The Newton Community Foundation recently celebrated their first birthday with a morning brunch celebration at one of the hottest locations in Newton – Prairie Harvest’s recently renovated Mezzanine. Congratulations on a wonderful first year – We look forward to the years to come and the difference NCF will make in the Newton community!
Check out their Facebook page for more details about the event!
The Central Kansas Community Foundation recently welcomed Michelle Critchfield to the team. She will serve the CKCF and its affiliates as the Program Officer ~ Grants.
Most recently, Michelle worked for Alpha Chi Omega Fraternity, Inc. as a traveling chapter consultant. In her two years in this role, Michelle traveled around the United States to support the operational needs of 18 individual Alpha Chi Omega chapters.
Michelle grew up in Hesston and is excited to be back in the area. Outside of work, Michelle is pursuing a master’s degree in history and serves as a volunteer for Alpha Chi Omega. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family, biking, and watching movies.
Michelle is looking forward to serving central Kansas communities in this role, through overseeing the grant processes for the CKCF and its affiliate partners.
The Hillsboro Community Foundation, affiliate of CKCF, recently welcomed Virginia Martens to their team. She will serve as Director of the affiliate foundation.
Virginia previously worked for Tabor College for 41 years in the Business Office in various positions, starting as data entry clerk and finishing as Controller, a position she has had since 1995.
She is married to Jim, a retired welder, for 47 years, and they live in Hillsboro. They have two adult children and four grandchildren who have live in Central Kansas. In her spare time, she loves to read, works in the yard and garden, bowls in a weekly league, and spends time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
She is looking forward to using her acquired knowledge and experience to assist the Hillsboro Community Foundation in its effort to receive and administer funds for the betterment of the Hillsboro community.
October 27-29, 2019 | Wichita Marriott Hotel
Hosted by the Kansas Association of Community Foundation
Please join your community foundation colleagues in Wichita, Kansas for the 2019 Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations.
The dynamic Conference is an outgrowth of those convened by the Kansas Association of Community Foundations over the last twelve years, which has gained national recognition and attendance. It is tailored but not limited to small-staffed and volunteer-led community foundations in rural, small urban, and suburban America. It is designed to meet the needs of both new and seasoned board members and staff in practical training to enhance skills in all major areas of community foundation management. We welcome all board members and other volunteers, executive directors and other staff of community foundations from the USA and beyond.
Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF) is pleased to announce the 2019 Central Kansas Community Foundation Kids FUNd grantees which were funded from proceeds from the L. Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children.
Since 2005 the Kids FUNd has been supporting local projects and programs serving kids. Originally this fund was supported by the Sand Creek Station Pro/Am Golf Tournament. After 2012 the Pro/Am completed their support of the fund and the Haun Charitable Fund was started as a means of continuing the provision of making grants to kid serving charities. The L. Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children has awarded over $250,000 since 2013 to organizations who have interest in children’s behavioral research, child welfare, teaching parent skills, and/or strengthening families.
This year $23,000 was given to eleven (11) organizations that are providing programs and projects that are supporting area children and families. Here is the list of the organizations who received funding this year and are doing amazing work within our local communities:
“One person can truly make a difference in the world,” said Angie Tatro, Executive Director of CKCF. She went on to share that in six (6) short years proceeds from the L. Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children benefiting the Regional Kids FUNd grant cycle has impacted kid serving charities with over a quarter of million dollars in grant resources. “The number of lives touched by these funds is tremendous.” Tatro went on to welcome others who have a charitable cause or vulnerable population that matters to them to consider leaving an planned gift. Tatro is able to provide further details and options for establishing a planned gift. Contact her if you have an interest at 316-283-5474 or angie@centralkansascf.org.
Award Ceremony was hosted by Central Kansas Community Foundation Board of Directors at 9:30 am Thursday, July 25, 2019 at Wild Prairie Event Center, Newton, KS.
In 2014 Ellen Charlsen, while working with her Financial Advisor, wanted to ensure charitable support to her church and other charities that matter to her and her dearly departed husband, Jack. She wanted to know if there was a way for the charities to receive part of their legacy. Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF) Executive Director Angie Tatro worked with Ellen to establish her Donor Advised Memorandum for the Jack W. and Ellen M. Charlsen Charitable Fund, that would be established upon her death. She worked with her financial advisor in making CKCF the Beneficiary on her invested assets. It was a simple process she appreciated.
