News Releases

Heartland Community Foundation awards over $45,000 in Ellis County

HAYS, Kan.— The Heartland Community Foundation, which serves Ellis, Rooks and Trego Counties, recently awarded over $165,000 in fall grants to area organizations across the three counties.

In Ellis County, funds were distributed to the following organizations:

  • Hays Public Library, $1,500 for assistance with building a dedicated space for outdoor story times, presentations, and performances for youth.
  • United Way of Ellis County, $2,000 for assistance with Tardeada – Community Late Fest, an initiative to help the Hispanic population feel included in the Hays community.
  • Grow Hays, $5,000 for an Imagine Ellis County strategic doing survey.
  • Thomas More Prep-Marian High, Inc., $4,667 for the addition of an art unit in stained glass, as well as providing a CNC router and dust collection system to the Vo-tech program.
  • Ellis High School Alumni Association, $3,600 for the purchase of a computer and scanner to create a digital archive of items in the museum, preserve history, appropriately store items, and create a database of members.
  • USD 489, $2,625 for assistance with materials to launch a new club at Lincoln Elementary.
  • USD 489, $4,150 for the purchases of upright freezers, metal worktables and shelving for food storage for the Hays High School Food Pantry.
  • USD 489, $3,500 for needed materials to expand the WeeKan Preschool program to serve students with and without disabilities and help the WeKan 18-21 program with business and job skills.
  • Hays Arts Council, Inc., $2,500 for the purchase and installation of a new heating and cooling system for the Hays Art Center, the facility where the Hays Arts Council operates and conducts programming.
  • Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, $7,200 to assistant with the purchases of Automated External Defibrillators for eight locations in Ellis County.
  • First Call for Help of Ellis County, Inc., $4,400 for the replacement of a current antique phone system.
  • Ellis County, $500 for the purchase of incentives for participants in Ellis County Drug Court who comply with the program, treatment, and recovery.

Multi-County:

  • Celebration Community Church, $3,400 to help with Night to Shine Drive Thru Parade. Night to Shine is a prom experience centered on God’s love for people with special needs, ages 14 and older.
  • Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation, $5,000 to help assist with general supplies and expenses associated with treating patients at the Kansas Mission of Mercy free dental clinic.
  • Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas, $3,000 for the Diaper Program, which provides diapers and wipes to income-qualified families monthly for a full year per child in the household.

This round of grants was made possible by the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, which focuses on improving quality of life throughout the county; the Ellis County, Rooks County, and Trego County Legacy Funds; and the Kansas Health Foundation Fund for Heartland Community.

The foundation’s next grant cycle opens March 15, with online applications due May 15, 2021. For more information, visit www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.