After several years of study, the Hillsboro Community Childcare Center (H4C) Board was officially formed in May, 2021 to address the urgent need for expanded child and infant care in Marion County.  Not long afterward, Trinity Church graciously gifted their church building to H4C to house the child care center.

Working with the H4C board, the Hillsboro Community Foundation undertook a campaign to raise local private donations to renovate the church building into the child care center.  More than $470,000 was donated through HCF, leading to matching donations and state grants for the balance of the total estimated costs.

The expansion of child care in Marion County has many benefits which provide support for working families, and will help create stronger and more economically sustainable communities.

Scholarships are more than just financial aid; they represent hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for students and our community.  The Hillsboro Community Foundation offers donors a way to support our school system and help students achieve their dreams. 

An endowed scholarship fund allows donors to establish, or contribute to, an investment managed by HCF and the Central Kansas Community Foundation.  Annual scholarships are then awarded out of the investment earnings.

As we celebrate our 20^th anniversary, HCF has been raising funds during the month of September to increase the endowed balances for scholarships with the help of a matching grant from the Patterson Family Foundation.  The match deadline is September 30^th and donations may still be made.  See our website for more information.

Robert Sextro, former Hillsboro High School math teacher of 28 years, established two scholarship funds with the Hillsboro Community Foundation before he passed away in 2016.  These are the C.M. Sextro Memorial Math Scholarship Fund and the Hillsboro High School Citizenship Award Fund.

Since 2013, a total of $18,125 in math scholarships and $4,400 in citizenship awards have been issued from these scholarship funds to graduating seniors of Hillsboro High School.

During September, donations to the funds will be matched as part of HCF’s Dollars For Scholars campaign, doubling the size of each donation.  This is a great opportunity to grow the funds and increase the size of scholarships.  More information is available at the HCF website.

The Demarius Lives Scholarship Fund was established in 2020 to honor the life and memory of Demarius Amari Cox, a beloved member of the Hillsboro community and student at Hillsboro High School.  A young man of deep character and faith, his life continues to have an impact the community and HHS students.

Three scholarships per year have been awarded from the fund since 2021 to Hillsboro High School graduates based on character, with preference given to applicants pursuing higher education in either communication or journalism.

During September, donations to the fund will be matched as part of HCF’s Dollars For Scholars campaign, doubling the size of each donation.  This is a great opportunity to grow the fund and increase the size of scholarships.  More information is available at the HCF website.

by Laura Fowler Paulus/Free Press

Hillsboro Community Foundation (HCF) is holding a match event Sept. 1-30 called Dollars 4 Scholars in partnership with the Patterson Family Foundation.

HCF, formed in 2004, serves to promote and facilitate charitable giving in support of projects and programs that enhance the quality of life in the City of Hillsboro and nearby surrounding areas.

They achieve this goal through close and coordinated ties with local city governments, the USD410 school district and area charitable organizations.

The foundation has four objectives which are to advise and assist donors who could benefit by using HCF to achieve their charitable objectives; to receive grants or bequests for the benefit of both specific and broad community charitable interests; to make grants from unrestricted community endowment funds to benefit worthy Hillsboro-area charitable, benevolent, cultural, religious, civic, health, scientific and educational purposes; and to encourage and assist qualified not-for-profit organizations in establishing their own endowments and restricted funds as part of HCF.

HCF is an affiliate of the Central Kansas Community Foundation which operates as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.

The HCF board consists of Chair Marisa Javier, Vice-Chair Daniel Moss, Secretary/Treasurer Kelly Groening, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham, Michael Hagen, Chad Hughbanks, Ashley Kleiber, Jessie Nikkel, Eric Rector, Mark Rooker and Nicole Suderman.

For the Dollars 4 Scholars event, donors have the chance to double their impact on the future generation by donating to any of the 11 Scholarship Funds HCF currently administers, several of which award scholarships for academic excellence, leadership, and a commitment to community service. Other funds award scholarships for students with an interest in math, journalism, business, vocational or technical service careers.

“We are asking for donations to HCF scholarship funds so we may increase the number and size of scholarships awarded each year to graduating high school seniors,” said Groening.

Donations received during the month of September will be matched by a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation, doubling the impact of each donation.

