By Conny Bogaard, Executive Director

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many donors, organizations, legal and financial advisors, grant and scholarship recipients and community leaders who worked with WKCF in the past year. We were able to grow because of the commitments of many people to building stronger communities.

On December 31, 2017, we closed our books with $29M+ in assets; we paid out $855K+ in grants and fund distributions whereas two significant trusts were bequeathed to us. Assets from the Wilmer “Bill” and Dorothea Kline Trust and the Elizabeth May Rosel Trust are designated to support scholarships according the final stipulations of the donors which guarantees tremendous educational opportunities for area students in years to come. In 2017, four new funds were established with the WKCF whereas the Legacy Society gained four new donors who promised to leave a portion of their estate to charity upon death. Just before the year’s closing, we transferred affiliate funds to Grant County Community Foundation that is now operating under their own nonprofit status. Meanwhile, Wichita County Community Foundation celebrated its 15th anniversary with $1M in endowed funds.

Worth mentioning is also the success of our inaugural Match Day on November 28, 2017. On that day only, we received $111,170.86 from 280 donors. Combined with the $50,000 matching dollars and $2,050 in prize grants, the total amount distributed was $163,220.86 to 15 charitable causes. Prior to the event, the City of Garden City had adopted WKCF’s recommendation to establish ‘Giving Tuesday’ (the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving) a national day of giving. With that, City Commissioners encouraged citizens to serve others throughout the holiday season and during other times of the year. I’m looking forward to what 2018 holds for us as we continue to work to fulfilling our promises of a thriving Western Kansas.