Philanthropy Today

We celebrate Manhattan’s Veterans Day with the biggest parade in Kansas, a salute to the National Guard and Reserve, and a free, accessible ceremony that welcomes everyone in person and online. From breakfast at the American Legion to mall exhibits and mounted color guard, the day blends pageantry with purpose. • Parade details and route from mall to City Hall • Focus on honoring National Guard an...

We share how UFM opens doors for everyone to learn and teach, from health and wellness to AI, cooking, DIY, and veteran support. We highlight a leadership lecture that turns ideas into action and preview expansion into neighboring Kansas counties. • UFM’s mission as an open community learning hub • New health and wellness classes including Pilates and glucose stability • Practical AI with ChatGPT...

We sat down with Central Kansas Military Community Foundation director Ruth Dupree to unpack how a 2004 grassroots effort grew into a fast, reliable safety net. Ruth shares moving stories, a temporary fence so an autistic child can play safely, emergency help for a new arrival who received no pay due to a system error, and support for parents making repeated medical trips when the Ronald McDonald...

 We celebrate 20 years of Manhattan Free Clinic. Rick Hernandez joins us to reflect on milestones and momentum: a second clinic site inside the Flint Hills Community Accelerator, targeted grants that equipped modern exam rooms, and interactive patient education that sends videos and guides straight to your inbox. We talk about what it means to care for neighbors in a system defined by high deducti...

We share how Wonder Workshop is growing after a whirlwind summer, honoring Richard Pitts’ legacy while launching new programs, exhibits, and a reimagined Soul Food Dinner. We talk candidly about needs—supplies, volunteers, and funding—and how small actions keep the doors open. • Remembering Richard Pitts and the roots of Wonder Workshop • The giant blue chair as a beacon for new visitors • Weekly...

We share how our 360 Life Center model turns a former store into a hub for emergency aid, street outreach, free clothing, meals, and community gatherings. We ask listeners to help us hit a modest auction goal that keeps rent, utilities, food, and medication assistance local. • what a 360 life center is and why it differs from big-city salvation armies • renovations that enable meals, more freezer...

We talk with Leslie White, director of the Flint Hills Discovery Center Foundation, about how Bison, Beef & Bourbon funds exhibits, programs, and a new outdoor classroom to serve learners year-round. We clarify the roles of foundations vs. cities, share event details, and explain how to bid or donate even if you can’t attend. • Difference between the Discovery Center and the 501(c)(3) foundati...

We share what the Crisis Center does each day to keep survivors safe—from 24/7 advocacy to a confidential shelter now delivering roughly 9,300 bed nights a year—and why outreach, staffing, and community support are crucial. We also unveil the Clothesline Project at Manhattan Town Center and invite help for the holidays through gifts, volunteers, and essentials. • what our safe shelter and advocacy...

We spotlight two extraordinary local philanthropic organizations - Fairy Godmothers and Guardians - that provide critical support to Manhattan residents in need through emergency grants and educational funding. • Fairy Godmothers, founded in 2006 as "Women Helping Women," has grown to 700 members and distributes over $60,000 annually • Members contribute $100 for a lifetime membership wi...

Rich Jankovich, president of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Fort Riley-Central Kansas Chapter, discusses the organization's mission and Fort Riley's significant economic impact on the Manhattan area. Despite being less visible than Kansas State University, Fort Riley contributes approximately $4 billion annually to the local economy, representing about 47% of the region...

Mike Rezkalla, CEO of Pawnee Mental Health, shares how the organization serves 185,000 people across 10 Kansas counties with integrated mental health services. September marks both National Suicide Prevention Month and Recovery Awareness Month, highlighting the critical work being done to address the 49,000 annual lives lost to suicide - one every 11 minutes. • Pawnee offers comprehensive services...

Scott Voos of Be Able shares how his organization provides support, resources, and community to Manhattan residents facing personal challenges. Neighbor Kia courageously tells her powerful journey from addiction to recovery, crediting Be Able with providing the consistent support that changed her life. • Be Able is celebrating five years of serving the Manhattan community • The Upside Down Auction...

