Americana Music Academy Lesson Scholarships

The Americana Music Academy (AMA) is a nonprofit focused on making music education accessible to all, regardless of age or background. Through music, AMA works to foster artistic expression and creativity, connection, self-confidence, and cultural enrichment in Lawrence and the surrounding area. In 2024, AMA awarded $20,000 in scholarships, enabling 31 students to continue their musical education. However, the demand for scholarships far exceeds our funding, leaving many on waitlists. This year’s Giving for Good campaign aims to raise $5,000 to increase our scholarship fund by 25%.

Our scholarships are open to students of all ages and address various financial situations, helping families and individuals facing job loss, single incomes, or fixed incomes. For many of our students, music lessons are not only a creative outlet but also a vital means of personal growth and emotional expression. By supporting the AMA Scholarship Fund, you’re investing in the future and well-being of our community. Thank you for your generosity!

Expanding the Changing Exhibition Program at the Watkins Museum of History
The Watkins Museum's changing exhibition program is central to its connection with the public, drawing visitors back repeatedly. This program, crucial for public events and educational offerings, highlights our community's heritage and consistently piques interest with new exhibits. Since 2011, the museum has presented 12-16 new exhibitions annually. As the museum enters a new era with a full-time exhibitions manager and an expanded network, it aims to broaden its scope, including national traveling exhibits and collections from other institutions. To support this growth, funds from this campaign will be used to fabricate up to nine new exhibition display cases that meet ADA accessibility standards.

Empowering Creativity Through Accessibility and Safety
The heart of the Lawrence Arts Center is a vibrant tapestry of community members, from young learners to seasoned retirees. In our studios, they all come together sharing their love of artistic expression. Our diverse array of classes, spanning jewelry making, fiber arts, and more provide a haven for creativity and connection. The Lawrence Arts Center seeks a grant to improve its Jewelry studio. The studio hosts various art classes, including metalsmithing, stained glass, and sewing. The goal is to create a more accessible and comfortable space for all students, especially seniors and those with mobility challenges. The grant will fund new equipment, such as a corrosives cabinet, advanced grinding tools, a projector, and adjustable chairs. These improvements will enhance safety, visibility, and comfort, making the studio more inclusive for all.

Hold Up the Music, Hold Up the Band: Donate a Stand!
The Lawrence City Band desperately needs music stands. Stands and carts are foundational equipment for a concert band. With proper care, the stands and carts will last for decades to come. Even great musicians can't read the music when it's at their feet. Hold up the band and donate a stand!

Bring Music to All: Help Lawrence Residents Attend the Community Orchestra!
Attending a concert can be a life-changing experience. Your donation will help make local music more accessible and enable Lawrence residents to attend a Lawrence Community Orchestra concert.

Help make our community's stories heard! Support the library's SOUND+VISION Studio
Lawrence Public Library's SOUND+VISION Studio has become a go-to resource for those looking to bring their creative projects to life. To better support the growing demand for audiobook recordings, we're seeking funds for a Mac Mini rolling cart computer and a high-quality mic. This portable station will make the process of setting up and recording audiobooks more efficient by easily moving in and out of the Studio's Videocast Room, allowing local authors, staff, and patrons create professional grade recordings with ease. Any additional funds raised will go toward the Studio Fund at the Douglas County Community Foundation.

Grab The Tab: The Lawrence Public Schools Meal Support Fund.
The Lawrence Schools Foundation seeks financial support for the district's Meal Support Fund, which assists students with negative meal account balances. The fund evaluates support on a case-by-case basis every six months. Recognizing that proper nutrition is essential for student success, Lawrence Public Schools ensures that all students receive a complete meal without stigma, regardless of their account balance. However, negative balances of -$25 or more are sent to collections at the end of each school year, becoming "bad debt" that impacts the district's general fund. As of August 20, 2024, negative meal balances total -$21,700 and are projected to exceed -$100,000 by year's end. Your support is crucial to maintaining this vital program and ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals.

Sound and lighting equipment to support Baldwin City Players theatrical productions
Established in 2020, the Baldwin City Players provides a theatre performing arts outlet for the community by offering classes and performance opportunities for youth and adults. The Lumberyard Arts Center has secured sound equipment for live music and theatre productions but is in need of lighting for theatrical productions. Furthermore, in partnership with Baker University Music & Theatre, a wireless microphone system has been borrowed to use in productions. However, this system is at the end of its life as evidenced with numerous sound glitches and significant issues during our Summer 2024 production. It was a deep disappointment for our community to not hear voices of the actors – especially children- who put so many hours of work into the production. Our need is to purchase a system of reliable microphones and lights for theatrical productions. Sound and light are essential components to a theatrical production ensuring a high quality of enjoyment for both the producers and consumers of theatrical productions.

Free student ticket program
The cost of a ticket should never be a barrier to experiencing the transformative power of live theatre. Through this program, Theatre Lawrence will establish a student ticket lottery, providing high school students in our community the opportunity to attend regular season productions at no cost. Students can register for a chance to win free tickets, with 15 students selected per production. This initiative will remove financial barriers and foster a deeper connection to the arts, benefiting nearly 100 students annually and enriching their educational and cultural experiences.

