August 1, 2022, Max Heinrichs will be joining Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF) as the Director for the Hillsboro Community Foundation (HCF). HCF is an affiliate of CKCF.
Max retired in June from USD 410 after a 6-year tenure as Superintendent. In all he worked 39 years in education, 29 of those working in some capacity for USD 410.
Though not born in Kansas, Max has lived in Hillsboro for most of his life and considers it his hometown. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1979 and from Tabor College in 1983 with a physical education degree. He received three additional master’s degrees: educational psychology from Emporia State University (1987); leadership/administration from Kansas State University (2000); superintendent from ESU (2008).
A bridge to this position is his involvement with Hillsboro Community Foundation as a member at large and, for the past 3 years, Chairman of the Board. This experience will provide the community a director that already has established relationships and familiarity with the work of the foundation.
Max and his wife Krista have three grown daughters and 2 granddaughters and 3 grandsons.
The Peabody Community Foundation (PCF) is exploring community improvement, especially as it relates to housing, as part of an opportunity through the Kansas Association of Community Foundations experiment to apply the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in the rural Kansas context. PCF is one of five community foundations in the state to participate in the SDG project.
The effort is being led by five local influencers, selected for their community involvement and leadership: Tom Spencer, Peabody Mayor; Ron Traxson, PCF board member; Becky Nickel, PCF Director; and community leaders, Lynn Berns and Susan Mayo. This group is making housing their primary focus and anticipates procuring funds for research and the implementation of housing projects.
In addition to conducting dozens of stakeholder interviews, the SDG Team hosted a public meeting facilitated by WSU’s Community Engagement Institute on July 11, all in an effort to solicit input about the housing needs and priorities in Peabody.
“Our SDG Team is energized about the potential of working within the SDG framework to address our community’s needs. There are 17 SDG goals and we’ve narrowed our focus to Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities,” said Nickel. “Each goal has several targets under it. The first target under Goal 11 is adequate, safe and affordable housing which is a real need in Peabody.”
At its April planning session, the PCF Board of Directors named community improvement as a goal for the foundation, which aligns with the SDG goal for Sustainable Cities and Communities. The Board anticipates close collaboration with the SDG Team and the Peabody City Council toward this goal.
In addition to working locally, the five Kansas SDG teams are learning about efforts around the world where the SDG goals are being applied to issues like poverty, education, and hunger. PCF, like many community foundations, is already working to reduce poverty and promote healthy lifestyles by granting funds to local charities with programming in these areas. The SDGs provide a blueprint for asset development, community engagement, and investment strategies.
Online registration is now open for this year’s “Sky’s the Limit” Charity Auction. There are many benefits to pre-registering. Click the button to get started!
When you pre-register on our auction host site, you can preview our exciting items up for bid, securely save your payment information for easy bidding, and even send a donation prior to the auction beginning.
Click the button above to get started!
Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more updates.
Pictured above are the presenters and recipients of this years’ Women of the Year Scholarship Cycle (left to right: Casie Powell, Lauren Anton, Kaitlyn McMullin, Savannah Hunsucker, Jennifer Vogts and Ada Schmidt-Thiesen)
65 Total Scholarships
118 Scholarship Recipients
Scholarhip Ammounts:
$250 – $5500 each
Total Amount Awarded:
$127,700
“This year’s scholarship cycle was finalized in May. The scholarship award letters have been sent out and it has been fun to see what the recipients have chosen to do in the next phase of their lives. We wish them all the best as they move forward!” -Kim Stahly, CKCF Scholarship Program Officer.
Are you interested in growing your scholarship programs? View this SAMPLE LETTER from a fund advisor in Fredonia, KS.
He is strategically engaging a targeted people (alumni of a specific graduating class) and successfully connects with them in one very specific way. The proof of their success is in the amazing growth the fund has seen over the years.
Thanks to funding from the Marion County Leadership Endowment held by CKCF, Marion County residents have an opportunity to participate in a county Leadership Program, a program designed to teach leadership skills while learning about the county’s needs. The eight-week program will be facilitated by the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) and include tours or the county, and discussions about how to apply learnings at KLC to opportunities and challenges in Marion County.
“The Marion County Leadership program holds great potential to enhance the county’s assets and address some of its challenges. CKCF is proud to partner with KLC in this endeavor to bring local leaders together and cultivate their skills,” said Angie Tatro, CEO of CKCF. She went on to share without initial financial support from the Kansas Health Foundation, this program would not be possible.
More info and an online application may be found at www.marioncoks.net under News and Announcements.
