HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community Foundation announced the 2016 Fund for Hutchinson grant awards on Thursday, November 17 at the Cosmosphere. Established in 1990 by the founding Board of Directors as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County, more than $3.1 million has been awarded to more than 150 area organizations and agencies from this fund.
This year, 29 organizations providing a wide variety of services and programs in Reno County are collectively receiving more than $207,000. Additionally this year, Fund for Hutchinson Community Leadership grants totaling more than $45,000 were celebrated. 

Grant recipient organizations are:
Arts & Culture
Family Community Theatre, $1,200
FCT Rewired: Upgrade the electrical system for lights and sound at the Flag Theatre to improve
quality and safety.
Hutchinson Symphony Association, $2,500
Young People’s’ Concert at the Fox: Help students to experience the excitement of a full
orchestra performance and learn about the historical contexts of the works to enhance their
listening experience while also learning about concert etiquette.
Hutchinson Theatre Guild DBA Stage 9, $10,000 x 3 years
Producing the Producer: First year of a three-year grant to support capacity building toward a
new strategic vision at Stage 9 that will strengthen and sustain the performing arts in Reno
County.
TECH, Inc., $967
End the Echo for Endless Inspiration: Install acoustical panels to absorb sound and help all art interested clients enjoy the TECH art studio without sensory overload.
Civic Improvement
City of Arlington, $3,320
Providing Access to the Community Center: Install an entry system to the Community Center to
provide better access for the community for rentals, events, and the Wellness Center.
City of Hutchinson, $1,500
Housing Education Pilot Seminars: Inform residents of the City’s feature and historic
neighborhoods about home maintenance and home ownership through educational seminars.
Hutch Rec, $18,000
Quality of Life in Reno County: Final year of a three-year grant to support the sustainability of
community and neighborhood development efforts to create an attractive place to live, work,
and play by developing a more vibrant, active community.
Interfaith Housing Services, Inc., $7,500
Executive Transition: Support toward the search for a new Executive Director and a successful
transition of leadership.
Interfaith Housing Services, Inc., $15,000 x 3 years
Projects Coordinator: First year of a three-year grant to support a central Projects Coordinator
position that coordinates community efforts in addressing Hutchinson’s housing needs, including
critical repair and rehabilitation, by connecting organizations, programs, volunteers, and funding.
Health & Human Services
Circles of Hope Reno County, $6,700
Capacity Building for Circles of Hope: Increase the capacity of Circles of Hope staff and
volunteers to provide Bridges Out of Poverty training to businesses, educational entities, and
others interested in reducing poverty in our community.
Hutchinson Meals on Wheels, $1,627
One Call Now: Implement One Call Now, an electronic alert system that notifies clients of
emergencies or changes in service.
Prairie Independent Living Resource Center (PILR), $7,500
Social Enterprise PILR: Develop a business plan to increase self-sufficiency by bringing in
unrestricted funds to cover operating and advocacy costs.
Reno County Health Department, $5,000
Water Wise 4 Reno: Educating and engaging Rural Reno County residents to ensure a safe
water supply for children and young families by offering water testing, treatment, and well repair
to clients in the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) and Maternal & Child Health (MCH)
programs.
RSVP / The Volunteer Center, $7,224
Computer Upgrade for VITA: Update outdated laptop computers used in the Volunteer Income
Tax Assistance (VITA) program to increase speed and efficiency in the preparation of tax
Returns. Early Childhood & Youth Development
Abundant Life Child Care & Preschool, $15,000
2020 Vision: Update indoor and outdoor facilities to insure a high-quality environment for the
approximately 85 children who are cared for in the center on a daily basis as an extension of
The Father’s House church.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, Inc., $6,480
Hawkin’ It Up After Hours: Provide at-risk 7th grade students at Hutchinson Middle School with
on-site after-school homework help, transportation to after-school sport events, and
opportunities to attend Boys & Girls Club teen night activities, ensuring that students have the
support and relationships they need to be successful.
Central Christian School, $4,000
Reading and Succeeding: Improve reading skills, particularly for those with dyslexia, via
technology tools so that every child in Reno County has the chance for Reading and
Succeeding.
