Community Foundation awards more than $45K in grants

12 Dec Community Foundation awards more than $45K in grants

Hutchinson Community Foundation awarded Fund for Reno County grants totaling $45,300 to five nonprofit organizations in November.

Established in 1990, the Fund for Reno County serves as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County. Grants represent an innovative approach or collaboration, a new efficiency, a critical need that requires funding or an opportunity that needs a bit of local support to leverage resources for the community.

Proposals for the grants are accepted year-round, with awards decided in January, March, May, July, September and November.

The following organizations received grants in November:

• City of Buhler, $15,000: Funding from the Fund for Reno County, along with other grant dollars from Buhler Community Foundation, Heal Reno County and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways program, will be used for Buhler’s parks improvement plan, which includes developing a handicap-accessible path throughout Becker Park.
• City of Hutchinson, $5,300: Grace Arbor Neighborhood, the Salvation Army of Reno County and the City of Hutchinson are collaborating on efforts to turn the unused space west of the Salvation Army into an outdoor gathering space and park. As a preliminary step, the city will use grant funds to have concept renderings drawn so neighborhood residents and other community members have an opportunity to review, understand and offer input on the plans for the park.
• City of Pretty Prairie, $10,000: Funds would allow the addition of outdoor seating, games, shade and artificial turf in an empty lot in the business district, which is accessible for use by the community’s after-school program at the adjacent library. Community members would also have access to the new pocket park to enjoy in their free time and during community-wide activities held in the business district.
• Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Serving Reno County, $5,000: Funding will be used to develop group activities and cover entry fees for Big/Little outings throughout the year. These occasional group activities have proven to be a positive step in match sustainability.
• Sky Ryders Performing Arts Foundation, $10,000: The Sky Ryders Performing Arts Foundation consists of Reno County, greater Kansas, and the Great Plains area residents who had life-changing experiences with the Sky Ryders Drum & Bugle Corps as they developed skills, character, a positive work ethic, and advanced music and movement skills. Funding will help them realize their vision of seeing this type of education in a new generation of promising “Sky Ryders.” They want Hutchinson and the smaller communities in Reno County to develop a new sense of pride in an organization that they help, promote and sponsor. They hope to bring music to these communities through a variety of performances while also encouraging more students to attend Hutchinson Community College and bringing positive recognition to Hutchinson and Reno County.

Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, leadership and collaboration to strengthen Reno County. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $97 million to organizations.