Photo: (Left to right) Bonnie Gaeddert, USD411; Tracy Lowe, Marion County Core Community; Sara Hiebert, Bethesda Home; Lori Soo Hoo, Marion County Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
(Goessel, KS) The Goessel Community Foundation, an affiliate of Central Kansas Community Foundation, is pleased to announce the recent awarding of four 2022 Community Grants. Through the generosity of community donations to our Impact Fund, the Foundation was able to “give back to the community” through these local non-profits. Awards were presented at a Spring Celebration & Recognition Dinner at Goessel Elementary School on April 30, 2022 hosted by the Foundation Board. A complimentary meal prepared by Goessel Grocery & Deli and a skit “Leave 5 in Goessel” given by Matt Lehman Wiens and Matt Voth were also part of the event.
$1,100—Bethesda Home $970 from the Goessel Senior Endowment and $130 from the Impact Fund to supplement expenses for the Friendship Meal Program. The recipients pay for one-third of the cost, with the remainder covered by grants, donations, and Bethesda.
$1,000—Goessel USD411 for Early Childhood Family Engagement Night from the Impact Fund for family engagement opportunities and education activities for parents of pre-school age children. It is an evening with many hands-on activities that allow families to get acquainted with resources which can assist educational needs early in life.
$500—Marion County Core Community from the Impact Fund for a “Getting Ahead Scholarship” for educational opportunities to find solutions for families facing poverty. Classes are offered to help end the cycle of generational poverty by building resources to lift themselves out of poverty.
$500—Marion County Dolly Parton Imagination Library from the Impact Fund whichprovides families with children ages 0-5 a free age-appropriate book each month until the child reaches age 6. The program provides books, directions, and activities so parents have the means to read, interact, and connect with their children.
Each year, our Impact Fund continues to grow. Our goal of reaching $125,000 for our Impact Fund, would allow for larger grants in the future. To help us reach this goal, donations should be sent to GCF, PO Box 244, Goessel, KS 67053 or on-line at bit.ly/donate-goesselcf.
Since 1956, our program has honored Newton area women who give freely of their time and talents to make our community a better place to live. Clubs, organizations and individuals are asked to nominate women from the community involved in community and civic service, education, religion, the arts or business, who have made a positive difference in the community. Each year, three outstanding women are chosen by a panel of judges to be honored as Women of the Year. The WOY Advisory Committee oversees the Women of the Year program and hosts the recognition event. Newton Area Women of the Year is a component fund of Central Kansas Community Foundation, meaning it is managed under the foundation’s 501(c)(3) umbrella for the benefit of our mission to honor Newton-area women making a positive difference
Susan Lamb A formal and informal educator that genuinely cares about all community members, with a mission for creating community resiliency.
Susan is a dedicated and passionate volunteer. She cares deeply about the community and organizations of which she’s a part. Her care is shown thru active involvement and engagement. Though her past volunteer roles would be too numerous to name, she is currently involved in the following volunteer capacities:
Hesston Board of Education Member
Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale Board Member and congregation liaison
Hesston Mennonite Church JYF co-coordinator
Hesston Mennonite Church Hospitality Chair
Susan is a very enthusiastic leader in Hesston – the community we both live in. She is always brainstorming and implementing fun events to enhance community. For over a decade, she has coordinated a summer weeklong camp for 6th and 7th graders, called H-Town. The group tours a variety of businesses in Hesston and eat lunch each day at a local restaurant. Both of our boys participated in H-Town and really enjoyed learning why Hesston is such a great place to live.
Further, Susan is assisting to get permanency for the Harvey County Drug Court by organizing an advocacy team. This team will share the hopes and challenges of court participants. Giving people who made a poor choice some local supports and not jail time will ultimately create more contributing members of our community.
She is also currently in a contractor capacity for Disaster Response coordination at CKCF. Following the 2017 shooting event in Hesston, Susan was determined to add man-made incidents as part of preparation and preparedness for disaster response. She far exceeds her contribution of time the grant allots to this role, going so far as reaching out nationally to local community foundation after mass shooting events occur to lend a message of compassion but also making herself a known resource to share community resiliency strategies to guide their recovery.
Susan is married, has two grown children and loves being a grandmother.
Tami Lakey A visionary entrepreneur giving back to our community and providing space for youth and families to succeed.
Newton is Tami’s hometown, and she loves this city with her whole self. She is giving of her time, energy and resources as she innovatively cares for this community. When Tami worked as a library aid at Slate Creek Elementary in 2015-17, she recognized a growing desire to provide a space in her hometown where youth could gather for needed community and connection. Out of that desire came a much-needed program for the Newton community: Later@Norm’s. Norm’s Coffee Bar was for sale at the beginning of 2017, and So Shine Foundation saw an opportunity to invest in a business that could fund the initiative. Santa Fe students have now been hanging out after school in her spaces (now @ The Porch: 724 N Main, having outgrown the coffee bar’s capacity for the amount of students!) for five school years, and there has been a fantastic overflow of life produced from it!
