Earlier this year the Golden Belt Community Foundation established the Barton County Pool Grant and Endowment Funds (Funds) as a way to provide long-term support to youth swim programs in Barton County, as well as to help support the indoor pool at Barton Community College. Thanks to community members helping to build the funds, area youth will benefit from the first grant.
A grant of $3,429.76 is being awarded to USD 428 for the purchase of five new practice lane lines for the pool and a take up reel. Youth swim teams at USD 428 and Golden Belt Swim Squad will benefit from the new lane lines.
All donations go into two funds; 90 percent is added to the endowment, and 10 percent is added to a grant fund to be used for immediate needs.  Decisions about items or repairs needed for the pool or swim teams are made by a committee annually. This year the committee met to discuss the pool and learned that several repairs already had been made. Mark Dean, Barton Community College Dean of Administration, stated that the college had made multiple improvements and repairs to the pool including replacing the ceiling, new pool filter, controls, and the pool pump impeller.
However, it was noted that important equipment that improves pool safety was needed. Steve Beaumont, USD 428 Swim Coach, informed the committee that the existing practice lane lines could no longer be repaired and only one out of five lines was usable. Without lane lines, swimmers are more likely to collide, resulting in potential injuries. The lane lines, as well as a take up reel to properly store them, was identified as the most urgent need for the youth teams this year.
Giving Opportunity
Donations are needed to help build the Barton County Pool Endowment Fund so that every year funds are available to address important needs and repairs for the pool and youth swim teams. As a component fund of the Golden Belt Community Foundation, the Barton County Pool Endowment Fund is a participating fund in the foundation’s Giving Tuesday celebration on Dec. 1st. Gifts to the Barton County Pool Endowment may qualify for a proportional match from the $50,000 Giving Tuesday match pool. Donations may be mailed to the foundation at: GBCF, P.O. Box 1911, Great Bend, KS 67530 or delivered to the foundation office at 1307 Williams St. on Dec. 1st.  More information about Giving Tuesday, as well as the Donation Form, may be found at www.goldenbeltcf.org or by calling (620) 792-3000.
Golden Belt Community Foundation
At $17.7 million in total assets and more than 157 funds under management, Golden Belt Community Foundation has been connecting people who care to causes that matter since 1996. Golden Belt Community Foundation exists to provide non-profit organizations in central Kansas with a permanent source of support and to serve as a vehicle for charitable giving for donors. GBCF serves the counties of Barton, Pawnee, Rush, and Stafford.  For more information about Golden Belt Community Foundation, call (620) 792-3000 or visit their website at www.goldenbeltcf.org.