More than $44K awarded from Fund for Hutchinson

More than $44K awarded from Fund for Hutchinson

Hutchinson Community Foundation awarded $44,190 to six nonprofit organizations in November during its final 2020 round of Fund for Hutchinson grants.

Three organizations also received at total of $21,834.50 in continued funding of previously awarded multi-year grants.

Established in 1990, the Fund for Hutchinson serves as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County. More than $3.7 million have been awarded to more than 170 area organizations and agencies from the fund.

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

The following organizations received grants:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson Inc. – $20,000: First year of a two-year grant toward the club’s workforce development project, which includes hiring a full-time Workforce Readiness Coordinator to bring high-yield workforce exploration and education opportunities to USD 308 students through elementary classroom projects, middle school hands-on learning and tours, and maintained relationships with high-schoolers as they search for internship and first job experiences.

Buhler Public Library $1,500: First year of a two-year grant that will cover the annual fee for Apollo Biblionix, a host platform that allows the library to be fully automated, increasing its capacity to serve patrons effectively and make their collection more easily available during the pandemic and beyond. This bridge funding will allow the library staff and board time to secure funding for future years.

Circles of Hope Reno County $13,994.50: Second year of a three-year grant to support a part-time director for the organization, who will provide needed focus, structure and supervision of staff and volunteers in order to grow the impact of this initiative.

Crime Stoppers of Reno County Inc. $2,500: Funds will go toward advertising and operations associated with continued efforts to engage the community in providing helpful crime tips, resulting in a safer community.

Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas – $2,000: Final year of a three-year grant for the group’s Program Expansion Initiative that ensures girls who would not typically have access to quality youth programming have the opportunity to participate in Girls on the Run (third through fifth grade) or Heart & Sole (sixth through eighth grade).

Healthy Families-Reno County $2,500: Funds go toward the purchase of an updated copier/printer/scanner, which will increase the program’s efficiency and its capacity to serve Reno County families.

New Beginnings Inc. $8,000: Funding will help support a program providing a more comprehensive support system to low-income individuals and families residing in New Beginnings Inc.’s, affordable housing, with the goal of providing more streamlined access to other resources within New Beginnings Inc., and throughout the community.

Resilience Reno County – $5,840: Second year of a three-year grant to support work aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty by equipping the community with resources on healing from adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s). Funding helps cover the costs of an AmeriCorps VISTA for three years.

TECH Inc. – $9,690: Grant will be used to replace outdated and ineffective equipment in the client computer lab, which is accessed by clients for educational opportunities and development of life skills, research and communicating with family members.