2017 Fund for Hutchinson Grant Recipients Announced

Grant recipient organizations are: 

Arts & Culture

Hutchinson Symphony Association ………. $2,000
New Music, New Audience: Attract a larger and more diverse audience by renting and performing modern orchestral arrangements by John Williams and Fedor Vrtacnik for the 2018 season.

Hutchinson Theatre Guild (Stage 9) ………. $7,600
Fiddler on the Roof: A collaboration with the Hutchinson Symphony for a production of Fiddler on the Roof at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre, creating a rare and significant artistic opportunity for residents of Reno County in April 2018.

Hutchinson Theatre Guild (Stage 9) ………. $10,000 x 3 years
Producing the Producer: Second year of a three-year grant to support capacity building toward a new strategic vision at Stage 9 that will strengthen and sustain the performing arts in Reno County.

Civic Improvement

Hutchinson Police Department ……… $9,533
Community Enhancement Training for Community Resource Officers: Provide Community Resource Officers with adequate training through NeighborWorks America as they interact with community members, fulfilling their duties of enhancing the quality of life of the citizens of Hutchinson by serving as liaisons between citizens and the City.

Hutch Rec ………. $15,000 x 3 years
Neighborhood Development:  First year of a three-year grant to support collaborative work with residents and community partners, including the City of Hutchinson and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, on innovative neighborhood development strategies with the overarching goal of ensuring Hutchinson has safe neighborhoods and is an attractive place to live, work, play and raise an active family.

Interfaith Housing Services, Inc. ………. $15,000 x 3 years
Projects Coordinator: Second year of a three-year grant to support a central Projects Coordinator position that coordinates community efforts in addressing Hutchinson’s housing needs, including critical repair and rehabilitation, by connecting organizations, programs, volunteers, and funding.

Interfaith Housing Services, Inc. ………. $10,000 x 2 years
Keeping Homes Healthy and Safe: First year of a two-year grant to make necessary home repairs for very low income households, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, so they can continue living with dignity in their affordable homes.

Health & Human Services

 Arlington City Library ……… $5,000
Creating Digital Literacy: Develop and improve digital literacy among seniors and residents who have limited computer and internet access by providing the equipment, materials, and education needed for basic to intermediate computer and internet skills.

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center (PILR) ………. $7,100
PILR Efficient!: Increase staff’s capacity to efficiently and effectively serve Reno County residents with disabilities by updating computers and other equipment in the Hutchinson office.

Reno County Drug Court ………. $8,359
Recovery Support: Provide substance dependence recovery support through safe housing, transportation, and basic needs such as a State ID, clothing, and hygiene items. 

Reno County Head Start ………. $2,717
Jobs Work Classes: In partnership with Hutchinson community clothing organizations and Kansas Works, provide training and support for Head Start and Early Head Start parents and guardians as they learn skills to empower and enable them to find full or part-time employment. 

Reno County Health Department ………. $7,500
Water Wise for Reno Community Wide: Expand existing work of educating and engaging rural Reno County residents to ensure a safe water supply for children and young families by offering water testing, treatment, and well repair. 

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center, Inc. (SADVC) ………. $25,000
Rebranding the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center: Develop a new brand, fresh appearance, upgraded website, and comprehensive communications and marketing plan, allowing for increased community awareness and support of SADVC’s continued work toward a domestic and sexual violence-free community.

Early Childhood & Youth Development

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, Inc. ………. $12,000 x 3 years
Hawk it Out!: First year of a three-year grant for an afterschool program providing 7^th and 8^th grade students at Hutchinson Middle School with homework help and opportunities to become involved in school events, allowing for continuous academic assistance while a sustainable funding source is built.

Hutchinson Public Schools ……… $5,000 x 3 years
Making the IB More Accessible and Successful: Second year of a three-year grant to support teacher training and exam scholarships for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes (Diploma and Career-related) at Hutchinson High School, providing rigorous college-preparatory courses to make students more college and career ready upon graduation. Matched 1:1 by the Davis Foundation.

