Providing help and hope to the working poor

During the holiday season, one of the best ways to help people in need is through the Share the Season program. An 18-year program, Share the Season is a joint effort of The Salvation Army, The Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Community Foundation.

Thank you to all who donated to the program in 2016. Together, we raised $243,650 for 117 Wichita families. A few quick facts about Share the Season (STS):

• STS is a special program providing help and hope to the working poor during the holiday season
• Families who do not qualify for other indigent programs apply for assistance and are screened carefully by the Salvation Army personnel to verify needs
• Each family can receive one-time assistance for needs such as utilities, paying medical bills, etc.
• Payments are made directly to vendors, such as the bank or utility company
• Best way possible to get charitable donations directly to those in need
• The Wichita Eagle donates ad space and runs daily stories on families in need
• The Wichita Community Foundation handles all donations and issues receipts to all who contribute
• STS works in the best possible way, reaching those in need and encouraging our community to be charitable
• Program began in 2000, raising $72,069.59 and helping 100 families the first year
• 3,300 families have been helped with $3.1 million in donated funds since inception

Raising awareness, building philanthropy, saying thanks

To celebrate three decades of philanthropic work in Wichita, WCF granted to three focus areas in 2016.

#ThrowbackThirty Grant Competition

This competitive grant process awards organizations $1,500 for great ideas that further the impact of the four challenges identified through WCF's strategic initiative, Focus Forward. Round 1: Perception grants recipients were Douglas Design District and the Wichita Art Museum. Round 2: Human Capital grant recipients were ICT S.O.S. and Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas. Round 3: Entrepreneurial grant recipients were CREATE Campaign, e2e Accelerator, Inc. and Junior Achievement of Kansas. Round 4: Business Cycle grant recipients were Ennovar and MakeICT. Details about each of the projects are available on our News page.

Gift to the Community

In partnership with Dillons and KAKE, WCF paid the $1 entrance fee for the Sedgwick County Zoo's Back to School Bash in August 2016. More than 12,400 people attended the event.

Next Generation of Philanthropy

WCF worked with USD 259 high school leadership courses to discuss charitable giving. Students formed groups and applied for $1,000 and $500 grants from WCF to address needs in their schools. Seven high schools received a share of the $16,000 awarded.