Innovative Project Grants for Excellence and Belonging
The Baldwin Education Foundation's annual Innovative Project Grant program has been a cornerstone of the organization's funding outreach for many years because our small town is blessed by educators with big aspirations for our students. Since its establishment in 2003, the BEF has awarded well over $200,000 in grants to USD 348 educators for students pre-K through 12th and beyond, which includes our commitment to value special education that extends to young adulthood. Innovation, creativity, and student impact are key components in the selection process. Your contributions are the catalyst for opportunities! We invite you to join BEF in its mission of nurturing excellence in learning, driving innovation, and therefore creating belonging for all Please enjoy the following video of grants awarded from the 2023-24 school year and join us as we continue to raise the bar in our outreach. Go Bulldogs!

Play based learning centers for preschool children
The Ballard Center's Early Childhood Education Program has four age-based classrooms for 2- to 5-year-olds. To support students with limited resources at home, the classrooms offer developmentally based activities. Recently, Ballard introduced new curriculum focused on reading, writing, and math, and trained teachers to deliver engaging lessons. Now, students need hands-on materials to reinforce learning through play. Ballard seeks educational toys and classroom design elements for centers focused on building, dramatic play, math, art, sensory learning, and literacy. Enhancing these centers will better prepare students for kindergarten, both academically and socially.

Summer Swimming for Club Kids: Building strength, coordination, confidence, & fun in the sun!
Each summer, over 900 kids (ages 5-18) join Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence (BGCLK) Summer Programs. Operating weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm, kids enjoy outdoor activities, academic enrichment, and local outings. A key experience is swimming at the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center, with 50-100 kids visiting daily Monday-Friday. Over 45% come from households eligible for scholarships, and for many, this is their only chance to visit the pool. They learn water safety, build confidence, exercise, and make lasting memories with friends and BGCLK staff. Your donation helps cover Aquatic Center fees, sunscreen, and first aid supplies.

Keep Cantemos Youth Chorale FREE For All Children
Cantemos Youth Chorale is an all-encompassing choir for Douglas County children in grades 3-8. Cantemos is free for all children and provides an inclusive, engaging, and educational experience for all children who want to sing and explore music, regardless of socio-economic background. The news tells us daily that music programs are losing funding due to budget cuts and declining the arts' educational prioritization. School budgets are increasingly strained, which puts music education resources at risk. Cantemos Youth Chorale provides access to music education resources in a fun and creative way. Cantemos is a safe place for students to receive music education, build a community of friends, and spark creativity and a passion for learning. The choir enriches lives and contributes to a future where students become confident, compassionate leaders who share the gift of harmony with the world. The cost for one child to participate annually is $250. Students are not charged for their participation and attend for free. Contributions made to Cantemos Youth Chorale enable the purchase of music and equipment and provide qualified adults to lead the choir. Investing in Cantemos Youth Chorale helps create a world where dreams take flight through song.

Trauma-focused Therapy for Children affected by child abuse in Douglas County.
Support providing specialized trauma-focused mental health therapy for children and caregivers impacted by child abuse. By removing financial and transportation barriers to these services, children will be able to begin healing. Donors to this project will be directly impacting the future of child abuse survivors and their families. Our past mental health therapy financial support expires at the end of 2024, so these funds are vital for continuation of mental health services into 2025.

Children's Learning Center Teacher Appreciation Wellness Event
Children's Learning Center & Children's Learning Center South provide high-quality early childhood education for infants - private kindergarten for families in Douglas County since 1969. Since the need for early education has grown, our organization decided to expand to a second location which resulted in us having approximately 40 employees. Early Childhood Education is a stressful career with limited access to benefits and budget constraints that result in low wages. Our organization tries to provide 1-2 events each year to show our appreciation for the crucial work happening in our 12 classrooms. Our teachers are dedicated to providing quality classroom environments and instruction to 120-150 children each year. Our project is raising funds to provide a Teacher Wellness event as a way to show appreciation and focus on positive mental health for our employees. With funds raised, we will be able to provide an event space with Wellness activities, resources and tools for our early childhood staff. We also plan to provide a meal and prizes along with the Wellness event. Raising funds to assist in providing the event will allow us to tap into more resources without taking budgeted funds away from the classroom, curriculum and children's needs. Currently, Early Childhood Education is experiencing a nation-wide crisis due to the rising cost to run early childhood programs and families' inability to pay more tuition to offset inflation. In fact, 16,500 early childhood programs across the nation have closed their schools since 2020. Family budgets are stretched too thin with the rising cost of living and raising tuition any higher is not an option for our organization. Any donations made to the project would be greatly appreciated and have a direct impact on the teachers and an indirect impact on the children and families we serve.

Provide equity of opportunity and access by funding spring semester scholarships to Limestone Community School
Limestone Community School prioritizes project-based learning and arts education to foster student engagement and social-emotional development. We seek funding for scholarships to ensure equitable access for all students. Your contribution will not only support immediate needs but also contribute to the school's long-term financial stability.

Send 4-H Youth DC
Your support subsidizes Douglas County 4-H Youth for the Citizenship Washington Focus program. This eight-day Washington DC experience for 14-18 year old youth strengthens communication, leadership, and civic engagement skills. Each youth is responsible for raising their funds and your gift will be spread amongst all participants.

