HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County organizations from as far away as Plevna and Pretty Prairie joined 14 others this year to receive a total of $26,155 at Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Make It Greater Grant ceremony Thursday night at the Avenue A Park gazebo.
Make It Greater Grants are small funds open to Reno County residents and organizations who have ideas for bringing community members together on projects that spark community spirit and pride, build social capital, and create opportunities for positive changes that make the county a healthier, happier place to live.
This year’s 16 awards ranged from $395 to $2,500. The money for these grants came from the Fund for Hutchinson: the foundation’s unrestricted fund for the ever-changing needs of Reno County. The foundation’s donor-advised fundholders partnered in making these grants possible through the Giving Together program, which informs donors of community needs and giving opportunities.
The following are this year’s recipients:
Central Christian School: $400 for the Central Christian School Serve-A-Thon Day: Cougars Who Care project to complete the Family Room Makeover for the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center.
City of Arlington: $2,500 for the Power to the Playground project to expand the community center playground and install electricity in the existing shelter house.
City of Plevna: $2,500 for the Floyd Redd Community Center Roof Replacement project.
Family Community Theatre: $395 for the Workshop for Junior Directors project, a one-day course for teens on the basics of leading a stage production.
Hadley Day Care Center: $2,500 for the Safe Sleeping project to purchase cribs and replace the changing table in the infant classroom.
Hutchinson Community College Chess Club: $800 for the “What’s Your Best Move?” Reno County Chess Tournament project, a competition for Reno County elementary, middle and high school students that helps them realize the connection between life skills and chess skills.
Hutchinson Police Department: $1,250 for the Homeward Bound project, a partnership with Prairie Independent Living Resource Center Inc. aimed at helping those who need shelter find housing.
Interfaith Housing & Community Services: $2,500 for A Mission at Home project aimed at bringing together local churches and civic organizations to direct their volunteer hours to projects in the community.
Lincoln PTO: $1,000 for Project Recess to supply students and teachers with needed indoor and outdoor recess equipment.
Prairie Independent Living Resource Center Inc.: $1,250 for the Heading Home project, a partnership with the Hutchinson Police Department aimed at helping those who need shelter find housing, employment, and other services.
Raising the Flag Steering Committee: $2,500 for the Raising the Flag project for the design and implementation of a new Hutchinson flag.
Reno County Communities That Care: $500 to help with suicide prevention awareness and education.
Reno County Health Department: $2,500 for the installation of interior murals to create a more inviting and comfortable climate for clients.
Reno County Museum: $1,460 for the Oral History Digitization project to digitize and transcribe previously recorded oral histories contained on obsolete and decaying media.
Ubuntu, Inc.: $1,600 for the Adventure, Exploration & Education Room project, a hands-on history-learning experience inside Pretty Prairie’s Graber Mercantile & Event Emporium.
Wholesome Meadows Aquaponics Learning Center: $2,500 to provide students in area schools the chance to learn about aquaponics food production while also experiencing entrepreneurship and community philanthropy.
The Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, collaboration and innovative leadership to strengthen communities. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $70 million to organizations.