Kansas Health Foundation gives $1.09 million to nonprofit groups

WICHITA, Kan. – Through its Fall 2010 Recognition Grants Program, the Kansas Health Foundation has given $1.088 million to help organizations across the state accomplish 59 projects that intend to improve the health and wellness of Kansans. Our Fall 2010 Recognition Grants range in size from $1,400 to a maximum of $25,000.

The grants benefiting the entire state are:

• $25,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Wichita, Inc. to provide temporary lodging for families that live more than 30 miles from Wichita and have children in the hospital. This grant is primarily intended to pay for staff, supplies, utilities and administrative support related to caring for the families.
• $25,000 to American Cancer Society-High Plains Division to increase colorectal cancer screenings among Kansans age 50 and older. A 90-day campaign aims to increase awareness of the importance of these screenings. This grant is intended to pay for screening kits as well as radio and billboard advertising.
• $24,910 to Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Inc. to expand mentoring services by recruiting and training volunteer adult mentors and matching them with children from counties across Kansas. This grant is intended to fund background checks for new volunteers.

The grants benefiting Southwest Kansas are:

• $25,000 to the Salvation Army in Finney County for the Read to Succeed project. After-school and summer camp programs will improve reading skills for grade schoolers through individual instruction and computer-assisted learning. This grant is intended to pay for staff, computers and 10 licenses for Lexia Reading Software.
• $23,475 to the Kansas State Department of Education for screening and diagnostic services in Southwest Kansas to help facilitate early intervention for non-English speaking families with children who are living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This grant is intended to pay for trainer fees, travel expenses, translation services, equipment and printing expenses.
• $17,986 to CASA-Children Worth Saving, Inc., to train and supervise community volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in Southwest Kansas. This grant is primarily intended to pay for staff, travel and supplies.
• $16,995 to Spirit of the Plains CASA, Inc. to recruit and train volunteers and help abused and neglected children in Southwest Kansas achieve safe and permanent homes. This grant is primarily intended to pay for staff.
• $7,820 to Miles of Smiles, Inc. to provide scholarships for therapeutic horseback riding for low-income individuals with disabilities in Southwest and West Central Kansas. This program helps participants improve their mental, physical and social skills. This grant is intended to provide additional scholarships for riders who meet financial guidelines.
• $3,390 to Melven O. Kuder Senior Center Association for equipment to facilitate monthly educational presentations for older adults in West Central Kansas that will increase understanding about health issues and preventive care. The group will also use this equipment, including a projector, screen, laptop computer and educational DVDs, to enhance computer classes and expand exercise groups.

The grant benefiting Northwest Kansas is:

• $24,650 to the City of Oberlin to create a playground/fitness area at an existing public park to increase free opportunities for children to be physically active. This grant is intended to pay for equipment.

The grants benefiting Central Kansas are:

• $25,000 to Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy to help volunteers extend a public recreational trail in Lyon County by 5.5 miles. This grant is intended to pay for signage, materials to build the trail and traffic control devices.
• $25,000 to Eisenhower Foundation to strengthen leadership capacity among Kansas teens through the Five Star Leaders program. Using case studies from President Eisenhower’s career, Five Star Leaders aims to teach principles of democratic leadership and consensus-based decision making that students can incorporate into their own lives. This grant is intended to pay for staff and supplies.
• $25,000 to United Way of McPherson County, Inc. to support the Steps to End Poverty program. This 15-week course will teach approximately 50 families how to build financial, emotional and social resources to help lead themselves out of poverty through an intensive learning process and the assistance of community volunteers. This grant is intended to pay for a part-time social worker, small participant stipends as well as child care including tutoring and activities.
• $25,000 to North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging to help older Kansans in 21 counties better access medical benefits for which they are eligible. Trained senior volunteers will lead monthly presentations to inform their peers about health reform’s implications for older adults and how to enroll in low-income health programs. This grant is primarily intended to pay for staff, consultants, travel and outreach materials.
• $20,185 to Neighborhood Initiatives, Inc., for the Neighbor to Neighbor center, which offers Cloud County women counseling services and classes on nutrition, exercise, community gardening and health education. This grant is primarily intended to pay for fitness equipment, a computer, staff and consultants including a mental health professional.
• $17,296 to American Red Cross North Central Kansas Chapter to offer classes in CPR and first aid to low-income and/or Spanish speaking residents in underserved areas of Central and North Central Kansas. This grant is intended to pay for staff, travel, portable mannequins, program supplies and meeting space.
• $8,500 to the City of Larned to increase physical activity and healthy eating in Pawnee County through gardening. This project will add improvements to an existing garden and offer planned activities for the community and opportunities for school and church groups to help tend and maintain the garden. This grant is intended to pay for staff, gardening equipment and supplies.
• $5,500 to USD 349 Stafford High School to enhance the high school online curriculum for health science. Online health careers classes, including virtual field trips, will encourage students in seven rural counties to pursue careers in health care and will certify students for immediate employment. This project also aims to increase the number of students who attend college to prepare for health-related careers. This grant is intended to pay for staff, a consultant, travel and jump drives.
• $5,000 to USD 411 Goessel for the Baby Can Wait program, which aims to inform teens about the realities of caring for a child. The project will send mechanical “babies” home with students for a weekend. By showing how challenging it is to be a parent, this program hopes to delay teen pregnancy and sexual activity. This grant is intended to pay for mechanical babies, empathy bellies, infant simulators and educational materials.

