Join us this Tuesday, December 3 from 10AM – 1 PM for our open house, celebrating #GIVINGTUESDAY!

JOIN US As we celebrate the legacies of our donors.
Learn more about how you can creating a lasting legacy and
continue to grow your community for generations to come.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
10A – 1P
301 N MAIN, SUITE 200
NEWTON, KS 67114

Walter Claassen

Recently Walter’s daughter met with Angie Tatro, CKCF Executive Director, she shared the pride Walt had for the Newton Community. It was always clear to her that he wanted to make a difference not only for his own family but for others as well.

In 2006 Walter established 3 funds with the Foundation:

In memory of his daughter Susan he established:

• Susan Claassen Endowment for the benefit of  the Hesston Intergenerational Child Dev Center Inc. Helping Children in our area.
• Susan Claassen Nursing Scholarship for the benefit of nursing students at Hesston College. Promoting higher education for a caring profession.

In memory of his wife Helen he established:

• Helen E. Claassen Endowment for the benefit of the Newton Library. A desire for a facility and resources that pace with broad access to knowledge.

Because of Walter’s vision for investing in meaningful causes through establishing endowments, nearly a $250,000 in charitable grants have been distributed to the 3 entities identified above since 2006. While these funds also maintain a collective balance of half a million in assets.

The true magic is these charitable causes will receive gifts in memory of Susan and Helen in perpetuity. We are delighted to further recognize the legacy Walter Claassen left through the establishment of these heartfelt gifts.

For more information on the life of Walter Claassen, CLICK HERE!

The estate of Wichitan L. Marie Haun left a gift of over $620,000 to Central Kansas Community Foundation. This gift, as requested by Haun in her estate plan, will be used to create the “Lena Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children.”

Haun, who passed away in March of 2011, had a particular interest in child welfare issues, behavioral research, teaching parenting skills, and strengthening families.  Her endowment is expected to generate more than $30,000 annually.  A competitive grant cycle for these funds will be available beginning in 2013 for organizations providing children’s services in Central Kansas.

Near the end of her life, Marie’s financial advisor considered her charitable wishes and expressed the value of planned giving through the foundation. Marie ultimately chose to entrust the foundation with her gift because of the flexibility her gift would have through our oversight of a competitive grant cycle  that would ensure her core values for child welfare would be considered.

“Donors like Marie understand the positive impact a gift like this can have today — and for generations to come,” said Sandi Fruit, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “We appreciate the confidence she placed in our Foundation to manage this gift to the children of Central Kansas.”

Haun began her career as a teacher at Whitewater High School and clearly had a love for children. Throughout her professional life, she held several secretarial positions. After moving to Wichita with her family, she worked as Secretary to the Chief of the Wichita Police Department. Then she went on to a 26-year career as the secretary to the Dean of the College of Health Professions at Wichita State University. Retiring in 2000 at the age of 78, Haun was no stranger to hard work.

Haun was born to Homer and Marguerite (Mead) Hood in Carmen, Oklahoma, on March 8, 1922. During her childhood, Marie moved with her parents and sister Dorthy from Carmen to Missouri, Wyoming, and back to Oklahoma. Marie graduated from high school in Carmen and then earned a baccalaureate degree that prepared her for teaching. She taught business at the Whitewater High School just before she met her future husband, Paul Haun (brother of the late Howard Haun of rural Newton). They married on December 23, 1948 and had one son, Larry Kent, in 1950.

JOIN US As we celebrate the legacies of our donors.
Learn more about how you can creating a lasting legacy and
continue to grow your community for generations to come.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019
10A – 1P
301 N MAIN, SUITE 200
NEWTON, KS 67114

Melvina Killion
Gracious Philanthropist Throughout her Life

Melvina Killion of Phoenix, AZ made the largest single gift in the history of the Central Kansas Community Foundation.

Melvina, a former Wichitan, made a bequest gift from her estate totaling $1.6 million. The gift created the Melvina C. Killion Charitable Endowment.

Four nonprofit organizations share the annual income distributions from the permanent endowment, including Kansas Christian Home in Newton. Other recipients include the Arizona State University Foundation for the benefit of its public television station; The Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home; and Family Time Training Inc. in Littleton, Colo.

Marnette Hatchett, chairwoman of the Central Kansas Community Foundation board of directors at the time the gift was received, made the announcement. ‘We are proud that Mrs. Killion placed her faith and confidence in our foundation,’ Hatchett said. ‘We understand that she and her husband, Lyle, owned seven gas service stations in the Wichita area in the 1940s and ’50s. It’s wonderful that she wanted to give something back to central Kansas after all these years.’

Newton resident and retired banker Frank Spangler was a founding board member of the community foundation and worked closely with Killion to plan the gift in recent years.

‘Melvina was retired and living in the Phoenix area when we first met,’ Spangler said. ‘She wanted to do something to help the Kansas Christian Home in Newton. Her husband Lyle’s father was a minister and resided at the Newton retirement community for a number of years.’

Kansas Christian Home director of development Linda Hill called the gift a wonderful example for others.

‘Mrs. Killion was a gracious philanthropist throughout her lifetime,’ Hill said. ‘This gift is a blessing for many of our residents who will directly benefit from her generosity for years to come.’

According to lifelong friends of the Killions, they retired and left Wichita to move to Colorado in the late 1960s, later settling in the Phoenix area.

BEQUEST DEFINED

A bequest is a sum of money made available upon the donor’s death, often given to a charity as a beneficiary of a life-insurance policy or will, for example.

ENDOWMENT DEFINED

An endowment is a donation of money or property to a non-profit organization, which uses the resulting investment income for a specific charitable purpose. Most endowments are designed to keep the principal amount intact while using the investment income for charitable efforts. Often referred to as forever funds.

Endowment Defined – An endowment is a donation of money or property to a non-profit organization, which uses the resulting investment income for a specific charitable purpose. Most endowments are designed to keep the principal amount intact while using the investment income for charitable efforts. Often referred to as forever funds.

Contact us if you are interested in planning your giving!

Planned Giving Defined

Planned giving is the process of donating planned gifts. A planned gift is a contribution that is arranged in the present and allocated at a future date. Commonly donated through a will or trust, planned gifts are most often granted once the donor has passed away.

Contact us if you are interested in planning your giving!

Throughout the years, we have put down roots in the communities we serve and are honored to grow our communities alongside valued and trusted community partners. The following series features businesses and individuals who have stood by our side in serving our mission to build stronger communities through charitable giving. Thank you dearly for being partners in our charitable work – it wouldn’t be possible without your friendship and support.

This week, we honor Community National Bank, their commitment to helping us serve our charitable mission in South Central Kansas.