Golden Belt Community Foundation recently completed the July competitive grant cycle and awarded a total of $11,569. The foundation supports programs or projects that are innovative, collaborative, proactive, measurable and sustainable.
Competitive Grant Awards for July include:
Grants Funded Through the Albert Gumbir Charitable Endowment Fund
$3,000 – Barton County Emergency Aid – Social concerns
The central mission of the Barton County Emergency Aid Association (BCEAA) is to help Barton County families and individuals experiencing emergency financial situations with past-due utilities and rent, as well as transients who are moving through Barton County. Funding for the BCEAA is based solely on donations and grants. Revenue to provide assistance is an ongoing concern in the community. This grant will be used to assist residents of Barton County who are under threat of utility disconnection.
Grants Funded Through the Kansas Health Foundation Youth Endowment Fund
$2,400 – City of Larned – Drinking fountain in Jordan Park
Larned Civic PRIDE recognizes what an incredible asset Larned has in its half-mile walking track that surrounds activity green space. In 2015, the Wells Fargo walking track, that was over 25 years old, was renovated by putting in new fitness stations and adding instructional signs. This half-mile trail is widely used by adults and children.
Larned Civic PRIDE, along with the Larned Recreation Commission and City of Larned, recognized the need for available drinking water while encouraging participants to be environmentally friendly. To accomplish this, a multiple purpose water fountain will be installed to serve the patrons of the Jordan Park, Community Center activities and those at the fairgrounds. The drinking fountain provides features that include a standard drinking fountain, a water bottle filling station, and a pet bowl system.
$169 – Bison Community Library – Youth disc golf project
The Youth Disc Golf project aims to encourage residents, primarily youth, to utilize the existing disc golf course recently established in Bison. The project will promote a healthy lifestyle among area youth, as well as provide a low-cost source of entertainment by making available the basic equipment needed to play. Furthermore, the Bison Community Library intends to participate in upcoming events to introduce the sport to area residents, either in workshops or competitions.
$1,000 – City of St. John – Bridging the Years park bench and marketing materials
Bridging the Years is a multi-generational walking program to encourage youth, families, and community members to get out and walk at the Brown Park in St. John. This unique program addresses physical activity for all levels of fitness. Park benches will be installed to allow walkers a place to rest as they walk. Brochures designed by the Eighth grade FACS class will be available at the city office to explain the program to participants.
$5,000 – United Way of Central Kansas – CPR Training: Manikins and Supplies
According to the American Heart Association, 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. Most Americans (70 percent) feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they don’t know how to administer CPR or they’re afraid of hurting the victim. Schools are an excellent delivery system to implement training, increasing the comfort level of performing Hands-Only CPR among the student population and graduating millions of potential lifesaving bystanders each year.
This project provides the materials (10 CPR manikins) and training to teachers at Great Bend High School so that 900 Students can be trained in Hands-Only CPR. Hands-Only CPR is easy to learn and removes the stigma and fear of mouth contact as taught in previous versions of CPR.
Grants Funded Through Designated or Field of Interest Funds
In addition to the competitive grant process, the Golden Belt Community Foundation continues to work with donors and the causes they care most about. Many grants are awarded from funds specifically designated for a specific cause or charitable organization. Selected grants awarded in June/July include:
$50,490 – Scholarships Awarded
Thanks to the generosity of many individuals and families, scholarships were awarded to students in the Golden Belt area. Scholarships for the 2016 – 2017 academic year are awarded through an open, competitive application process with each scholarship fund having its own specific selection criteria and committees. Scholarships are paid directly to the students’ college or university.
$1,285.35 – To support cancer patients
Grants from the Heartland Cancer Patient Care and Support Endowment are awarded to cancer patients in Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford counties who are experiencing a financial need due to a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Grants have supported travel expenses, such as fuel, other transportation needs, medications, medical supplies, in addition to many other areas of need. This fund was established by the St. Rose Foundation.
$3,615.50 – To support an Extremity Whirlpool for BCC Athletics
The Barton Community College Athletics Fund provides support through a grant fund and an endowment fund to BCC Athletics. With over 300 student athletes enrolled last year, the extremity whirlpool will be used by every athletic program at the college to help manage and reduce sports injuries.
$5,000 – To support the Glenn and Elaine Mull Art Outreach Workshop at BCC
The Glenn and Elaine Mull Family Fund grant will support the Shafer Art Gallery by having an educational component and outreach to children in the community. This grant, totaling $20,000, will be awarded over four years. The workshops will be presented in area schools, as well as the opportunity to reach other communities and art centers, with a hope of inspiring young people to love art at an early age.
$394.87 – To support women with critical needs
The Prairie Godmother Funds provides grants to support women in Barton County with one-time, critical needs not met by another community resources. Grants supported transportation needs, dental care, and eyeglasses.
$541 – To support the Great Bend Community Theatre
The Gary Gore Memorial Fund awarded this grant to the Great Bend Community Theatre, which currently is working on a remodeling and renovation of the lobby.
For questions regarding our competitive grant process and opportunities, please call Golden Belt Community Foundation at 620-792-3000 or email gbcf@goldenbeltcf.org.