Champions For Children
The "Champions for Children" initiative is a dedicated program focused on recruiting, training, and supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) to work with children in Douglas County who have experienced abuse or neglect and are under court protection. This $5,000 grant request will allow us to support one child, with a particular emphasis on those from marginalized and underserved communities. With this funding, we will enhance our child advocacy services, providing these vulnerable children with the strong, dedicated advocates they need to thrive. This cost-effective initiative ensures that children in our community receive the critical support and care they deserve.

Operation Caring
Operation Caring is a crucial initiative by the Eudora Schools Foundation, dedicated to removing barriers that may impede a student's ability to succeed academically and socially. Through this program, students facing urgent and unmet needs, particularly those lacking appropriate clothing, are given the opportunity to go shopping with trusted school staff during the school day. This experience is designed to be both empowering and dignified, allowing students to select their own new, weather-appropriate clothing. By giving them a voice in choosing items that fit their personal style and needs, we help foster a sense of ownership and confidence. The process is conducted with the utmost respect for their privacy, ensuring that students feel supported, not singled out. Your generous donation will directly support these shopping experiences, providing students with the essentials they need to feel comfortable and focused in the classroom. With your help, we can continue to ensure that no student's education is compromised by a lack of basic necessities, allowing them to fully engage in both their academic pursuits and extracurricular activities with dignity and pride.

Help us keep our ziplines zipping!
Ziplining is a favorite activity for Scouts and other youth groups at Lawrence Hidden Valley Camp. It requires at least four facilitators to run a ziplining session, and it is a requirement that these volunteers be trained annually. Without these volunteers, the Scouts would miss out on this exciting, and for some, terrifying experience of flying through the air, suspended either 10 or 15 feet above the ground in a harness on the two ziplines. Please help us keep this fun and character-building activity available. A donation of $3000 will help train up to 10 facilitators.

Supporting Raintree Students
Friends of Raintree (FOR) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support and improve the educational experience of every Raintree student by ensuring students have all the necessary resources and supports to be successful. The function of FOR is to implement the mission and raise funds to support four strategic focus areas: staff development and training, need-based tuition assistance, inclusion and special education services, and promotion of entrepreneurship among students.

Fighting for Kids in the Foster Care System
For the last five years, Kansas Appleseed has worked to improve the state's foster care system, both in the courts and in the Statehouse. Too many kids are being traumatized by a system that is meant to protect them. We've had successes in this time:

The state settled our 2018 lawsuit agreeing to improve placement stability and access to mental health screenings.

The governor signed into law the Office of the Child Advocate.

The legislature now receives an annual report detailing the academic progress of kids in the foster care system.

But there is still so much more work to do. Despite settling our lawsuit, kids are still sleeping in offices, still do not have access to mental health services, and some are being moved between homes at high rates. Kansas Appleseed continues to hold agencies accountable and advocate for the more than 6,000 children in foster care to ensure their stories are uplifted in the Statehouse and beyond.

Support The Elevate Fund Scholarship
The Elevate Fund is a scholarship fund to allow youth taking part in Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Douglas County—Littles—to reach their full potential by maximizing their education. Kids who are Littles often face barriers to achieving their education goals—barriers of cost, barriers of access, and barriers of opportunity. Overcoming these barriers not only helps the Littles achieve more in life, but it also helps our entire community as they break cycles of poverty and want. The Elevate Fund will help selected Littles with education costs, whether in the form of a scholarship to college or trade school, help with the cost of test preparation or GED fees, application fees, books and preparation materials, or other costs associated with furthering a young person's education. By giving to The Elevate Fund, you provide opportunity to those young people who are most in need, benefiting all of us.

New York, New York!
Help our young singers experience the wonder, energy, diversity, and excitement of New York City! Lawrence Children's Choir singers are traveling to New York to sing at the famed Carnegie Hall, and you can help many of them experience New York for the first time. Your gift will facilitate travel to New York to work with a renowned conductor and sing in the most famous music venue in the United States, a transformative musical adventure they will carry with them for a lifetime.

Supporting Little Reds Dreams
The Little Red School House has big dreams. We have been proactive in securing our future by investing in sustainability. Last year we put on a new roof as the first phase of going solar, and installed new sensory play structures outside to better meet the needs of our students. This year we will continue to improve our school's infrastructure with 2 planned projects; the installation of solar panels, and the construction of a dedicated office space for staff. In the meantime we are seeking funds to reduce expenses due to an unexpected rise in our insurance premiums. These funds would keep our budget in equilibrium without having to borrow from other priority areas, like the scholarship fund, which provides access for families with low-income or other hardships. Borrowing in this way would also likely cause these projects to stall or delay, in order to keep the budget afloat. With this gift we can stay on course to pursue the school's current infrastructure improvement goals.

New ceiling in the 2nd floor kids "All The Jazz" Dance studio
On the 2nd floor of the Lecompton Community Empowerment building, we are wanting to repair and place a new ceiling in the "All That Jazz" dance studio. We have approximately 30 children attending various types of dance classes offered this semester. Youth have always been a central focus of our organization. We believe replacing the ceiling will be a huge benefit to this program, the teacher and the students. "All That Jazz" dance is offered to youth of our community as well as surrounding communities on Tuesday evenings to three classes and one class on Wednesday evening.