The grants benefiting South Central Kansas are:

• $25,000 to Urban League of Kansas, Inc. to develop a leadership program for African Americans and Hispanic Americans living in Wichita. The program aims to increase the capacity of a participant in identifying pressing community issues, using evidence-based principles of civic engagement to address those issues, build teams, manage conflict, create networks of resources and create a communication plan. This grant is intended to pay for staff, supplies, workshop expenses and advertising.
• $25,000 to USD 353 Wellington to purchase vending machines that will be stocked with healthy food and drinks only.
• $25,000 to Peace Connections in Newton for a project designed to provide at-risk families with ongoing support and training to get out of poverty. This program also aims to increase community awareness about the causes of poverty and to create partnerships between low-income families and community leaders. This grant is intended to pay for staff.
• $25,000 to the American Lung Association of the Central States, Inc. to increase asthma management for Sedgwick County children through education. The project will provide students, parents and school staff with information and tools to improve management of this illness. This grant is primarily intended to pay for staff, travel, equipment, training and educational materials.
• $25,000 to Youth For Christ USA, Inc. Central States Region to help at-risk teens and former gang members become productive citizens through hands-on work experience such as working in a café or doing yard work. This grant is intended to pay for staff, equipment and administration.
• $25,000 to the City of Wichita Water Center for an informational exhibit about pollution prevention and water consumption to help sustain a healthy public water supply. This grant is intended to help fund the development and installation of this exhibit.
• $24,340 to Fundamental Learning Center, Inc. to train Kansas Head Start Program educators to improve reading and health literacy skills among at-risk preschoolers in Sedgwick County. This grant is intended to pay for staff, consultation, curriculum and training expenses.
• $24,070 to Sedgwick County Zoological Society, Inc., for zoo exhibits and programs that promote active lifestyles and environmental stewardship for young children and families in South Central Kansas. Nature stations will provide take-home information, and a Get Into Nature club will include monthly outdoor activities and conservation projects. This grant is intended to pay for staff and program supplies.
• $23,500 to GraceMed Health Clinic to improve oral health for low-income children and families in Sedgwick County through education as well as preventive and restorative dental care. This grant is primarily intended to pay for rental, repair and/or transportation of portable dental hygiene stations, oral health books and dental supplies.
• $23,137 to Union Rescue Mission, Inc. to help prevent disease transmission among homeless men in Sedgwick County by improving the sleeping environment at this shelter. This grant is primarily intended to pay for new mattresses, antibacterial pillows, blankets and safety railings for top bunks.
• $21,600 to Kansas Children’s Service League for a public education and media campaign to provide guidance for parents and caregivers in Sedgwick County and Topeka on appropriate ways to respond to infant crying to prevent shaking, abuse and potential head trauma. This grant is intended to pay for radio and billboard advertising.
• $20,266 to Wichita Indochinese Center, Inc., to help Sedgwick County adults whose first language is not English to learn job search skills, interview skills, life skills and English. This program aims to help participants secure or retain jobs or enroll in additional education or training. This grant is intended to pay for an instructor and a computer consultant.
• $18,250 to Real Men, Real Heroes, Inc. to help 40 at-risk Sedgwick County boys between the ages of 8 and 18 reduce risky behaviors and stay in school through mentoring, tutoring and outings to colleges and cultural events. Members of a college fraternity will volunteer as mentors. The program will provide a laptop computer to participants who earn a grade point average of at least 3.0. This grant is intended to pay for laptops, activity fees, supplies and travel.
• $17,700 to Inter-Faith Ministries Wichita, Inc. to organize a workshop with social justice activist Bill Grace for faith community representatives. This grant is intended to pay for staff, consultant expenses, facility rental, advertising and printing.
• $14,750 to the Wichita State University Foundation for the Gordon Parks Overcoming Adversity Project. This project will help seventh- and eighth-graders from the Gordon Parks Academy learn about Parks and his art through classroom instruction and a visit to the Ulrich Museum of Art. They will write their own books about personally overcoming adversity and will show their work during a family open house. This grant primarily intends to pay for staff, speaker expenses, school bus transportation and supplies.
• $12,795 to Exploration Place for the Senior Wednesday Coalition, a series of free educational events to reduce social isolation and encourage lifelong learning and healthy lifestyles among older adults in South Central Kansas. This grant is shared among a coalition of 10 museums and organizations, and it is intended to pay for program supplies.
• $11,000 to Wichita Audubon Society to increase appreciation for the environment among students from low-income elementary schools in Cowley, Sedgwick, Sumner and Butler counties. The educational program will focus on ways to manage shared resources such as air, water and national forests. This grant is intended to pay for staff and school bus transportation.
• $4,000 to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Wichita to purchase the Rosetta Stone Language Learning software for use by family members of Cloud Elementary School students who do not speak English.