Fort Riley's annual Apple Days Festival returns October 18th at the artillery parade field, featuring 800 apple pies made from Libby Custer's historic recipe. Two newly crowned Pie Queens, Christy and Kelly, will oversee pie production and represent the festival in period-appropriate dresses and royal regalia. • Apple Days combines military displays with homemade pie and ice cream for th...

Brady Armstrong, Chief Development Officer of the Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan, discusses how federal funding challenges have impacted their services and the innovative ways they're responding to ensure no child is turned away. • Over 600 kids walk through their doors daily across 13 locations • Recent funding freeze forced them to cut enrollment by half, creating waitlists and impacting...

Lori Bishop from the Flint Hills Volunteer Center and board member Ronnie Grice are discussing their upcoming 9/11 Family Event and Picnic on September 7th at Pottorf Hall. • Annual event honors the memory of 9/11 through community service projects • 400 pairs of athletic shoes will be distributed to children in grades K-5 • First responders will personally fit children with their new shoes • Emer...

Big Brothers Big Sisters prepares for their fifth annual Manhattan fundraiser, a 1950s-themed cocktail party on September 20th at the K-State Alumni Center to support their youth mentorship programs. • One-to-one mentoring connects caring adults with youth facing adversity to build long-lasting friendships • This year's event transforms from a bourbon tasting to a Mad Men-inspired 1950s cockt...

Meadowlark's Parkinson's Program provides free education, exercise, and support services to anyone affected by Parkinson's disease throughout the Flint Hills region. The program helps combat the depression, anxiety, and apathy often associated with Parkinson's while providing crucial exercise opportunities that are proven to slow disease progression. • Boxing therapy shows imme...

Sunflower Children's Collective operates as an umbrella organization encompassing three vital agencies serving vulnerable children: Sunflower CASA, Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center, and Sunflower Bridge Child Exchange and Visitation Center. CASA volunteers serve as court-appointed advocates for abused and neglected children, walking alongside them through their court cases to ensure thei...

Candice McIntosh and Melissa Colby share their mission at Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills, bringing joy and confidence to girls in third through eighth grade across a ten-county region. The program combines physical activity with lessons on confidence, friendship, and community engagement. • New "Hello Bold Heart" curriculum focuses on helping girls find and use their voices • Progra...

Kent Michael Smith, director of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, introduces the inaugural Kansas Triennial, a new exhibition showcasing contemporary artists living and working in Kansas that will occur every three years. • Beach Museum is the only major museum with a focus specifically on Kansas art and the region • The Triennial emerged from Smith's desire to highlight this focus an...

Christine Benne discusses the new Gold Star Family monument being established at Victory Park on Fort Riley, honoring the 13,578 members of the First Infantry Division who made the ultimate sacrifice across multiple conflicts. This monument provides Gold Star families, those who have lost a loved one in military service, a place for reflection and remembrance. • Gold Star Family Fund initially cre...

The Rural Riley County Community Foundation unites three small towns—Keats, Leonardville, and Riley, creating meaningful community impact through local philanthropy and robust fundraising initiatives. • Foundation manages 26 funds, with 23 participating in their upcoming Match Day • Raised over $97,000 in their first Match Day with $23,000 in matching funds • Community Food Basket program addresse...

Sheila Ellis-Glasper of Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills shares how her organization has distributed over $114,000 in grants to business owners of color and launched a groundbreaking loan fund with a 4% interest rate. She unveils plans for the Yuma Street Cultural Center, the first Kansas initiative combining African-American heritage, entrepreneurship support, and cultural preservation whil...

Amy Payton shares the mission of Packages for Warriors, a nonprofit offering free shipping of medium flat-rate care packages to deployed service members through their partnership with Box and Ship in Junction City. Started as a grassroots effort after 9/11 and eventually becoming a nonprofit in 2006, the organization helps civilians support military personnel with comfort items from home. • Servic...

Richard Stitt shares his journey from psychiatric patient to co-founder of Morningstar, an organization that has provided invaluable support to individuals with persistent mental illness for 21 years. After finding stability with proper medication and achieving sobriety, Richard transformed his struggles into a mission that has helped countless people find purpose and community. •  Morningstar sta...