Last week, PACF gave out $304,745 in grants
The Parsons Area Community Foundation gave out $304,745.90 in grants to 44 area groups and organizations Thursday.
Since its beginning in 1996, the foundation has granted more than $3 million to area communities to enhance the way of life for area residents. Through the PACF grants, improvements have been made to health, education, parks, recreation, the arts and social services within 25 miles of Parsons.
“We appreciate the donors who are able to give back. We couldn’t do any of this without people who came way before us who have given pretty selflessly to make sure that we have these funds available to give back in our community,” PACF executive director Becky Dantic said.
Those interested in making a contribution to the PACF can visit www.parsonsareacf.org.
Word of the PACF continues to spread to eligible non-profits in the area, so the number of applications continues to grow. As costs increase and needs grow, so do the requests.
“The biggest thing we saw as a change this year, we had more than $750,000 in requests come through this year, so it was an extremely competitive grant cycle this year. We had a lot of requests,” Dantic said. “A lot of need this year.
“It is definitely a difficult decision. That is one thing since I’ve been working here that I am really impressed with is how seriously our board takes that. They do take a lot of time reviewing each one of those applications and talking through it as a board to try to come up with their final decisions. It’s never, never easy choices to make.”
Dantic said it is exciting to see the organizations and the projects they are working on.
She said she is always excited about getting to hand that donated money back to the community and to see how it is going to be put to work — “the benefits and the impact it is going to have on citizens and neighbors.”
Grants awarded this year:
Youth and education
Meadow View Grade School, greenhouse supplies for students, $500; Altamont Grade School, wall padding in gym, $2,000; Curious Minds Discovery Zone, outdoor exhibit additions, music and movement, $5,000; Labette Community College Foundation, Pathways to the Future Campaign, $20,000; Labette Community College Foundation, softball scoreboard replacement, $7,000; Labette County Fair, arena perimeter fencing, $4,000; McCune Osage Township Library, homework help program, $1,995; Parsons Babe Ruth League, Winway field updates, $5,000; Parsons High School, football locker room updates, $5,000; Parsons Middle School, shredder for expanded life skills tasks $1,000; Parsons Middle School, smart board upgrades, $10,500; Parsons Middle School, activity field updates, $15,000; Parsons Presbyterian Manor, Bridging Generations program, $2,100; St. Patrick Catholic School, annual designated gift, $38,000; St. Paul High School, weight room updates, $5,000; Vikings Inc., Parsons youth tackle football program expenses, $4,000.
Health and human services
Parsons Police Department, Gun Locks Save Lives, program, $1,000; Care Cupboard Hygiene Pantry, hygiene products for those in need, $5,000; Crosstimbers Community Church food pantry, food for the lower half of Labette County, $3,000; Erie Christmas Baskets, 2023 Christmas baskets; 2024 Share the Love food bags $3,000; Kansas Food Bank Warehouse Inc., Food 4 Kids weekend backpack program, $5,000; Labette Center for Mental Health Services, mental health first aid program, $4,000; Labette County Emergency Assistance Center, emergency assistance for various needs, $20,000; Labette County Fire District No. 9, fire station infrastructure, $7,000; Labette County High School, automated external defibrillator (AED), $2,000; Parsons Fire Department, smoke detector program, $1,200; Parsons Foursquare Church, food ministry for citizens in need, $1,500; Parsons High School, Boxes of Hope program, $1,000; Proud Animal Lovers Shelter, operating expenses, $5,000; Special Olympics Kansas, healthy meals for Labette and Neosho county athletes, $1,000; Stella Wells Christmas Baskets program, $1,000 annual designated gift; Wesley United Methodist Church, Grab-n-Go food ministry, $3,000; Westside Christian Church, 2023 Parsons Paint Project $6,000.
Community events, arts and culture
Celebrating Parsons Inc., $3,000, Kids Crossing at Katy Days Festival; City of Edna, windows for community building, phase 2, $5,000; City of Parsons, parks basketball goal systems, $13,900; First Presbyterian and First Christian Church, additional garden beds for community garden, $650; Historic Oakwood Cemetery, restore and preserve GAR Circle 2, $15,000; Leadership Labette, designated KHF funds for operational/annual project, $18,000; McCune Lions Club, McCune Lions pavilion, $2,500; Oak Grove Historical Society Inc., handicap ramp addition, $3,500; Osage Township Volunteer Fire Department District No. 1, bunker gear washer, $1,500; SEK Point of Pride, Christmas lights and decorations for Parsons, $4,000; VFW Auxiliary Brown Bishop Post 704, remodel of post home, $2,500.