Communities in Schools of Mid-America, $10,000 x 3 years
Never Give Up: Helping Students Succeed & Achieve: First year of a three-year grant to help
students at Hutchinson High School succeed in school and achieve in life by removing barriers
and connecting students and their families with community resources.
Cosmosphere, $15,000
Applied STEM Education: Final year of a three-year grant to increase the Cosmosphere
capacity to develop, deliver, and pursue external funding for applied STEM educational
programming.
Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, $2,000
Girl Scout Community Based Programs: Curriculum and financial assistance for underserved
girls in grades K-5 at Avenue A Elementary and the Magnet School at Allen to participate Girl Scout Clubs and get the Girl Scout Leadership Experience at no cost.
Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas, $2,000
Empowering Girls from Start to Finish: Financial assistance for underserved 3
rd-8th grade girls at South Hutchinson Elementary to participate in Girls on the Run, a 10-week program that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident by using a fun, evidence-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
Hutchinson Public Schools, $5,000 x 3 years
Making the IB More Accessible and Successful: First year of a three-year grant to support
teacher training and exam scholarships for the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes
(Diploma and Career-related) at Hutchinson High School, providing rigorous college-preparatory
courses to make students more college and career ready upon graduation. Matched 1:1 by the
Davis Foundation.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, $15,000
Early Learning Center: Start-up operational funds to help Our Redeemer Early Learning Center
meet the critical need for quality, affordable daycare in Hutchinson starting in June 2017,
creating a future impact on children and their families by ministering to their specific needs and
in turn creating healthy children, healthy families, and a healthy community.
Reno County Communities That Care, $5,000
MY PALS (Mentoring Youth Partnerships at Lincoln School): Provide high-quality school-based
mentoring programs and highly-qualified mentors for students at Lincoln Elementary to foster a
stronger connection between students to their school and community.
Helen Adams Hamilton Children and Education Fund – $25,220
To foster the growth, education, and development of young people who are eighteen years of
age and younger, with a preference for funding activities that result in an early intervention in an
at-risk child’s life.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno County, $2,700
Recruit Hutch: Marketing materials to raise awareness of the needs of Reno County youth and
recruit adult volunteers to serve as Bigs in our community.
Kansas Children’s Service League, $10,000
Healthy Families Reno County: Meet the needs of Reno County’s Hispanic population through a
part-time bilingual home visitor position to provide primary child abuse and neglect prevention
services. Matched 1:1 by Medicaid.
Reno County Health Department, $9,520
Rural Reno County Kid Care Project: Help potential childcare providers in rural Reno County
overcome barriers of becoming a licensed childcare provider and equip young families living in
the county with quality, affordable childcare close to home.
Union Valley Elementary School, $3,000
Pre-K Shining Stars: Serving our Smallest Treasures: Equipment to enhance the Pre-K
experience for students at Union Valley, a Title 1 building with the highest poverty percentage in
the Buhler USD 313 district.

Kansas Health Foundation Public Health Endowment Fund – $14,300
Supporting health and wellbeing through healthy lifestyles, behaviors, and environments.
Buhler Wellness Center, $8,000
Strengthening the Buhler Community: Purchase fitness equipment to help the Buhler community
reap the benefits of wellness at the new Buhler Wellness Center facility opening in early 2017.
Dillon Nature Center, $6,300
Foodie Trail: Educate the community and encourage healthier eating habits by introducing fresh
foods produced by local farmers at an interactive event at Dillon Nature Center in August 2017.
Fund for Hutchinson – Community Leadership – $45,200
Strategic grants supporting Hutchinson Community Foundation’s leadership priorities, timely
community needs, or catalytic opportunities to strengthen our communities through collaboration
and innovative leadership.
Interfaith Housing Services, Inc., $2,500
Executive Transition: Support toward the search for a new Executive Director and a successful
transition of leadership.
Hutchinson Public Library, $2,700
Pilot Teen Program: Offer a free teen program at the Hutchinson Public Library in summer 2016
to provide opportunities for creativity and community building in a safe, clean environment.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, $40,000
Early Learning Center: Support the construction of the Our Redeemer Early Learning Center to
provide high-quality, affordable childcare in Hutchinson for up to 81 children ages six weeks to