Philanthropy Today

We share how Flint Hills Breadbasket transformed into a grocery-style space that welcomes 800–900 families each week and why demand continues to rise. We also spotlight the Super Bowl food drive, our Valentine collaboration with Habitat and Shepherd’s Crossing, and the role of Grow Green Match Day in stabilizing support. • rising demand after relocation and during government shutdown • grocery-sty...

We talk with WTC’s Jeff Sackrider about turning corporate philanthropy into everyday practice, from quarter‑million dollar grants to citywide public Wi‑Fi and rapid food security support. A 114‑year local story shows how structure, culture, and partnerships make impact stick. • why time, talent and treasure all matter • how formalizing giving speeds emergency response • roots in 1912 and a communi...

We spotlight the Manhattan Polar Plunge and how one brave jump funds health screenings, Unified sports, and leadership for 10,000 Special Olympics Kansas athletes. Katelyn Andrist and Corporal Rachel Pate share how athletes and officers build real inclusion, one cheer and costume at a time. • Polar Plunge purpose, date, location, and $100 fundraising minimum • Healthy Athletes screenings and state...

We showcase how Manhattan Area Technical College aligns new programs with real employer demand, turning education into high-wage jobs and community growth. From a community-driven campus to regional testing and NBAF-ready talent, we map the path from skill to paycheck. • New plumbing, electrical, and cybersecurity-focused IT programs • Community building as shared training and meeting space • Empl...

We share a candid talk with RCPD Director Brian Peete on preventing targeted violence by training first responders to recognize behavioral indicators and respond with empathy. The conversation spans homelessness, social media, political rhetoric, and the mission of Prevent the Aftermath to build standardized, research-based training and tools. • community empathy versus criminalization of crisis •...

We share how Center of Hope Ministry grew from a church basement to the Douglas School Annex to meet soaring demand for overnight warming shelter, and why local partnerships, volunteers, and small business fundraisers keep the doors open. A year-round shelter vision takes shape as we break down staffing, funding, and the rising need for cots, snacks, and safe space for families. • mission to provi...

We explore how relationship-based care turns clients into a community, tracing Pawnee’s seventy years of service, quality improvements, and growth across ten counties. We share events for the “New Day at Pawnee” campaign, Kansas’ rising mental health rankings, and a fundraiser that fuels care. • what makes Pawnee’s model relational and consistent • personal testimony on therapy and lasting support...

We share how Light MHK removes barriers to mental health care with grants for direct treatment, provider innovation, and awareness, and we invite the community to The Light Within masquerade to fund this work. Stories, specifics, and a clear call to action replace stigma with access and connection. • purpose of Light MHK and the regions we serve • three grant types and how they work • examples inc...

We share a full slate of new and returning events that fund mentorships across Riley County while laying out simple ways to become a Big. Our focus is on shortening the waitlist, growing male mentors, and sustaining longer, stronger matches. • Bowl for Kids’ Sake details and $20,000 goal • Women’s Drives for Dreams golf tournament launch • Fairways for Futures open luau-themed golf event • Studio...

We sit down with Micah Carl to unpack how Kansas Infant and Toddler Services delivers free, no-waitlist early intervention that meets families in their daily routines. Micah explains eligibility, play-based evaluation, and how family-guided goals turn small moments into big gains. • Statewide early intervention for birth to three • Free services with no waitlist and flexible insurance • Eligibilit...

We share how Prairie Paws turned Manhattan’s shelter into a welcoming, high-performing no-kill operation, growing regional coverage while managing capacity with care. Contracts, smarter intakes, and targeted upgrades help us save more animals without sacrificing standards. • nonprofit management replacing city operation • 95–96% live release with complex intakes • true capacity as staffing and tim...

We explore how the Center of Hope warming shelter keeps people safe, fed, and connected during winter nights while partnering across the city to build a path from crisis to stability. Stories of medical emergencies averted, and job-and-housing wins reveal the power of trust at night. • what the warming shelter offers overnight • collaboration with local agencies for wraparound care • founding stor...

We talk with Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas about serving 31 counties with rent help, food boxes, hygiene kits, and rural outreach that removes barriers and restores dignity. Partnerships, volunteers, and donors help the team expand space, respond to SNAP shifts, and make sure no one feels alone during the holidays. • Serving 31 counties across north central and northwest Kansas • Everyone...