Building a Children's Sensory Garden in Eudora: A Community Partnership with LiveWell, Eudora Parks & Recreation and Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners
LiveWell, in partnership with Eudora Parks & Recreation and Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners, is leading a community partnership to create a children's sensory garden in Bluejacket Park in Eudora. The purpose of this project is to build a calming, outdoor space in a public park where children can explore using sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. In general, children have never spent as little time in nature as they do today. Supporting this project will help create a nature-based, experiential learning garden for children, families and community members to enjoy.

Maternity Leave Substitute Stipend
Positive Bright Start has a classroom for 3 to 5 year olds focused on positive behavior supports. Our classroom leads with an emphasis on supporting social emotional development in our students. One of the foundational structures of our classroom is consistency in staff as we know it provides a safe environment for early childhood development across all domains. We are seeking funding to provide a lead teacher substitute to cover a lead teacher on maternity leave.

Hope In Action
Investing in youth through "earn while you learn" employment programs. Van Go's nationally recognized programming gives young people a job, real world skills, individualized support and the opportunity to create their own vision of success.

Support our 11th Annual Earth Day Kansas River Cleanup in Lawrence.
Since 2014, Friends of the Kaw has removed trash along Bowersock dam and the Lawrence River Trail during our annual Earth Day Kansas River Cleanup. Over 150 volunteers roll up their sleeves each year and pick up trash including plastic and glass bottles, plastic bags, fishing line, aluminum cans, and styrofoam. Our goal for the 2025 event is to make it our biggest cleanup yet by removing 3+ tons of trash in one day, and we need your help to make it possible! In 2025, we would like to grow our traditional Earth Day Kansas River Cleanup to include an IN-RIVER cleanup and remove bigger items from the Kansas River such as appliances, construction materials, plastic/metal containers, and tires, etc. River cleanups have an immediate impact! The items that we remove impact the quality of the water in the Kansas River and the habitat for aquatic species making their removal critical to the health of the Kansas River. As the drinking water source for over 950,000 Kansans, our work is important to the future of the Kansas River. River cleanups require many resources: * Your support will provide the necessary trash removal and gloves for volunteers to get the job done. Your support will 1) enable our cleanup teams to rent special equipment to dismantle large items in the river, 2) help us transport these large items for disposal, 3) allow us to target several local dump sites on the river, and 4) offset the disposal fees for tires and bulky items e.g. appliances, furniture, construction materials, etc.

Restoring critical wetland habitat and community amenities at the Baker University Wetlands through collaborative partnerships.
A well-known hotspot among bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts, the Baker University Wetlands have endured aging infrastructure issues and challenging habitat conditions in recent years. KAWS and Ducks Unlimited have partnered with Baker University to take on important upgrades at the site beloved by the Lawrence community. Invasive cattails, trees, and outdated water control structures have reduced the functionality of the wetlands. "People elements" such as the boardwalks are in need of repair. Restoration will ensure great birding opportunities for enthusiasts, safe adventures for families and school groups exploring the site, and dynamic, functioning wetlands for research opportunities for Baker University students and visiting scientists.

Creating New Opportunities to Connect with KLT Lands
In a state with less than 2% public land, the Kansas Land Trust (KLT) is working to improve access and enhance public experiences on land that is protected by KLT. Donations will be used in Douglas County to support guided walks, educational programs, wayfinding signs, and strengthen on-the-land programming through partnerships to encourage more people to experience and appreciate the natural world through a variety of lenses.

Help vaccinate and microchip pets whose owners can't afford or access private veterinary care.
Since March 2021, Lawrence Humane has offered partially- and fully-subsidized pet vaccines and microchips through monthly pet vaccine clinics. These clinics are open to pets whose owners are low-income or live on fixed-incomes and cannot afford or access private veterinary care. In 2023, we hosted 14 clinics and provided vaccines and microchips to 655 animals from 380 individual households. This ensures that not only are these pets protected against potentially deadly diseases and able to get home sooner if they are ever lost, but also that our community is protected from disease-spread that could impact general public health. By donating just $25, you can cover the cost of one animal getting vaccinated and microchipped. A $100 donation helps four animals get vaccinated and microchipped. Our goal of $5,000 raised will ensure that 200 animals whose owners cannot afford veterinary care will be able to stay healthy and safe, all thanks to your support!

Growing Food Growing Health Fresh Produce for Our Neighbors
Support youth leaders who grow and share produce with those who are food insecure

Translate vital medical paperwork to Spanish and other languages
Douglas County's population is growing and with that comes an increase in diversity. To accommodate this growth, Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) needs your help to pay for the translation costs of vital medical paperwork. Spanish and other language paperwork will allow VNA to better serve our non-English speaking patients and continue to provide home health and hospice to patients, wherever they call home and regardless of their ability to pay.

