide a boost to a variety of people in the area, and we’re very pleased to be able to help with funding for these very worthy efforts,” said Erika Brining, member of the endowment committee. Other members of the committee include: Linda Sherman, Marge McGee, Erika Brining, Megan McKenna, Geralyn Wegener, Chris Calhoun and Teri Richardson.
Since the Barton County Quality of Life Endowment Fund was established in 2009, the endowment has awarded over $61,000 to charitable projects in Ellinwood, Great Bend, Hoisington and Claflin. With each grant awarded, CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions will further its corporate philanthropy and community involvement. CUNA Mutual Retirement Solutions hope other firms in the area will take the initiative to establish their own donor advised fund to help provide future funds for charitable giving.
For questions, call Golden Belt Community Foundation at 620-792-3000 or email gbcf@goldenbeltcf.org.