Heartland Community Foundation awards over $43,000 in Ellis County

HAYS, Kan.— The Heartland Community Foundation, which serves Ellis, Rooks and Trego Counties, recently awarded over $108,000 in spring grants to area organizations across the three counties.

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

  • United Way of Ellis County, $5,000 for lighting of the ARC Park Playground and Splash Pad to increase security, reduce vandalism and create a safer environment for visitors of the park and neighborhood.
  • Victoria Community Coalition, Inc., $5,000 to fund the initial concept layout plan for the redevelopment construction of the former Victoria St. John’s Rest Home.
  • Ellis County 4H Shooting Sports, $2,500 to purchase a 20-foot storage container for the shooting sports club to store supplies for practice.
  • USD 489, $3,000 to fund WCKSEC’s Life Skills Programs to provide a roadmap for students with disabilities from kindergarten to post-secondary.
  • Victoria PTO, $3,000 to purchase mulch edging around school playground and a wheelchair ramp to make the playground handicap accessible.
  • HaysMed Foundation, $1,000 for the CinemaVision virtual system to transform discomforts associated with an MRI to create a more enjoyable experience for the patient and the technologist.
  • Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, $2,500 to renovate residential kitchen for wheelchair accessibility.
  • Hays Larks, $1,000 to improve front entrance of Larks Park.
  • USD 489, $3,000 to increase engagement for three special education classrooms with interactive panels.
  • Ellis County Historical Society, $4,000 to improve buildings on main campus, including an access ramp and new gutters.
  • Chrysler Boyhood Home & Museum, $3,500 to replace wooden storm windows.
  • Holy Family Elementary School, $2,500 for purchase of two-way radios to aid communication to protect the safety and wellbeing of the school.
  • Railroad Museum of Ellis dba Ellis Railroad Museum and Doll Display, $1,370 to upgrade museum software.
  • Herzogfest, $1,000 to fund support for the 2022 Herzogfest.

Multi-County:

  • STEM Harvest, $4,000 to make kids’ STEM education and technologies accessible to every child regardless of background, gender, or current skill-level.
  • Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center, $2000 to provide vital services through digital transformation.

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 Kansas Health Foundation Fund for Heartland Community; the Heartland Healthy Living Fund; the Heartland Area Action Fund; and the Stockton Community Fund.

The foundation’s next grant cycle opens September 15, with online applications due November 15, 2022. For more information, visit www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.