Karla Johnson shares how bell ringing, tap-to-pay kettles, and local partnerships fund year-round aid for families, students, and veterans in Riley, Geary, and Pottawatomie counties. We explore clear ways to volunteer, where the money goes, and why simple systems unlock big impact. • Online auctions expanding into services • Texas Roadhouse appetizer cards are driving donations • Tap to pay kettle...

We spotlight KCCTO, a statewide Kansas initiative that delivers clock‑hour training, mental health support, and career pathways for early childhood professionals. Bronwyn Fees shares how a 65‑member team serves all 105 counties with online, virtual, and in‑person learning plus one‑to‑one career navigation. • KCCTO’s mission and land‑grant roots • Non‑credit clock‑hour training for licensing • Scal...

We follow a leader who connects counties, sectors, and people to turn local needs into regional action. From childcare capacity to urban renewal and Fort Riley immersion, the program shows how networks and context create durable change. • origins and scope of the regional leadership program  • associate counties and why the bylaws matter  • Fort Riley immersion and workforce context  • alumni impa...

We highlight how Manhattan Kiwanis turns pancakes, paint, and planning into visible community impact, from the Blue Mont Hill overlook to scholarships and a revived kids’ parade. Victor Steiner and Kent Foster share details on fundraising, accessibility, and inviting new members to carry the work forward. • 74-year pancake feed at Pottorf Hall, December 13, 7–1 • Funds maintenance for the hillside...

We sit down with new CEO Liz Holle to map how Big Lakes supports 175 adults with disabilities across four counties, where Medicaid ends, and community giving begins, and how smart tech expands independence without losing human touch. From vans to accessible bathrooms to a gingerbread-themed client party, we share how donors turn essentials into everyday dignity and joy. • New leadership continuity...

We talk with Flint Hills Breadbasket’s Carla Hegemeister about the Thanksgiving surge, the shockwaves from SNAP uncertainty, and how a bigger space and tight partnerships kept up with record demand. We share details on the community meal, holiday hours, and simple ways to help. • Thanksgiving as peak season for donations, volunteers, and holiday meal support • Holiday week schedule, turkey pickup...

We share how the Sunflower Children’s Collective supports kids facing trauma, instability, and court involvement across Riley, Geary, and Pottawatomie counties, and why healing requires steady relationships and time. With grant dollars shrinking, we introduce Champions of Hope, a two-week, captain-led fundraising push that turns creative micro-events into counseling and advocacy. • mission and rol...

We highlight two local efforts that support people through the toughest seasons: a no-barrier warming shelter that keeps neighbors safe overnight and a memorial tradition that helps families grieve together during the holidays. Practical needs are met with tender rituals, and both rely on volunteers and clear information. • Center of Hope’s nightly drop-in warming shelter hours and services • Volu...

We mark Veterans Day with a clear plan to support Fort Riley families and open the doors of Operation Santa Claus. Phil and Colin share how volunteers, donors, and soldiers create a seamless holiday experience built on dignity, choice, and community. • Veterans Day breakfast, parade, and ceremony details  • Armed Forces Community Foundation Match Day and giving options  • Fort Riley’s economic foo...

We trace the rebirth of a historic downtown theater into Wareham Hall, a flexible, high-tech home for performance, learning, and community. Blade Mages lays out the $40M plan, the acoustic and rigging innovations, and how donors and partners make the vision real. • renaming the opera house to a community hall • origins of the project and early ambitions • fundraising strategy and historic tax cred...

We bring Veterans Day into sharp focus by showing how local giving meets real military needs through the Armed Forces Community Foundation. Kevin West walks us through 31 partner groups, the dollar-for-dollar Veterans Day Match, and the simple ways to donate online or in person. • What the AFCF does and how it partners locally • Operation Santa Claus support for junior enlisted families • Central...

Dave and Vern share a tribute to C Clyde Jones, reflecting on his century of service, his love for Manhattan, Kansas, and the values he taught by example. From endowments to focus, his voice offers a clear path for nonprofits and young leaders who want to make change that lasts. • Quiet service over recognition • Endowment building as core community infrastructure • Practical advice for young prof...