for Immediate Release
Contact: James Moore, (316) 264-4880

Spring 2005 Unrestricted Grants

The Wichita Community Foundation has given out over $27 million in grants to area nonprofits since its’ founding in 1986. Grant sources include grants from donor advised funds, designated funds, grants for special initiatives such as the Aids Fund and the Neighborhood Initiative, as well as the twice yearly grant round from WCF unrestricted funds. During this same time period, the Foundation’s assets grew to $44 million.

Thirteen local nonprofit agencies received a total of nearly $125,000 in the Foundation’s latest grant round. Grants address issues affecting the environment, education, arts and culture, children’s health, recreation and social services. (List of agencies attached.)

The deadline for applications for the fall grant round is August 15th. For more information on grant guidelines and to download an application form, agencies can go to the Foundation’s website www.wichitacf.org.

• Arkansas River Coalition: $4,812.40 for an outreach program to build membership and recruit volunteers. Methods will include brochures, newspaper ads and a comprehensive display about the river at Exploration Place.
• Arts Partners, Inc.: $10,000 for defining its existing programs and retraining its artists and teachers with the goal of offering meaningful and appropriate learning opportunities in the arts to an increasingly diverse population in the public school system.
• Boys & Girls Club: $10,000 for underwriting of scholarships, equipment and performance needs of the Samba dance and music troupe led by J.C. Combs.
• Chamber Music at the Barn: $10,000 to help 50 low income students attend CMB Rocks!, a day camp for high school students interested in chamber music.
• Dress for Success Wichita: $9,750 for support of Tailored Transitions, providing workplace attire for abused women re-entering the workforce.
• Flint Hills Therapeutic Riding Center: $10,000 to underwrite the cost of ongoing therapy session and to launch a comprehensive marketing initiative.
• GraceMed Health Clinic, Inc.: $10,000 for a comprehensive dental project at Lincoln Elementary, including needed treatment for 309 students, and an educational component for parents, leading them to enroll their children in Healthwave.
• Sunrise Charitable Fund, Inc.: $10,000 in challenge grant funds in support of a “boundless playground” where disabled children can play freely.
• Three Trees, Inc.: $9,690 to develop and print materials to serve families dealing with terminal illness, grief due to suicide and sudden loss of a loved one.
• Wichita Symphony Society, Inc.: $10,000 to help underwrite the orchestra’s annual free family holiday concert on Dec. 13, 2005 at Century II.
• WSU Foundation: $10,000 to the Ablah Library at WSU to digitize early township maps of Sedgwick County and make them available free of charge through an online catalog.
• Youth Education Empowerment: $10,000 for a financial literacy course taught at North High, Metro Midtown and Metro Meridian designed to teach young people how to manage money.

Wichita Community Foundation
301 N. Main, Suite 100
Wichita, Kansas 67202

Phone: (316) 264-4880
Fax: (316) 264-7592

e-mail: wcf@wichitacf.org