Later@Norm’s is cultivating a multigenerational atmosphere that is uniting high school students (some former attendees!) and adults to volunteer their time, investing in this next generation of Newtonians. She has donated generously of her time, too many occasions to count, as this business has grown deep roots and seen much fruit. Norm’s mission statement of Coffee, Community, and Connection has Tami’s DNA all over it.
The Table is a weekly free community dinner at The Porch, that seeks to build meaningful community within families, build a deeper sense of belonging TO our families AND our town, and build a stronger future FOR our families and town. She is the visionary leader behind all of it, but you will see her at Norm’s cashiering, after school playing UNO with students, and serving up a delicious plate of dinner at The Table… every.single.time.
With all this she is deeply invested in her faith and family as a wife, mom and newly a grandmother!
Sandie Kueker An innovative health professional, civic member, wife and mom that makes a difference in our community because she cares.
Sandie and her husband, Adam, own Hesston Pharmacy and Harvey Drug, two successful locally owned pharmacies in our community. Even before the pandemic, it was fantastic to see their success and know that local business owners were making a real impact on the health of our community members. This work of Sandie’s alone is an outstanding contribution to the Newton area.
Yet, in addition, Sandie’s work during the pandemic has been beyond any expectation. Once vaccines were available, it was a real issue (on the local, state, and national levels) to best understand how to get vaccines to as many people as soon as possible. Our local health department did not have the capacity to do this work alone and Sandie and her staff at Hesston Pharmacy and Harvey Drug really stepped up to provide broad access to those in our community.
Sandie’s compassion for helping those in our local community and the state is unparalleled and the compassion shines through in her work. In addition to vaccine distribution clinics, she has worked with local schools to make sure children had access to the COVID-19 vaccine and worked with other pharmacies to teach them how to successfully run large-scale vaccine clinics in their own communities. She also utilized the pharmacy to serve as a COVID testing site through the state program and this has led to a large increase in access to free testing for our area.
In addition to all this she is involved with Newton Lions Club and is an active wife and mother.
The Hesston Community Foundation board of directors voted unanimously to grant $2,000 to team 7862D, Jones Braker and Madi Tozier, to attend the World’s Robotics Championship in Dallas, TX May 5-7, 2022. As the program is outside the scope of school support and funding, the team sought funding in the amount of $3,000 from community sources, including the Foundation, to cover the cost of their team registration and travel expenses.
The duo recently won the Innovate Award at the State Competition. Shortly thereafter, VEX invited Jones and Madi to participate in the World Competition. Their team is the only one from Hesston attending the World Competition. Considered an opportunity of a lifetime, they are the only team to go to worlds in three years from Hesston.
Madi and Jones are sophomores at Hesston High School. Jones is a sophomore, and this is his 2nd year in robotics. He joined the team to exercise his ability to think three-dimensionally in order to create something tangible, something you can see at work. Madi is also a sophomore and is grateful for the opportunity to have attended state and excited to attend World’s. She joined robotics because her brother talked highly of it and it sounded challenging and fun. She has quickly excelled in the program.
The members of the team are perfectly matched. Their innovative robot has a symmetrical design with a claw lift, goal lift and ring scoring technique. Together, they have overcome many obstacles including coding, building, win-point and driving. Their work has qualified them for six awards, including an out-of-state award. The Innovate Award, which qualified them for the World’s Championship, was given to them for a specific, unique piece of engineering that exemplifies thinking outside the box and innovative engineering design.
The dates for our 2022 CKCF Charity Auction, “Sky’s the Limit,” have been set for July 13-19. This is a virtual, online event that will benefit the CKCF Operating Budget. We are currently seeking corporate sponsorships and auction item donations. Contact Angie Tatro, CKCF CEO to participate!
Click the button to read more on the CKCF Charity Auction website.
This spring we held our virtual “State of the Foundation” address on March 16, 2022.
Angie Tatro, CEO of Central Kansas Community Foundation, provided information regarding current events and statistics. CKCF’s Primary Investment Manager, Graystone Consulting, provided a report on the investment pool and also share market considerations. You can watch the recording of the address below. And remember, you can always access our financials at a glance HERE.
August 1, 2022, Max Heinrichs will be joining Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF) as the Director for the Hillsboro Community Foundation (HCF). HCF is an affiliate of CKCF.