Mateo's Bright Smile: Overcoming Barriers to Dental Care
Heartland Community Health Center's Healthy Futures program is all about creating lasting bridges to care for our most vulnerable dental patients - Children. Last year, Healthy Futures provided dental services to 5,981 children in their schools, during the school day. Nearly half of the students were identified as low income and 33.2% Hispanic/Latinx. Here is just one story of change in our community: Mateo is a bright and curious 8-year-old, full of kindness and potential. Behind his smile, Mateo was dealing with pain that no child should have to experience. His family, like many Spanish-speaking families, faced challenges in accessing healthcare that met their language needs. As time passed, Mateo's untreated dental issues worsened. He experienced chronic pain, which made it difficult for him to focus in school and enjoy everyday activities. Mateo's story is, unfortunately, far too common in our community. One in five children here suffers from untreated tooth decay, and fewer than half of Kansas kids receive preventive dental care. Families like Mateo's often face obstacles—language barriers, transportation challenges, and the lack of affordable care—which leave their children without essential treatment. However, thanks to Heartland's Healthy Futures program, help found Mateo. The Healthy Futures team came directly to his school, offering free dental care on-site. They didn't just provide treatment. They connected with Mateo's family in the language they felt most comfortable with, making sure his parents understood the care he needed. This simple but powerful act of meeting them where they were—both physically and in terms of language—made all the difference. Today Mateo is smiling again, free from the pain that once held him back. His family is empowered, no longer overwhelmed by the fear of finding care.

Winter Holiday Distributions
At Just Food, our commitment to nourishing the Douglas County community is especially vital during the holiday season. We believe everyone in Douglas County should enjoy a wholesome and hearty holiday meal. This year, we plan to assist over 4,000 households during Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, serving nearly 10,000 individuals. Your generous contributions enable us to procure additional food, transforming our pantry into a source of hope and comfort when the need is greatest. Join us in making this holiday season truly special for all.

Help Sustainable Food and Farming Systems Thrive in 2025! Promoting Positive Policy Engagement through the Kansas Rural Center's Policy Watch
The Kansas Rural Center (KRC) is grounded in three key pillars: education, research, and advocacy. Among these, advocacy—especially policy work—can be one of the most challenging yet impactful aspects of the center's mission. The nature of policy work is inherently long-term, requiring ongoing efforts and perseverance to bring about meaningful change. Unlike other areas of focus, such as educating farmers or conducting community outreach, which are often backed by grant funding, policy work is less frequently funded but no less important. In fact, it holds the potential for deep, systemic change that can shape the future of Kansas' food systems, farming practices, and environmental conservation efforts. For over a decade, KRC has actively engaged in policy advocacy through its publication, Policy Watch, an online newsletter published weekly during the Kansas legislative session. The work done through Policy Watch is critical not just for raising awareness but for advocating for policies that promote the long-term well-being of both Kansas' rural communities and its natural resources. The goal is to keep this valuable resource alive and strong in 2025 and beyond, empowering citizens to stay informed and engaged in shaping a sustainable future for Kansas.

Double Up Protein Bucks Token Program
Through your donation to this program, you will help to increase access of local protein sources to everyone in our community, while supporting our local small family farmers and ranchers. In 2023, we received a grant to create and run a new nutrition incentive token program to double up SNAP users' funds to purchase local protein from our market vendors. In 2024, through this grant, we gave out $5000 in matching tokens to SNAP users, doubling their ability to purchase local meats, eggs, dairy, and vegetarian protein options like falafel, hummus, dried beans, nuts, edamame, and more! 20 farmers market vendors signed up for this token program, helping to increase their sales to new customers who normally might not be able to afford nutrient-dense local protein sources. We saw triple the amount of SNAP customers coming to market because of this new program. Please help us keep this much needed program running for 2025!

Blizzard Bags!
Each year we prepare Blizzard Bags for each of our clients. These will include at least 5 shelf stable meals plus other snacks and goodies. We hope that our clients will use them in the event that we have extreme winter weather that prevents us from delivering their normal daily meal. Kansas has experienced some very extreme temperatures, snow and ice in the past few years. We will deliver these Blizzard Bags ahead of the winter weather so no one will go without a meal in bad weather. Making sure no one goes hungry, no matter the weather, is extremely important to everyone at Lawrence Meals on Wheels.

Support developing thoughtful, engaged, and productive leaders in our community
Leadership Douglas County (LDC) is a tuition-free leadership development program for any Douglas County, Kansas, community members. Anyone who lives or works in Baldwin City, Eudora, Lawrence, or Lecompton is eligible to participate. Participants spend five, 2.5 hour afternoon sessions together learning Leadership Principles from Kansas Leadership Center trained facilitators. Class members make connections, gain insights about our community, and practice leadership skills needed to make progress on challenges. The program's goal is to provide leadership tools to develop a more thoughtful, engaged, and productive leaders our community. Since the program began six years ago, 150 Douglas County citizens have graduated from the program. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we can continue to make this program tuition-free for teachers, small business owners, government employees, and community volunteers committed to spending the time to learn leadership and improve their communities by participating in civic life.

New Display Cases for the School Memories Hallway
In the late 1960s, Lecompton High School closed due to consolidation, with students moving to Perry Lecompton High School. The community, proud of the Lecompton Owls and their sports achievements, was reluctant to send memorabilia to the new school. Instead, the Territorial Capital Museum in Lecompton offered to display the school's items. The museum's "School Memories Hallway" honors classes from 1905-1970, showcasing trophies, uniforms, yearbooks, and more. Recently, 99-year-old alumnus Leroy Barland struggled to view his 1934 basketball trophy, prompting a fundraising effort to replace display cases and improve lighting.

