HCF awards $16,900 in service grants to 11 groups

Hillsboro Community Foundation board members presented grant checks totaling a record $16,900 Feb. 20 to 11 area organizations and programs serving Marion County children and families.

The presentation occurred during halftime of the Hillsboro High School boys basketball game with Hesston.

Of the total, $13,400 came through the Hillsboro Area Impact Fund and was distributed among eight recipient groups; $3,500 came through the Kansas Health Foundation Fund and was awarded to three groups.

Through the eight years HCF has provided grants, $96,200 has been distributed. This was the third year grants were awarded through KHF, which was established about five years ago.

Following are the recipients of this years grants, with an explanation on how the money will be used.

Impact Fund

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Marion County: $1,500. “Bigs in Schools” is a program matching children kindergarten through eighth grade who face adversity in their daily lives with carefully screened volunteer mentors. They meet weekly.
  • Circles of Marion County: $2,000. An initiative to eradicate poverty by building relationships across class lines, Circles defines persons caught in poverty as leaders, and trains them to lead their families out of poverty.
  • Families and Communities Together (FACT): $2,000. The Hillsboro Area Family Financial Assistance Fund serves families that reside in the USD 410 district. Payments will be provided for utilities, rent, medical services or other critical services.
  • Chess Guild, kindergarten through 12th grade: $500. The Chess Guild provides students with chess lessons from a chess master, and encourages students to grow in their chess skills. The grant will provide the means for students to compete in area tournaments.
  • Hillsboro FFA: $900. The grant will help to fund FFA blue jackets for members. This will allow students access to jackets to wear at chapter banquets, leadership activities, career development events, state and national conventions.
  • Main Street Ministries, Inc.: $2,500. The funds will go toward the food bank that serves people less fortunate in the community and surrounding area. Food is provided by donations and purchased at our local grocery store. Records are kept on the families who receive food and recipients are allowed to receive food once every four weeks.
  • Parkside Homes, Inc.: $2,500. The grant will fund implementation of an interactive, adaptive computer system that provides person-centered experiences and enhances quality of life utilizing an “It’s Never 2 Late” computer. Residents will use technology that increases social activities, improves staff interaction, stimulates memory recall, and shares information with caregivers. iN2L is designed to inject joy, fun, adventure, challenge and learning into activities and therapy.
  • Tabor College, Signature Campaign for The Arts Center: $1,500. The funds for the Shari Flaming Center for the Arts will meet the needs of the college and community as a place of learning, a worship center and enhance the liberal arts education for students.

KHF Fund

  • USD 410 After School Program: $1,000. This program is available for first through sixth grade. It provides healthy, enriching and emotionally developing activities for at-risk students who may be without adult supervision.
  • City of Hillsboro Recreation Commission: $500. Funds will be used to upgrade summer volleyball camp by purchasing volleyballs that are 25 percent lighter. This will make it easier for beginning volleyball campers.
  • Hillsboro Senior Center: $2,000. The funds will be used to replace the heating and air conditioner for the main part of building. The Senior Center serves meals five days a week, averaging 1,823 meals a month.

Don Ratzlaff / Reprinted from the Hillsboro Free Press