In February 2018 Ellen passed away and in early 2019 their first gifts of nearly $17,000 were distributed to her Church, the VFW Foundation, Caring Hands Humane Society, a local college for a nursing scholarship and then in their insightfulness earmarked their support for lessening the burden of government with an annual gift to the City of Newton for their K-9 program. Their endowment will support these charities that mattered to them, forever.
Tatro said, “Through education of Financial Advisors in our service region about the Keep 5 in Kansas concept, the Charlsen’s Financial Advisor opened the conversation with this donor about a way to keep their family legacy alive while also supporting charities that mattered to them.” Being proactive in their planning, this couple gifted over $450,000 to the local Community Foundation to oversee their charitable gift plans. The Foundation will manage these funds and make annual distributions to the five charitable causes outlined in their donor advised memorandum.
“The gift from the estate of Jack and Ellen Charlsen is a significant contribution to the ongoing education of future nurses at Bethel College. We thank Jack and Ellen for their commitment to the College, especially for their support of our Nursing Department,” said Brad Kohlman, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. Interim Chief Craig Dunlavy learned of the support of the Newton Police K-9 Program saying, “we are overwhelmed by the generosity of members of our community.” He went on to say the resources that will be received annually will be going to good use.
Tatro further added, “We are touched daily at the Foundation by the giving spirit of local community members that see the importance of giving back. The Foundation is here to support all donors, those that want to give $25 to a local community impact fund to those with large estate plans, giving in their lifetime or after death, or both. We are in a unique situation of helping others fulfill their charity mission while being a part of strategically helping strengthen the social service backbone of our communities across Central Kansas as a leader in community service and invigoration.”
The Central Kansas Community Foundation is perfectly positioned to assist donors like Jack and Ellen with planned giving. If you would like more information please go to http://ckcflegacy.org/ or contact Angie Tatro, Executive Director for more information at 316-283-5474.
The Jack & Ellen Charlsen Story
Jack (Guvekas) Charlsen was born on April 13, 1922. He attended and graduated from Newton High School in 1941. Jack played drums in the high school band and enjoyed dancing and music. In 1942, Jack enlisted in the Army Air Force and was stationed in Elmswell England during World War II. Jack was a ball turret gunner on a B17 in which he flew 28 missions over the European theatre. Jack was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters and the Good Conduct Medal. After the war, Jack has his last name changed to Charlsen as his mother remarried George Charlsen and George was the father that he looked up to growing up and for the years following.
Ellen Charlsen was born May 1, 1926 in Elyria, Kansas. Ellen graduated from McPherson High School in 1944. Ellen enrolled in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps program at Axtell Christian Hospital in 1944. Ellen agreed to be available for military or civilian services for the duration of the present war. The war ended in 1946, so she was not called to serve.
Jack and Ellen were married on February 13, 1948. Jack returned to work at Charlsen Market until he was hired by Boeing Aircraft. Jack worked as an engineer for Boeing. Ellen was a nurse. They both worked for the Apollo Space Program in preparation for the first moon flight. Jack was then transferred back to Wichita where he worked until his retirement in 1986. Ellen worked as an RN for many organizations. Her most memorable time was working with the astronauts on the moon flight. Ellen also helped set up the ER room for the movie “Walking Tall” and was an extra in the movie!
Jack and Ellen retired to Buena Vista, Arkansas, where they volunteered in their community. Due to family members’ health concerns, they moved back to Newton. Jack and Ellen enjoyed their bowling leagues, where they bowled with various groups through the years. Jack joined the VFW Color Guard in 1992, where he later became Commander of the VFW Post 971 in Newton. Jack and Ellen belonged to the Zion Lutheran Church, where they were active members until their health would no longer allow them to continue. Jack also belonged to the American Legion, BPOE, Eagles of Newton, Albert Pike Lodge No. 303 and the Scottish Rite Temple of Wichita.
Jack enjoyed being outside and doing yard work, while Ellen enjoyed working in her flower garden. Ellen enjoyed showing pictures of her tomato plants in Huntsville, Alabama, where they were probably six feet tall with lots of tomatoes. They always enjoyed their little dogs. Scout was very special to Ellen after Jack passed away in 2010. He became her companion, or as Ellen often said – he was who she had left to talk to and Scout was a diligent listener.