The grants benefiting Southeast Kansas are:

• $25,000 to USD 446 Independence to provide grade schoolers in rural Montgomery County an after-school class focusing on physical fitness, nutrition, healthy lifestyles and character education. This program will also offer academic support for at-risk students. This grant is intended to pay for staff, field trips, recreational equipment and educational materials.
• $20,114 to Cowley County Developmental Services, Inc., for Sibshop, a workshop for siblings of children with special needs. This project uses peer support and education to reduce stress and improve health for families living with a disabled child. This grant is intended to pay for staff, training expenses and supplies.
• $1,400 to USD 506 Labette County to pay for Automated External Defribrillator training units, shipping and supplies to educate Labette County residents on the proper use of AEDs.

The grants benefiting Northeast Kansas are:

• $25,000 to Aging Services Transformation Alliance to provide assistance to nonprofit nursing homes to implement home- and community-based services to help frail seniors living in rural areas of Kansas to remain in their homes. This grant is intended to pay for staff, consultants and travel.
• $25,000 to Kansas City Kansas Community College for Saturday Science and Math Academy, a program for 7th-12th graders in Wyandotte County to increase minority involvement in health careers and higher education. Saturday Academy focuses on subjects including microbiology, technology and individual research projects. This grant is intended to pay for staff, supplies and bus transportation.
• $24,991 to the Tiny-K Foundation, which helps facilitate growth and development for Kansas children with disabilities by connecting them with support services. This project will hire experts to research potential ways to leverage funds and donations and to develop an awareness/marketing plan for the foundation. This grant intends to pay for staff, consultant fees, travel and meeting materials.
• $24,500 to Young Women on the Move to provide weekly healthy lifestyle programs for parents and teens in Wyandotte County that encourage healthy eating and exercise habits. This grant is intended to pay for staff, training and program supplies.
• $24,470 to Sunflower House to help prevent abuse and neglect among children living in Johnson and Wyandotte counties through the “P.S. It’s My Body!” program. This training teaches children about personal safety, how to resist or report an offender, self esteem and communication skills. This grant is intended to pay for staff.
• $22,581 to the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education to increase outdoor play opportunities for Kansas children. Trained staff will teach early childhood educators to promote exploration and physical activity in outdoor settings. This grant is primarily intended to pay for staff, travel and training.
• $22,500 to Lawrence Public Library Foundation to expand participation in a summer reading program by partnering with other community organizations and reaching out to at-risk children, people who don’t speak English, seniors and people with disabilities. The project plans to offer expanded programming featuring authors, musicians and dancers, and it will offer participants incentives for completing the reading program. This grant is intended to pay for speaker/artist fees, travel and reading incentives as well as advertising and promotion.
• $21,600 to Kansas Children’s Service League for a public education and media campaign to provide guidance for parents and caregivers in Sedgwick County and Topeka on appropriate ways to respond to infant crying to prevent shaking, abuse and potential head trauma. This grant is intended to pay for radio and billboard advertising.
• $18,400 to American Red Cross-Wyandotte County Chapter to help reduce deaths from cardiac or respiratory arrest and choking by training high school students in CPR and first aid. This grant is intended to pay for staff, travel, training equipment and supplies.
• $18,000 to Family Conservancy for a Wyandotte County project to help at-risk pregnant women and their families get necessary prenatal care, case management services and child development education classes. This grant is primarily intended to fund staff and mileage reimbursement for home visits to clients.
