The Golden Belt Community Foundation recently completed its second competitive grant cycle for 2011 and awarded $18,350.23 to charitable agencies and projects in Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford counties.
Thirty three applications were received with agencies requesting over $58,000 in funding. Programs or projects must demonstrate need and show how the program will benefit the communities of the Golden Belt. Programs that established new or fostered existing collaborations among various groups or organizations also were considered favorably.
Since 2002, over $1.4 million has been reinvested into charitable projects and agencies of the Golden Belt. Over $62,000 has now been awarded in grants for 2011.The recipients are:
Grants made possible through the Kansas Health Foundation Youth Fund: $935 - Sunflower Early Education Center to purchase a printer for an OAE hearing screening system and 18 hours of hearing specialists; $2,380.39 - Great Bend Children’s Learning Center to purchase nine cribs that meet new US Consumer Safety Commission standards; $924 - St. Joseph Catholic School to purchase the STAR Reading Enterprise Program, a web based assessment tool; $500 -  Central Kansas Christian Academy to purchase 24 scooters, two storage stackers, two hockey sets and 12 pairs of mushroom paddles; $650 - Pawnee County Health Department to purchase Ages and Stages screening tool packets and training; $2,040 -  CRS Educational and Business Strategies and Consultant Association to purchase supplies for personality and learning tests and learning center workstations; $258.90 - USD 495 Fort Larned Elementary School to purchase 30 whiteboards and markers for individual accountability; $200 - USD 355 Ellinwood Grade School to fund activities with first graders and Country Place Senior Living; $1,379.94 - St. John’s Child Development Center to purchase six cribs that meet new US Consumer Safety Commission standards; $563 -  La Leche League of Great Bend to purchase 20 breastfeeding books for use in the lending library and to print meeting notices; $1,600 - Helping Hands Preschool to purchase six video cameras and H.E.L.P Assessment materials; $900 -  Friends of Cheyenne Bottoms to rent tent, chairs, tables and other equipment for the 2nd Grade Wetland Education Day; $553 -  Retired and Senior Volunteer Program to purchase gift bags and yarn for newborn caps; $626 -  USD 495 Fort Larned Elementary School to purchase the “Danny” classroom reading collection; $661 - Clara Barton Hospital to provide “Get the Job Done” take home bags for Oral Health Exhibit.
Grants made possible through the John A. and Doris F. Graham Memorial Fund for Great Bend, Amos E. Bayer Memorial Fund, Barton County Field of Interest Fund, and Golden Belt Community Improvement Fund: $824 -  Retired and Senior Volunteer Program to print Talk, Listen, Care program materials and pay director salary to manage program; $855 - Kansas Wetlands Education Center to purchase materials for recycling programs to increase general awareness for ‘Green Living’.
Grants made possible through the Albert Gumbir Charitable Fund: $2,500 -  Barton County Emergency Aid Association to help families and individuals who are experiencing emergency financial situations.
At $7.4 million in total assets and over 120 funds under management, the Golden Belt Community Foundation has been helping donors fulfill their charitable wishes since 1996. For more information about the Golden Belt Community Foundation, call (620) 792-3000 or visit their website at www.goldenbeltcf.org.