Sporting Kaw Valley's TOPSoccer Program allows children with disabilities a chance to play soccer!
At Sporting Kaw Valley, we are dedicated to making soccer accessible to every child, including those with physical and intellectual disabilities. That's why we are proud to offer the TOPSoccer program (The Outreach Program for Soccer), a community-based training and team program that provides young athletes with disabilities the chance to enjoy the game in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. The SKV TOPSoccer program is designed to meet the needs of players at all ability levels. We see abilities, not barriers, and work to help children realize their full potential. With the help of trained coaches and volunteers, participants receive tailored guidance that allows them to develop their skills, build confidence, and experience the joy of being part of a team. This specialized program requires additional resources, including adaptive equipment, volunteer training, and trained coaches. Your generous donation can make a tremendous impact, allowing us to continue offering this life-changing opportunity to children with disabilities. With your support, we can ensure that every child—regardless of ability—has the chance to experience the camaraderie, physical activity, and sense of achievement that soccer provides. Your gift today will help us to grow and sustain the TOPSoccer program, and together, we can continue to build on the strengths that each child brings, helping them grow through the sport of soccer.

Sound the Alarm for a New Fire Safety Alarm System at St. Margaret's!
An up-to-date fire safety alarm system provides the ultimate safety for our congregation, visitors, and our beautiful St. Margaret's campus. The existing fire safety alarm system in the worship center is old and no longer manufactured or supported. The Vestry has identified a new fire alarm system for $5,000 that will provide detection and protection for our parishioners and property, as well as notify first responders in case of an emergency. Thank you for helping us purchase this important fire safety upgrade!

Beds for newly housed individuals
We receive referrals from various Douglas County social service agencies asking to assist their clients with obtaining much needed items that the agencies are unable to provide. In most cases, these clients have fled abusive relationships with the clothes on their backs, or were previously houseless, so they own no furniture whatsoever. Providing them with beds will help both adults and children sleep much better and improve the quality of their lives for many years to come!

Support the Housing Stability Coalition to prevent homelessness reduce the impact of the housing crisis on vulnerable residents in Douglas County
The Housing Stabilization Collaborative (HSC) is a collective impact group of social service agencies and government whose mission is to support housing stability for all people living in Douglas County by engaging tenants, utility companies, landlords, and social service agencies in building a culture of safe, affordable, and accessible housing. Through partnerships with tenants, landlords, utility companies, and other agencies, HSC works to foster safe, affordable, and accessible housing. Its Rent/Utility Assistance Program (RUAP) and related efforts provide critical support to households facing housing instability. Since April 2021, HSC has distributed over $3.2 million in rent and utility assistance to 1,980 households, averaging $1,170 per household, with recent increases reflecting rising needs. Despite this support, demand remains high, with a 22% rise in eviction filings in 2023. The HSC remains dedicated to cost-effective, targeted homelessness prevention to reduce the impact of the housing crisis on vulnerable residents.

Working Toward Hope: Creating productive workspaces for the children and families at Family Promise of Lawrence.
Your donation will help create dedicated office and workspaces at our new shelter for families and children, offering families the resources that they need to regain stability. These functional areas will provide a quiet, professional environment for parents to job search or further their education, while also serving as a space for family support staff to meet privately with families. Additionally, this space will support children with schoolwork and educational development. By providing access to technology and a structured work environment, we can empower families to build self-sufficiency and overcome the barriers that prevent them from achieving long-term stability. With your support, we can build a foundation for success with the tools and space to rebuild their lives and create brighter futures.

Warm Meals, Safe Shelter: Feed and Support 1,000+ Bed Nights
In the first half of this year alone, the Lawrence Community Shelter provided nearly 20,000 bed nights. This winter, we're adding 24 new cabins, each sheltering up to 1-2 additional guests from the cold, but this expansion brings an urgent need for meals and supplies. Our shelter serves 3 meals a day, and for less than $5, we can feed one person for a full day. With your help, $5,000 will have a massive impact:

Provide 3,000 meals for guests in need.

Ensure basic needs—like food, hygiene products, and warmth—are met for more than 1,000 bed nights.

Your gift will directly impact our guests' health and well-being, keeping people safe, nourished, and hopeful during the coldest months of the year. With your support, we can help more people survive the winter and take meaningful steps toward rebuilding their lives. Gina, a former guest, shared how much this support meant to her: "Your unwavering commitment to helping those in need is truly inspiring. You are making a tangible difference and bringing joy to people's lives!"

Warmer at Home - Winter Weatherization Kits
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), people spend 50% or more of every day inside their homes, therefore making a person's housing environment one of the major influences on health and well-being. Unfortunately, one in four Lawrence residents rate their housing to be in fair or poor condition, with weatherization being one of the most urgent needs. By offering winter weatherization kits featuring door sweeps, window film, and caulking cord, Lawrence Habitat can support 150 families with keeping their houses warmer and safer during the winter months.

Sunrise House - Personal Care Products
Supportive housing remains a critical need in Lawrence, particularly for individuals facing homelessness, reentry from prison, and youth aging out of foster care. Tenants to Homeowners is addressing this need with comprehensive supportive housing solutions designed to reduce barriers for these vulnerable populations. Many new tenants are "hygiene poor," lacking basic items like toothpaste and deodorant, which are essential for personal dignity and stability. While having a safe home is vital, basic hygiene needs are equally important. Donations from the community help provide these essential items, restoring dignity and ensuring that residents feel valued and included in our community. Your support allows us to offer more than just hygiene products; it affirms our commitment to caring for one another and fostering a welcoming environment for all.

