To the editor:
Kansas is known for its simple beauty and friendly faces. Its a great place for Kansans to call home. A place to raise our families, provide our children a strong foundation, establish roots and build vibrant communities. Its where we play and enjoy time with others.
Local community foundations bring life to our hometowns. The Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) has helped community foundations build philanthropic assets over the last 20 years. Through the Giving Resources to Our World (GROW) program, KHF has invested $60 million in 39 community foundations since 1999. These foundations saw beginning assets of $19 million increase to nearly $700 million today.
GROW funding has helped Kansas community foundations build walking and bike trails to promote healthy living, supported classroom projects and installed playground equipment to improve childrens health, and created better access to health care.
I dont think any of us could have anticipated the exponential impact the GROW initiative would have in communities across our state. Because community foundations had these resources, they were able to change lives and improve their communities. Through your local support, community foundations continue to help the Kansas Health Foundation work toward our mission of improving the health of all Kansans.
Working with our community foundation partners across the state, KHF is working to make Kansans healthier and communities stronger. I encourage you to learn about your community foundations work and how you can support your hometown.
Steve Coen
President and CEO
Kansas Health Foundation
