The gift-giving spirit of the holidays visited three area non-profits, courtesy of the Health Forward Foundation. Thrive Allen County, the City of LaHarpe, and Hope Unlimited each received substantial grants to help enhance their outreach.
The grants encompass two of Health Forward’s strategic purpose areas — power and platform. Both Hope Unlimited and LaHarpe fall into the “power” purpose area, which is designed to strengthen community-based organizations that serve people of color or are based in rural areas.
City of LaHarpe
LaHarpe was awarded $120,000 which will be paid in four installments over the next two years. According to LaHarpe Mayor Mae Crowell, the grant will help in multiple areas including:
• Continuing the Health & Wellness Coordinator position and expanding recreational and wellness programming. Health Forward Committee member Sharlyn Thompson noted that this programming is for anyone in Allen County and not just LaHarpe residents. Some of these programs include sporting events, craft shows, community meals, and holiday celebrations.
• Thompson added that the grant funding would help pay for CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training that is provided to the community free-of-charge. Although this training is largely utilized by emergency personnel and healthcare workers, it is available to anyone.
• Some of the funding will go towards technological improvements. Crowell noted the city would like to be able to effectively communicate with community members, whether it be through digital signage or having an online option for their newsletter.
• To improve and recruit new community leaders through training, webinars, and workshops from the Kansas League of Municipalities and the Kansas Leadership Center on Civic Government, Leadership and Civic Engagement.
• The funds will also help maintain and grow the city’s fitness center (located in city hall), which provides affordable 24-hour access to gym equipment.
Thrive Allen County Director of Community Engagement Marcia Davis added that the funding would help engage and empower citizens to be involved within the community. Crowell and Thompson both credited hard work on Davis’ part in helping receive the grant money. “We met many times to discuss this Health Forward grant,” said Crowell. “Marcia was a lot of help. A lot of work went into it.”
Hope Unlimited
Hope Unlimited, Inc. of Iola received $125,000, to be disbursed in four installments over two years.
“This money will allow us to hire a full-time Community Engagement Coordinator who will help us with our capital campaign for a new shelter,” said Hope Unlimited Executive Director Dorothy Sparks.
The coordinator will help the organization with program development and growth by deepening partnerships and increasing program participation. The goal is to also increase equity inclusion in all services across the board.
Sparks added they are in the fundraising phase of building a new shelter with an overall goal of $3 million. The organization hopes to reach this goal through private donations and grants. Until Dec. 31, any donation over $250 towards the new shelter can have 70 percent claimed as a tax credit.
“This is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” Sparks said about the grant. “It is very needed. We appreciate that Health Forward invests in the local community and will help our services reach more people.”
Thrive Allen County
Thrive Allen County falls into Health Forward’s “Platform” purpose area, which is designed to support organizations that are looking to instill equity and inclusion into their work, as well as their organizational policies and practices. Thrive Allen County received $50,000.
