We were not able to celebrate the Emporia Community Foundation’s 25th anniversary last year OR the 25+1 celebration this year, SO we took our celebration to the folks that keep us going! Loretto Langley gave the first $5,000 gift to start the ECF back in 1995. 26 years later we are now nearing $39 million. The week of June 14th we gave away $5,000 (what we budgeted for our anniversary celebration) to some awesome organizations that have a fund with us and are doing tremendous things for the communities we serve!! Visit the Emporia Community FoundationFacebook page to see all of the great projects we recognized for their hard work and dedication to their communities!
The 10 funds recognized and receiving $500 included:
1. Chase County Children’s Fund
The ECF Celebrates first surprise grant for $500 was awarded to the Chase County Children’s Fund. This fund provides support for early childhood programs in Chase County. This ECF fund was started in 2016 to allow the community to donate for young families who couldn’t afford the tuition for pre-school in the Chase County school district. Scholarships are awarded on a needs basis and they also assist with pre-school needs like new equipment for the playground. Lisa Lauer, a Chase County Elementary School teacher, represented the Chase Children’s Fund and was grateful for the surprise ECF Celebrates grant.
From left to right: Brock Pena, CCES Principal; Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; Kay Lauer, ECF President; and Lisa Lauer, CCES Elementary Teacher.
2. Olpe Veteran's Memorial Fund
With June 14th being Flag Day the ECF thought it was fitting to present the second ECF Celebrates surprise grant of $500 to the Olpe Veterans Memorial. The Olpe Veterans Memorial Fund was started in 2017 and representatives worked hard to collect donations and grants to complete the memorial. The purpose of the memorial is to honor veterans from all branches of service and will be completed this summer and flags are flown year-round. According to Steve Kuhlman, representative for the Olpe Veterans Memorial Fund, the cost to replace the flags at the memorial is $500 every six months. Hopefully the surprise grant will help to defray the costs in the next year.
From left to right: Steve Kuhlmann, Olpe Veterans; Becky Jeppesen Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; Kay Lauer, ECF President; and Gary Murphy, Olpe Veterans.
3. Hetlinger Developmental Services
The Hetlinger Developmental Services started their endowed ECF Fund in 2006 looking forward to their future. They have provided a safe and secure environment to many in the greater Emporia area for years and recently started work on the Planting Hope Initiative – a greenhouse project that will offer new experiences and skills for those they serve. It was an honor to present the ECF Celebrates surprise grant of $500 to Executive Director, Trudy Hutchinson, to be used as needed.
From left to right: Trudy Hutchinson, Hetlinger Executive Director; Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; Kay Lauer, ECF President; and Ken Buchele, ECF Board Member.
4. East 9th Avenue Park Fund
In 2004, an Eastside Emporia group started the ECF East 9th Avenue Park Fund with dreams to improve their park for young and old in their community. After numerous fish frys, fund raisers and donations, the East 9th Avenue Park provides green space and activities for community members and will get a basketball court this summer that has long been a goal of their group. Representative Al Slappy accepted the surprise ECF Celebrates grant of $500 saying the money will be put to good use. And the fish frys will continue even though they now have their basketball court, as it’s a great way to keep their community together.
From left to right: Al Slappy, Emporia Eastside Community Group; Don Carter; Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; Willie Finch, Emporia Eastside Community Group; Andre Cox, Emporia Eastside Community Group; Kay Lauer, ECF Board President; JoAnn Morris.
This photo was taken where the basketball court will be located.
5. Emporia Arts Council Fund
The Emporia Arts Council started their first endowed ECF fund in 2009 with a second endowed fund in 2010. When the pandemic restricted their activities, they were grateful for the funds and the income provided. Executive Director Dawn Young, is busy promoting classes and performances for this year, but was excited to accept the ECF Celebrates surprise grant of $500. This grant will be used for projects and programs that so many missed in the past year.
From left to right: Ken Buchele, ECF Board Member; Dawn Young, Emporia Arts Council Executive Director; Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; and Loni Heinen, ECF Financial Officer.
6. Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance
A group of Emporians recognized the need for financial security for the theatre they were rebuilding to survive, so in 2003 they set up the ECF Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance Fund. The Theatre has served the community well, but like so many in the entertainment industry, the pandemic hit them hard. Added to the pandemic, damage was done to the roof and interior of the building from a build up of ice last January. Rebeca Herrera, Executive Director, was thrilled to accept the ECF Celebrates surprise grant for $500. There is still work to be done to repair damage from last winter and this grant will help them reach their goal.
From left to right: Staci Hamman, ECF Trustee; Janis Meyer, ECF Board Treasurer; Rebeca Herrera, Granada Theatre Executive Director; Loni Heinen, ECF Financial Officer; and Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director.
7. North Lyon County Youth Association
The NLC Youth Association was founded in 1997 to provide a nurturing, learning, and caring environment to the members of the community. The association operates the only non-profit licensed early child development center in their community serving youth ages newborn to 12 years old. The NLC Youth Association Fund was started with the ECF in 2015. Christine Wallace accepted the ECF Celebrates surprise grant of $500 on behalf of the preschool while students enjoyed cookies and juice boxes. The NLC Youth Association conducts various fundraisers during the year and this grant will help with their capital improvement projects.
In the center, left to right: Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; Christine Wallace, NLCYA Administrative Director; and Kay Lauer, ECF President.
8. Main Street Mommas
Madison residents were smiling when ECF staff showed up with balloons, cookies and an ECF Celebrates check for $500 for the Main Street Mommas. This group of Moms provide activities and a meeting center for youth in Madison, plus were the driving force behind raising the funds for the playground equipment in the Madison Park. Their ECF fund was started a little over a year ago, but they’ve found it to be a good source for donations. Small towns can struggle to find activities for youth, but this group of Moms work to make sure neighborhood kids have plenty to keep them occupied. Elizabeth Kusmaul accepted the check for $500 for the group and said it will be put toward the remodel of their youth center.
From left to right: Danielle Albert; Clara Schankie; Kay Lauer, ECF Board President; Elizabeth Kusmaul; Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; and Kindra Johnson.
9. Emporia Area Habitat for Humanity
Eric Kirby, Executive Director for the Emporia Area Habitat for Humanity, thought he was meeting with ECF staff to discuss their ECF fund early Friday morning, so was completely taken by surprise when a check for $500 was presented. The Emporia Area Habitat for Humanity is a completely donation and grant driven program to help families obtain their dream of affordable homeownership. This is done by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. They started their ECF fund in 2018 and have worked with the ECF on several fund-raising activities. The ECF Celebrates surprise grant will provide additional funds for their goal this year of keeping aging homeowners in their homes.
Left to right: Eric Kirby, Emporia Habitat for Humanity Executive Director; Kay Lauer, ECF President; Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; and Bill Barnes, ECF Board Member.
10. Wade Barrett Memorial Fund
Since 2014 the ECF Wade Barrett Memorial Fund has provided swaddles for every baby born at Newman Regional Health. The ECF Fund was started by Gail and Michael Barrett in memory of their son Wade Thomas Barrett, who passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in 2010 at the age of 3 months. To date, the ECF fund has raised over $100,000 which is used locally for SIDS education, safe sleep tools and the Community Baby Shower. Gail Barrett gratefully accepted the ECF Celebrates surprise grant for $500 saying the money will be used for swaddles and education for the safety of babies in our community.
Left to right: Becky Nurnberg, ECF Executive Director; Gail Barrett; and Bill Barnes, ECF Board Member.
Our local community foundation does unbelievable things for the community we live in. I have never felt so rewarded! I wish my Dad was here to see what all we are doing. He was a philanthropic guy that loved to help those that flew under the radar screen. You can make a difference and I’m speaking from personal experience when I say it really is an easy process. It just takes love and a little bit of money and you can make a lasting impression for years to come! Contact the ECF office for more information.