The goal of the Match Event is to raise $70,000 in scholarship donations, which will be matched by the grant. The 11 scholarship funds will each receive a $5,000 match from the grant with the remaining $15,000 match applied to the HCF operating fund.

HCF is holding the event because college and vocational school tuition costs continue to rise. HCF donors have committed to area high school seniors to assist them in furthering their education by establishing HCF Scholarship Funds over the years.

“In the spring of 2024, HCF awarded 14 scholarships for a total of $16,200. A successful match event will increase the total to around $22,000 per year, and more if the $70,000 target is exceeded,” said Groening.

Donations may either be made online through the HCF website or by check.

You may specify a fund to which you would like to donate or to the scholarship campaign in general.

Scan the QR code on the promotional handout in circulation or go to the HCF website and press the Learn More button on the banner across the top of the screen.

Each fund is listed on the Match Event page at https://hcfoundationks.org/match/ with a Donate button that will take you to a secure online payment processing page.

To pay by check, make your check payable to Hillsboro Community Foundation and indicate the fund to which you would like to donate.

Checks may be mailed to HCF’s post office box (Box 273), dropped off at HCF’s table at the Sept. 14 Cruise Night event in Hillsboro or delivered to any HCF board member.

More information about HCF is available at https://hcfoundationks.org or call 620-947-0170.

The Hillsboro Trojan Family Memorial Scholarship fund was established in 2020 to provide a way for HHS alumni to give something back to their school. Donations may be made either in honor or in memory of a classmate, faculty, or staff member of USD 410, or in recognition of their class year.

The fund balance recently reached a level sufficient to begin awarding a scholarship in 2025.  With additional donations, we will be able to increase the number and size of annual scholarships in the coming years.

During September, donations to the fund will be matched as part of HCF’s Dollars For Scholars campaign, doubling the size of each donation.  This is a great opportunity for alumni to help grow the fund today.  More information is available at the HCF website.

Senior care is a cornerstone of a compassionate and thriving community.  Parkside Homes and Salem Home both provide the Hillsboro area community with comprehensive and respectful care for our elders.  Services range from independent living to assisted living to long-term healthcare and skilled nursing to rehabilitation services.

The Hillsboro Community Foundation has supported Parkside and Salem with grants totaling more than $21,000 throughout the years for various programs, equipment and general health-related needs.  In addition, both Parkside and Salem have established funds with the Hillsboro Community Foundation to which donors may make contributions.

It’s Back to School time once again!  The start of the new school year brings with it numerous programs and activities to help students learn and develop.  Through its annual grant cycle, the Hillsboro Community Foundation has issued more than $38,000 worth of grants to USD 410 for a variety of educational and student well-being purposes.

Grants have included funds for vocal music equipment, independent learning and literacy support subscriptions, hearing test equipment, health education field trips, on-site athletic medical services, technology design software, gym projector and screen, and the Chess Guild, among other requests.

These grants are in addition to support for other USD 410 programs mentioned in previous editions including the After-School program, Children’s Dental program, and the Parents as Teachers program.

Marion County Core Community works with families and communities to resolve poverty and allow people to flourish and succeed.  The organization creates an environment that educates and equips members to establish economic stability and move up and out of poverty successfully.  It gives them a “hand up” and not a “hand out,” which leads to lasting change.

Since 2013, the Hillsboro Community Foundation has issued grants through the Impact and Kansas Health Foundation funds totaling $15,300 in support of the poverty program and related Youth Core Ministries program.  As one of many local organizations that support and partner with Marion County Core Community, HCF is grateful to be able to assist them in their efforts.

One way to beat the summer heat is to enjoy the refreshing waters at the Hillsboro Community Plaza splash pad.  The Larry Paine Memorial Splash Pad was completed in 2023 as the first phase of the community plaza project.  As Mayor Lou Thurston noted, this was a public/private collaboration between the City of Hillsboro and local donors, “which is how you get things done in small communities with limited resources.”

The Hillsboro Community Foundation opened the Splash Pad project fund in 2017 to provide donors with a tax-deductible way to support the construction of the pad.  Through donor contributions, HCF grants, and accumulated investment earnings, HCF was able to provide over $175,000 in funding for the project.