• $16,000 to Northeast Kansas Education Service Center #608 to provide parents participating in the Parents As Teachers (PAT) program in Northeast and East Central Kansas with information about childhood obesity. The project will allow PAT staff to extend their home visits and provide materials to parents on the importance of healthy nutrition and physical activity for children . This grant is intended to pay for staff, travel, educational materials and printing.
• $15,000 to Harvesters-The Community Food Network to increase access to healthy food and nutrition education for residents of 16 counties in Northeast and East Central Kansas. The project will organize food drives, acquire and distribute perishable food from the food industry and offer adult nutrition education classes. This grant is intended for the Topeka facility to pay for staff and equipment as well as kitchen, office and educational supplies.
• $13,256 to Kansas City Urban Youth Center to provide nutrition education, hands-on gardening and daily fitness opportunities for low-income youth. The fresh produce will be used in meals during the summer program and will also be given to families of the youth.This grant is primarily intended to pay for staff, fitness and gardening equipment and educational supplies.
• $13,068 to Sunflower CASA Project, Inc., to recruit and train volunteers and help abused and neglected children in Riley, Clay and Pottawatomie counties achieve safe and permanent homes. This grant is intended to pay for additional staff as well as advertising for volunteer recruitment.
• $11,750 to the City of Manhattan to provide scholarships for Parks and Recreation Department programs and to market the scholarships’ availability for income-eligible residents.
• $10,230 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City to prevent or delay substance use and sexual activity among Wyandotte County youth through small-group activities with positive adult role models. This program aims to improve decision-making skills and skills to help resist peer pressures and to cope with stress. This grant is intended to pay for staff, field trips and educational materials.
• $10,000 to Project Concern of Atchison, Inc. for Project Facelift, a program to improve nutrition and socialization for older adults who visit senior centers in Atchison County. This grant is primarily intended to pay for a refrigerator and freezer to store food safely as well as card tables, a sofa and a recliner to facilitate social interaction.
• $4,760 to Kansas Humanities Council, Inc. to increase access to cultural programming at public libraries in Kansas. This “Understanding the World Around Us” project will create a series of book discussions that examine common themes from multiple perspectives. This grant is intended to pay for books.
• $3,000 to USD 458 Basehor-Linwood for developmental screenings to help Leavenworth County children start kindergarten ready to learn. This project will offer hearing, vision and development screenings in center-based and home day care locations and connect families with additional resources as needed. This grant is intended to pay for staff and screening supplies.

For information on all of our Spring 2010 Recognition Grants, visit our Web site at www.kansashealth.org.

Recognition Grants expand the Foundation's support to a broad range of health-related organizations throughout the state. While the majority of the Foundation's funding goes to projects initiated by the Foundation, our Recognition Grants program is designed as a flexible way to help agencies and organizations respond to immediate health-related needs, which are constantly evolving.

Using a competitive application process, the Foundation allocates up to $2 million every year for our Recognition Grants program. Application deadlines are March 15 and September 15 each year. Any tax-exempt, non-profit organization using the money for charitable purposes and proposing a project meeting the Foundation's mission to improve the health of all Kansans is eligible.

To arrange interviews with Kansas Health Foundation staff members, call Communication Officer Kathy Manweiler at 316-262-7676 or send her an e-mail at kmanweiler@khf.org.