Personal Care and Hygiene Items for Domestic Violence Survivors
The mission of The Willow is to provide support and services to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in our area. Each year, we serve hundreds of families with their own unique needs, which includes providing personal care and hygiene items for the entire family. Throughout the year, we frequently find our personal care closet empty of certain items, and many survivors need to go to an alternate location to find these items. With help from the DCCF Giving for Good campaign, Willow will use these funds to purchase the personal care and hygiene items we need, as we need them, so no survivor has to go without in their time of need.

Cut It Out!
A little training can make a big difference. Salon professionals are uniquely positioned to spot signs of unhealthy or abusive relationships due to their close interactions with clients and co-workers. With your support, #BeMoreLikeClaire can use the CUT IT OUT® program to train these professionals to recognize abuse, respond empathetically, and connect individuals with local resources. Imagine the impact of training 100 salons in Lawrence, with 15-20 professionals each, and 200 graduating beauty school students annually. These trained professionals can turn their salons into safe spaces, offering support and resources to those in need. This initiative goes beyond haircuts and manicures; it’s about transforming lives and creating a community where everyone feels supported. Let’s make a difference, one salon visit at a time.

A Fresh Start
Help us start a personal hygiene and cleaning supply closet at our three transitional homes for women in substance use disorder recovery.

Family Stabilization funds for early childhood care for Douglas County families.
Meet Lisa, a mother of two who recently had a new baby girl. After her maternity leave, she was set to return to work, but her job offer fell through, leaving her without a position or the Department of Children and Families (DCF) subsidy she needed for child care. This created a catch-22: she needed child care to get a job but couldn’t afford it without the subsidy. Many families face similar challenges, being just one unexpected expense away from financial crisis. Over the past year, the United Way of Kaw Valley and the Douglas County Community Foundation provided $27,000 in Family Stabilization funds through Community Children's Center (CCC) to help 21 families and 25 children at eight child care centers. These funds have been crucial in allowing families who face financial strain due to unforseen challenges such divorce, health complications, or a sudden change in their child's schooling or home life to maintain stability and get the care they need. Donations are needed to raise an additional $5,000 to continue this essential support. Your contribution helps families stabilize their employment and ensure their children receive quality early care, laying a foundation for long-term success.

Creating an Outdoor Oasis & Engagement Area--Turning a Dream into a Reality
We are seeking funds to transform a corner of the Cottonwood property into an accessible outdoor oasis for persons-supported. The space will feature smooth pathways, adaptive seating, sensory-friendly zones, and raised garden beds, ensuring everyone can interact with nature comfortably and safely. Shaded areas, wide walkways, and quiet corners offer a peaceful retreat for all. This inclusive oasis will be a welcoming space for relaxation, learning, and community connection. Help us bring this vision to life!

Providing Comprehensive Doula Services to Underserved Families
We believe that every expectant mother deserves the highest level of care and support during one of the most significant moments of their life. Our project aims to expand our reach and enhance the quality of our doula services, particularly targeting underserved communities within Douglas County. With the requested $5,000, we plan to achieve the following: 1. Provide Necessary Supplies: Ensure that our doulas have access to essential supplies and resources, including birthing kits, educational materials, and comfort tools that can significantly improve the birthing experience for mothers. 2. Extend Outreach Services: Increase our community outreach efforts to identify and support expectant mothers who may not have access to adequate birthing support due to financial or social constraints. This includes hosting informational workshops and community events. 3. Specialized Training for Doulas: Ensure our doulas receive specialized training to better support mothers with diverse needs, including those experiencing high-risk pregnancies, postpartum depression, and other unique challenges. These trainings will enable our doulas to offer more personalized and informed care. By supporting our project donors will not only help doulas access training and provide necessary resources but will also contribute to the overall well-being of families in our community.

Help Douglas County women who have limited resources and are facing immediate, short-term critical needs
The Fairy Godmother Fund provides flexible, accessible monies to help Douglas County women who have limited resources and are facing immediate, short-term critical needs not met by traditional funding sources. The gifts from this fund are small, but they make a big impact on the lives of women and families. Financial assistance of up to $499 may be provided to women who meet the following criteria: limited income limited, short-term, critical need not normally handled by any other agency or fund (i.e., the fund does not address rent or utility requests) payment can be made directly to a vendor, not the client funding will solve the immediate crisis (i.e., partial payment is not done unless the client has a mechanism to cover the entire payment) applicant is a resident of Douglas County, Kansas DCCF works with selected community partners to grant funds to help women in our community.

Supporting First Responders and their families. Help our volunteers provide essential care.
The importance of the FRCA cannot be overstated. Available 24/7 year-round, volunteer Chaplains serve First Responders, their families, and the Douglas County community with unwavering compassion and integrity. First Responders rely on the FRCA for support during emergencies, death notifications, and critical incident debriefings. Beyond that, FRCA Chaplains focus on officer wellness, encouragement, family support, and providing essential training to the agencies they serve—whether in times of crisis or calm. Your financial support ensures that Chaplains receive the necessary training, equipment, and resources to continue their vital work. Thanks to DCCF's matching campaign, your investment's impact will be even greater.