Kansas Children’s Service League ……… $10,000
Healthy Families – Reno County: Meet the needs of Reno County’s Hispanic population through a bi-lingual home visitor position to provide primary child abuse and neglect prevention services. Matched 1:1 by Medicaid.

South Hutchinson Afterschool Kids & Preschool ……… $10,000
Let’s Keep Moving: Strengthen and enhance the lives of youth served through the purchase of a bus to provide transportation to enrichment opportunities.

Trinity United Methodist Church ………. $10,000 x 3 years
Salthawk Community Support: First year of a three-year grant supporting efforts to remove barriers to education by providing students in need at Hutchinson High School with basic necessities and access to academic tutoring, financial education, and self-esteem building activities coordinated by emotionally encouraging staff and volunteers.

Helen Adams Hamilton Children and Education Fund

To foster the growth, education, and development of young people who are eighteen years of age and younger, with a preference for funding activities that result in an early intervention in an at-risk child’s life.

Abundant Life Child Care & Preschool ………. $10,000
2020 Vision: Update carpet in classrooms to insure a clean, safe, and healthy environment for the children cared for in the center each day as an extension of The Father’s House church.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno County ………. $5,000
Mentoring Young Men for the Future: Support a male mentor recruitment campaign that will help the organization find mentors for 20 of the 41 boys currently on the waiting list, with an emphasis on the youth who face significant risk factors to become juvenile offenders.

Families Together, Inc. ………. $2,500
Family Employment Awareness Training: Encourage persons with disabilities and their families to plan for employment, educate families about the supports available to persons with disabilities, and empower persons with disabilities and their families to explore different options for employment in their community.

Hadley Day Care Center ………. $10,000
Hadley Refresh: Restore Hadley’s facility and provide the children a safe, clean environment with age-appropriate activities and equipment in a structured learning environment.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church ………. $2,500
Early Learning Center: Purchase curriculum materials that addresses the developmental needs of the center’s preschoolers and prepares them for Kindergarten entry.

Kansas Health Foundation Public Health Endowment Fund – $13,000
Supporting health and wellbeing through healthy lifestyles, behaviors, and environments.

 Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas ………. $3,000
Strengthening Girls from Start to Finish: Financial assistance to underserved 3^rd-8^th grade girls in Reno County, ensuring all girls can participate in the 10-week GOTR program that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident through a fun, experienced-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Hutchinson Zoo ………. $10,000
Pelican Point Playspace: Provide children ages 18 months to four years old an active play area where they will have a safe environment to explore and learn while visiting the Hutchinson Zoo.

Fund for Hutchinson – Community Leadership

Strategic grants supporting Hutchinson Community Foundation’s leadership priorities, timely community needs, or catalytic opportunities to strengthen our communities through collaboration and innovative leadership.

Horizons Mental Health Center ….. $10,000 x 3 years
ABC Program: As a funding partnership with the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, support establishment of the evidence-based ABC (Attachment and Bio-behavioral Catch-Up) Program in Reno County, providing a 10-week intervention to families with children ages 6-24 months who have experienced early adverse environments, with the goal to improve parent-child attachment and the child’s ability to cope and respond to continued stressful situations and buffer against the long-term effects of toxic stress.

Hutchinson Public Schools …. $10,000
HHS Child Care Center: Support for the construction costs to renovate the former art building into a daycare classroom for 3-5 year olds, increasing the financial sustainability of the center.

Hutchinson Zoo … $3,225
Rewrite: A “Zoo” Vision for Signage: In honor of the Legacy Society of Hutchinson Community Foundation and their commitment to the future prosperity of Reno County, provide funding for new modern, engaging, and fun signage at the Hutchinson Zoo to reflect the Zoo’s rebranding and renewed focus on environmental education.

Poverty Collaborative Task Force … $4,000
Capacity Building for Collaboration: Coaching, supplies, and materials to strengthen collaborative relationships among churches, nonprofits, and other community groups concerned about poverty and identify potential interventions in the emergency services system for increased efficiency and empathy.