Jack passed away on December 1, 2010 and Ellen joined him on February 25, 2018.
Thursday June 27, we hosted the third in our series of regional round table discussions for our partner charitable organizations. The event was hosted in the Beaumont Depot Community Center. We talked about how we serve charitable organizations, presented the results from our charity partner survey and gave tips on grant writing.
To see more photos of our event, please visit our Facebook page!
PARTNERING COMMUNITIES WITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
Kansas communities are uniquely situated to participate with and benefit from their local community foundation. The North Newton Community Foundation (NNCF), created in 2012 with the support of the North Newton City Council, has grown to an asset base of $248,500. In 2019 NNCF expects to award $12,000 to local charitable endeavors.
The City has been supportive by annually budgeting matching funds for donors who wish to create an endowment for the benefit of North Newton residents. The match is made with the provision that the earnings from each fund will accrue as a revenue item to the City’s general fund. The City reviews the recommendations of NNCF for grant awards and decides whether to concur in the recommendation. To date, the City Council has concurred with the recommendations.
In the last three years, the City has increased the matching funds available from $10,000 to $20,000 with $10,000 to be used for the creation of new endowments and the other $10,000 used to create new endowments or match contributions to existing endowments.
The financial implication for cities is striking. Investment of available funds by Kansas cities is limited to certificates of deposit or direct obligations of the federal government at a rate of about 2% annually. When funds are matched up to $20,000 and then turned over to the local foundation for conservative market investments, the fund earnings should average 5% annually over the years. Thus, the typical earning on the original $10,000 would be $1,000.
The key to making this work is preserving the public interest in decision making. In other words city councils need to make grant awards for projects or programs that they would otherwise fund or would like to fund. Endowment documents can reflect that public interest by containing language which describes eligible and ineligible activities.
This is just one more example of public-private partnerships that provide comprehensive benefit a local community. If your city council is interested in this model, please reach out. We are happy to share our success.
North Newton Community Foundation will be featured in an upcoming Kansas Association of Community Foundations white paper series on rural community foundations.
The newly formed Newton Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Kansas Community Foundation (CKCF), awarded its first grants Thursday, June 6th at 4:30 pm in the lobby of the Old Mill Plaza.
The 2019 grant recipients from the Newton Kansas Health Foundation Fund were recognized with a small reception from 4:30-5:30 pm. The Newton community was invited and encouraged to attend as the board celebrated the Newton Community Foundation and the wonderful work the grant recipients are doing. The Newton Kansas Health Foundation Fund was originally made possible as a result of the GROW II matching grant program CKCF organized for our local community. The general purpose of this Fund is to underwrite solutions to local issues as well as the protection and promotion of the health and well-being of individuals and their communities through the encouragement of healthy lifestyles, behaviors and environments.
This year’s recipients included Health Ministries Clinic, who will use funds to help purchase equipment to serve Newton residents; Newton Meals on Wheels, Inc., funds will be used to help with the cost of meals for the Newton elderly population; Ember Hope Youthville, who will use funds for foster care home safety and preparation; Peace Connections, funds will be used to cover the cost of a salad bar to be offered at Circle of Hope meetings.
In 2018 Central Kansas Community Foundation awarded a total of $2,107,959 in gifts to charities located in our affiliate foundation region along with charities around the United States.
The largest gift area was from the designated funds awarding a total of $1,236,011. These funds are a charitable vehicle that allows individuals, families or small groups to raise funds in support of a specified non-profit organization. In 2018, there were two grants given that totaled $804,000. These were specific community projects in Valley Center and Hesston.
CKCF manages 19 competitive grant cycles which are supported by 29 unrestricted and field of interest funds. In 2018, 292 charities in Kansas received a total of $426,326 in support from those funds. Each year CKCF receives grant request from charities in Kansas, in 2018 the asked totaled close to $700,000.
Forty-one endowed organizational and agency funds provided $253,194 in support.
Many scholarship funds are administered each year. In 2018, there were 58 scholarship funds awarding a total of $115,321 in support to individuals. These individuals are graduating high school seniors, undergraduates, graduates and nontraditional students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities, career/technical schools in the United States. Many of the scholarship funds managed by CKCF were established by generous donors from our affiliate communities who value education and want to make a difference.
Donor advised funds allow donors to make a charitable contribution to their favorite charity. In 2018, 27 funds awarded $77,106 to their charity of choice.