Let's Eat at LINK!
As empathy gives rise to compassion, souls touch souls. Every week, through profound human kindness, compassion emerges from the simple act of serving lunch. LINK operates on 90% volunteer power and 100% goodwill. But we still have expenses to cover. Since 1985 LINK (Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen) has done one thing: feed lunch to hungry people 4 times per week. This means that by covering a most basic human need; nutrition, the opportunity for compassion is rendered from the empathy and kindness of 100s of volunteers. These efforts ensure stability for those in need AND the entire community. The demand for food for the poor and lonely is greater than ever. Aside from our generous donations of food, service, and time from our many volunteers, our cost per meal is $2.42. To feed one person for an entire year is $503.36. For a month it is $38.72. In 2024 the number of lunch guests has increased by 7.5%. LINK relies on this campaign to cover 20% of our annual operating budget. Learn more about us, https://www.linklawrence.org/about-us/, donate, participate, and nourish your soul. LET'S EAT!!!

Support the LRM Foundation in enriching our community with culturally relevant Theatre, Mental Health and Wellness, and STEM Education programs.
The LRM Foundation creates culturally-centered, civic-minded programs that promote social justice and equity through the Arts, Mental Health, Wellness, and STEM Education. By blending theatre, mental health, and STEM, we address the needs of marginalized populations, offering hope and healing. We produce original stage plays that tackle social issues and highlight local talent. Our BIPOC Soul initiative focuses on mental health for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, recognizing the importance of accessible healthcare. Additionally, we provide culturally rich STEM and arts education for students in grades 3-12, enhancing their learning inside and beyond the classroom. Learn more by clicking here:

Help youth in care CELEBRATE the big moments in life
What was your favorite present you ever received? Presents can be core memories of childhood. By donating to our Giving for Good campaign, you are ensuring the young people in our care can experience the same joy and feeling of value that sometimes only gift-receiving can trigger. O'Connell Children's Shelter has five residential group homes which each house and care for approximately 6-10 youth in foster care at any given time. Celebrating birthdays, graduation, and holidays can provide the semblance of normalcy in troubled times. Having a fund specifically for these celebratory moments will help us ensure that the youth in our care feel the love and care of the community. By contributing to our Giving for Good campaign, not only will you be celebrating our youth, but you will also be contributing to the long-term financial stability of OCS by providing crucial matching dollars to our DCCF endowed fund. Your gift makes a difference in both the short- and long-term, and most importantly, you are changing young people's lives and letting them know they matter and we care.

Fill Up at the Pump for Senior Wheels
Senior Wheels, a program of the Senior Resource Center, helps Douglas County seniors get where they need to go every day. From medical appointments to grocery runs, our seven ADA vans need a lot of gas to do all that driving! SRC spends over $20,000 each year on fuel. Your donation will make sure we don't run out of gas in 2025!

Website for our organization.
We have long needed a website as our only presence on the internet is through Face Book, which is limited to members of that online community. We struggled to create a website ourselves, but finally realized it will take an expert to create one that conforms to the fluid, changing sizes of all the cell phone and desk top formats. A website will give us the wherewithal to show what we offer to our client base, what good we have accomplished, news about our new programs, donation hours, volunteer opportunities and information regarding our longstanding ties to the Lawrence community. It is almost impossible these days to work efficiently without a website.

Help us launch TRAIN-DSPs (Trinity Reinforcing & Instructing New Direct Support Professionals)!
The TRAIN-DSPs project aims to enhance the skills and engagement of our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Each month, DSPs will receive an "In Home Support" digital newsletter with a post-test for one hour of educational credit. Upon passing the quiz, they’ll earn a certificate and an hour of training pay. This initiative by Trinity In-Home Care promotes professional growth and quality client care, covering topics like Infection Control, Communication Skills, and Home Care Safety. A pilot program received positive feedback, with DSPs valuing the new insights, such as in Respiratory Disease, and appreciating the professional review. With this training, caregivers will be better equipped for safe, effective, and compliant client interactions.

Community Resource Navigator
Imagine your family is in crisis—a lost job, a tornado, the unexpected death of the family breadwinner. You've never been here before, and you have no idea where to turn. You're facing a frightening and uncertain future. But thanks to United Way of Kaw Valley, there is a Community Resource Navigator ready to stand beside you. A Community Resource Navigator advocates for and serves neighbors in need, connecting them to the information, resources and support they need to rebound and thrive. Two key elements of this service are (1) coordinated care and collaboration and (2) consistent work to remove removing systemic barriers that keep people from accessing services. Our Community Resource Navigators go beyond simple client transactions to building transformative partnerships at the individual, family and community level. Our current Community Resource Navigator, Laura Smith in Eudora, makes just this impact by targeting four key areas: (1) anti-poverty (2) food insecurity (3) behavioral health, and (4) utility & rent assistance. Navigating the web of social services and bureaucracy is tough in the best of times. In moments of crisis, it can look like a brick wall, separating you from the help you desperately need. Your donation means a United Way Community Resource Navigator like Laura is available to connect our neighbors to help right now, not days or weeks later. Your donation also means peace of mind and a comforting hand for our neighbors who may be having to ask for help for the very first time. Learn more about our Laura's work as a Resource Navigator in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnK7J3q-slw