Community Grants Report

(785) 823-1800 · www.gscf.org

P.O. Box 2876 · 119 W. Iron Ave, 8th Floor
Salina, Kansas 67402-2876

Community Grants Report
June 2020

Church of the Cross, Night To Shine 2020

YW Legacy Fund, Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $2,500, Awarded 9/10/2019
Project Summary: Funding will be used to host Night to Shine which is a prom event to celebrate the Special
Needs population (ages 14 and older) in the Salina area. 130 Guests will be embraced by over 200 volunteers and
their friends in this unforgettable evening.
Use of Funds: 2020 Night To Shine prom for persons with Special Needs
Impact & Results: 146 Guests and over 300 Community and Kansas Wesleyan volunteers participated in the 2020
Salina Night To Shine. The guests were involved in planning the event and were showered with love as they received
the message of how important they are during the evening’s events. They were celebrated for who they are and
every effort was placed on giving them a night to celebrate life. Community Buddies are matched with each guests
to spend the evening together. Several of the guests and buddies requested the same person as last year due to the
bond formed during the evening. The karaoke stage allowed guests to sing for the enjoyment of the crowd or simply
for their own fun. The bravery and confidence displayed is something that many times is hidden by these persons.
The grant money we received allowed the community to provide this opportunity to those with Special Needs.
Internationally, over 115,000 guests were celebrated on February 7 and over 215,000 volunteers supported this effort.
Salina is blessed to be able to be able to be a part of this movement and it is only through the support of local
giving that it is possible. The local organizations that work with this population greatly appreciates this evening for
their clients as it is an event that is promoted and looked forward to all year.

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Child Advocacy and Parenting Services (CAPS),
Incredible Years: Parents and Babies

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund,
$4,995, Awarded 11/12/2019

Project Summary: CAPS seeks to fill a void in Salina with education to parents
of newborn children. While home visitation programs serve at-risk families with
new babies, every parent deserves the opportunity to receive support in
their baby’s first months of life.

Use of Funds: The funds provided ten two hour sessions of parenting education
for parents of newborns in our community, including a meal at the last session.
The instruction was provided by three staff trained in the Incredible Years
Parents and Babies Curriculum.

Impact & Results: Establishing a firm foundation in the early years is the best
way we can support a young child and their parents. This class continues the education from the Becoming a Mom
pre-natal class cosponsored by CAPS & the Saline County Health Department. Children don’t come with instruction
manuals, so establishing a routine of parenting education soon after childbirth normalizes the process to seek help
& learn from others. In this 10 week class, 18 parents and their newborns gathered for two hours and learned how
to bond with their child through developmentally appropriate play. They learned about nurturing their child while
keeping them safe. The families not only bond with their child, but also with the other parents who learning to care
for their babies, too. This develops a natural support group in this formative stage of life as a family.

One family has shared, “Having other parents who are going through or already did go through the same stages of
development was very helpful. It helps so much to get practical answers to questions instead of google. The family-
like group/class was very supportive and a judgement-free social atmosphere! We enjoyed the material presented
and found extreme value in the other people that attended the class.”

The only thing that could have gone better would be to have enough Spanish speaking parents to offer this session
in Spanish. We have participants who are bilingual, but enjoy engaging in conversation with our Spanish Speaking
educator.

Salina Child Care Association, Cot/Copier Replacement

Fund for Early Childhood, YW Legacy Fund, $4,100, Awarded 01/15/2019

Project Summary: This project will provide replacements for children’s cots, cot sheets and a copy machine that is
no longer supported with replacement parts.

Use of Funds: Through grant funds we purchased a HP copier and one toner cartridge, 24 preschool cots, four
toddler cots and 24 cot sheets. This will replace worn out equipment.

Impact & Results: As a result of this project we will have a new model copier that will replace our old one which is
no longer supported by replacement parts, drums, etc. We will also be able to throw away broken and cracked cots
and torn cot sheets which have had heavy use over the years. The copier is used general office use and curriculum
with the children. Health and safety will be improved by using the new cots and cot sheets. 85% of our budget
is used for staff wages and benefits with the remaining 15% needed for food, operating expenses, insurance, etc.
There is little room in an early childhood budget for supplies and equipment. This project will benefit all 20 of our
staff and all 70 of our children.

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