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Published by Greater Salina Community Foundation, 2019-11-20 14:04:00

Community Grants Report

May 2019

(785) 823-1800 · www.gscf.org

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

Community Grants Report
May 2019

St. John’s Military School,
Exploration Station (Makerspace and STEAM lab)

L.P. “Pat” Mullen Fund for Science, Technology & Invention, $5,000,
Awarded 9/11/2018

Project Summary: The purpose of the Exploration Station project is to
develop and outfit a combination makerspace and STEAM lab where St.
John’s cadets in grades 6-12 can explore a variety of STEAM activities through
the Explorers Club and in academic classes.

Use of Funds: $3599.51 was used to purchase STEM items for our Lab/
Makerspace

Impact & Results: This grant request was made with the intent of using the
purchased items to outfit a Makerspace STEAM Lab to impact students at
St. John’s for the next several years. However, when the unfortunate news
was announced in February that the school would be closing in May, we had
not completed purchasing all of the items and had not had professional
development for the faculty. At that point, we stopped spending the funds
from the grant and concentrated on providing our Explorers STEM Club with
as many opportunities as possible to use the items we’d already purchased.

What we saw over the past several months was an increased interest in
STEAM as our other cadets observed the projects the members of Explorers
STEM Club were working on. We had students stopping by after school to
ask about their projects and to observe them at work. The members of the
Explorers STEM Club were able to select projects and design, redesign and
experiment with them. At the end of the year, several members of the club
indicated that their daily time working on STEM projects was their favorite
time of the day.

In addition to using the materials with the STEM Club, we were able to use most of the items in several classes
including Integrated Science and 8th grade science.

Although there will no longer be students at St. John’s who will be impacted by the items purchased, I am very
grateful to be able to continue impacting students by using the items at Smoky Hill Education Service Center for
teacher training.

1

Saline County Department of Senior Services, AED

Kansas Health Foundation Fund, $2,315, Awarded 9/11/2018

Project Summary: Saline County Department of Senior Services requests
funding for two Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices to provide
immediate medical attention to senior patrons prior to Emergency Medical
Services arrival.

Use of Funds: Funds were used to buy two AED devices for 1st and 3rd floors.

Impact & Results: With the funds provided, Senior Services was able to buy two
AED devices, one for the first floor, dining room and third floor, exercise area.
The impact of these dollars could mean the difference between life and death
for a senior or anyone visiting the building of Senior Services in the minutes it
takes emergency 911 service to respond. This agency has been trained to use
AED devices and is ready to provide immediate care in the event of a medical
emergency. Within the year of 2018, Senior Services called for medical 911
assistance on 10 different occasions. The senior population we serve has a greater risk due to numerous health
issues. Staff has assisted each medical issue by evaluating the senior/patron and ensuring they are not in need of
AED shock.

Without GSCF grant award, Senior Services would have continued to use a borrowed AED for the first floor only.
The amount of time to collect that unit in a medical emergency could have impacted the survival of a senior/
patron in the event of a medical emergency. Seniors/patrons and staff are grateful that we are prepared to offer
assistance to those in need and we thank GSCF for providing the tools we need to help others.

Salina Community Theatre, Providing a Sensory Friendly Performance of “Elf, The Musical”

L.P. “Pat” Mullen Fund for Arts & Humanities, $4,000, Awarded 9/11/2018

Project Summary: Salina Community Theatre seeks funding to provide a “sensory-friendly” performance of “Elf” for
special needs and challenged clients and their families free of charge to all attendees.

Use of Funds: The grant was used to pay royalties, orchestra, support costs, and tickets for challenged families
admission to see “Elf, the Musical.”

Impact & Results: Salina Community Theatre distributed a survey to determine the immediate effectiveness of the
project. SCT distributed 240 (of 290 seats) for this performance. The response from the surveys was overwhelmingly
positive. 85% rated the experience at 10 our of 10.

Some of the comments were:
• “This was great! Please continue this and make it a tradition. My brother seemed more comfortable in this
setting.”
• “This was the first event 2 of my 3 kids (sic) attended and loved it. We will be attending more in the future.”
• “It has been an amazing night. Thank you.”
• “Thank you so much for putting on this special performance. SCT always does a fabulous job!”

