The Heartland Community Foundation recently awarded $156,322.50 to local organizations in Ellis, Rooks, and Trego County during our fall grant cycle. In total, the community foundation helped fund 36 projects -- including 13 that were fully funded and 23 that were partially funded.

Grant dollars were awarded from the foundation’s permanent endowed funds, including the Ellis, Rooks, and Trego County Legacy Funds – our largest granting funds. As these funds grow with time, patience, continued investment, and donor generosity, the Heartland Community Foundation will be able to grant even more and continue to make a lasting impact in the region.

In Ellis County, $46,786.50 was distributed to these organizations:

• $2,500 to St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ellis for Quilting Equipment Expansion
• $1,762.57 to First Call for Help of Ellis County for packing crates
• $9,735 to City of Victoria for the new community Splash Pad
• $5,085 to Options: Domestic & Sexual Violence Services for Emergency Shelter necessities
• $4,880 to The Chamber in Hays, KS for Ellis County Childcare Support, including fire extinguishers and devices
• $3,000 to the Hays Symphony Orchestra Guild for the Hays Symphony Children’s Concert next fall
• $5,018.60 to Downtown Hays Development Corporation for Christmas Magic on Main Street toward additional decorations
• $3,734.37 to Play Hays Foundation for the space’s Mother’s Room
• $2,639.99 to Ellis Recreation Commission for bleachers
• $2,500 to USD 489 Hays High unified and competitive bowling team for equipment and jerseys
• $2,000 to Hays Hurricanes Swim Club for a new timing system
• $1,500 to Hays Area Bicyclists for Big Creek mountain bike team Pit Zone Equipment
• $2,430.97 to Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas for Reed Center Emergency Preparedness

In Rooks County, $60,324.70 was distributed to these organizations:

• $4,883.70 to Rooks County Healthcare Foundation for Community CPR Initiative
• $9,500 to Rooks County Sherrif’s Office for a new K9 Officer
• $7,000 to City of Stockton for Portable Fire Fighting Tank
• $6,000 to City of Plainville/Plainville Memorial Library for Library Environment Enhancement
• $6,000 to Downtown Plainville for The Yard
• $3,416 to Palco Recreation Commission for picnic tables
• $3,000 to Housing Authority of Plainville/Country Lane Apartments for lawnmower
• $6,000 to USD 270 for a book vending machine
• $2,500 to Damar Community Foundation for a new informational sign in Damar
• $4,000 to Rooks County Emergency Management for EMS Skid Unit
• $3,000 to USD 271 for Library Study Lounge
• $3,350 to Stockton Methodist Church of Restoration for Fire Protection System
• $975 to USD 270 for speaker for Refresh and Reconnect event
• $350 to The Stock Town Foundation for Red Fest
• $350 to Stockton Rodders for live band and plaques

In Trego County, $49,211.30 was distributed to these organizations:

• $13,000 to City of WaKeeney for Downtown Speaker Upgrade
• $13,000 to City of WaKeeney for Christmas Lights-Electrical Components Upgrade
• $4,000 to USD 208 for new printer for P&G Business/Class
• $1,726 to Trego County Health Department for Health Initiatives and Programming
• $10,355.30 to Trego Grade School PTO for the Accessible Playground
• $3,500 to WaKeeney Public Library for new Education (AWE) Interactive Learning System
• $1,630 to Trego County Historical Society for Children’s History Activity Book
• $2,000 to Catholic Youth Organization for Religious Education Update

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; the Heartland Healthy Living Fund and the Kansas Health Foundation Fund for Heartland Community; Heartland Action Fund; Rooks County Disaster Relief Fund, and the Stockton Community Fund. We also made our first grant from the Neighbors Feeding Neighbors Fund toward the grant at Options for their shelter.

The foundation’s next grant cycle opens September 15, with online applications due November 15, 2026.

For more information, please visit www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org or email heartland@gscf.org.