SCT is assessing the cost of the actual performance, both financial and personnel. It was an unusual experience for
the actors, but in retrospect in conversations with a number of them, they all felt that it was an important event for
an underserved population in Salina.

2

USD 305, First Lego League - Cottonwood Elementary School

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund & L.P. "Pat" Mullen Fund for
Science, Technology & Invention, $1,000, Awarded 11/13/2018

Project Summary: First Lego League is a LEGO robotics building activity/
competition for students between fourth grade and eighth grade. Fourth
and fifth grade students will be assisted after school by a teacher and high
school students from the FRC Team 3172.

Use of Funds: The funds were spent on t-shirts for the team, snacks,
registration fees, busing to and from the competition and for lunch and dinner for all participants and coaches.

Impact & Results: Our students who participated in this project have a new attitude towards hard work & resilience,
and appreciate the talents that each team member possesses. They worked together to accomplish tasks and
learned many new skills during the span of this project. We have noticed a sense of accomplishment and pride from
these students as they discuss what they learned with other students in our building. These students have been
leaders in robotics, helping younger students understand the challenges they faced and sharing their successes.
The project would have been difficult to complete without funding. The funding allowed our students to access
all materials they needed to design, build and program their robots. The funding also allowed our students to use
the programmed robots to solve tasks assigned; using problem solving to fix or make changes that are needed to
successfully complete all tasks. We feel that our students gained valuable skills including perseverance, grit, pride
and teamwork. They are also sharing their accomplishments with younger students. This project began with our
18 participants and ended up reaching other 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, approximately 30 additional students in
our school. Our students plan to continue the robotics team and teach the next group of robotics team members
during the school year.

Salina Public Schools, Owl Academy 2019

L.P. “Pat” Mullen Fund for Arts & Humanities & L.P. “Pat” Mullen Fund for Science, Technology & Invention,
$2,000, Awarded 11/13/2018

Project Summary: This request is to support the Owl Academy, an after-school program for at-risk children enrolled
at Schilling Elementary School that focuses on math and reading. The grant would pay for bus transportation to take
students home after the program.

Use of Funds: Grant funds were used to pay for bus service for participating students who qualified for
transportation based on their residence area, for 56 days (3 days/week x 20 weeks - holidays and snow days).

Impact & Results: The Owl Academy expanded this year to provide math as well as reading remediation, and also
increased from 2 to 3 days/week. The start date was Oct. 2, 2018 and ended March 28, 2019, for 20 weeks. Average
attendance was 56 students/day. Every participant was reading below grade level prior to Owl Academy but by the
end of the program, 6 reached the reading level for their grades, 53 did not quite reach level but did achieve growth,
and only 1 made no growth (but also did not decrease further). The MAP and ACT Aspire tests will measure growth
in math, but the testing window for these assessments does not close until May 3, so results are not yet available.
When these come in, we will submit a supplemental report on math improvement. Without the GSCF grant, many
students who needed this program probably wouldn’t have been able to participate: 35 out of 60 needed bus
service. Owl Academy has given students greater confidence to participate in the regular classroom, in a positive
manner. 5th grade teachers at Schilling have reported that Owl Academy students now enjoy answering questions:
“They were some of the only students [in class] with their hands up” one teacher said. Owl Academy students loved
the program and were upset when it was over. They benefited from individualized instruction. They never felt like
they were “slowing down” the rest of the class because they needed more time to learn and practice skills. For them,
it made learning what it should be—fun.

3

USD 305, First Lego League - Oakdale Elementary School

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund & L.P. "Pat" Mullen Fund for
Science, Technology & Invention, $1,000, Awarded 11/13/2018

Project Summary: First Lego League is a LEGO robotics building activity/
competition for students between fourth grade and eighth grade. Fourth and
fifth grade students will be assisted after school by school teacher and high
school students from the FRC Team 3172.

Use of Funds: $174.00 for team t-shirts, $85.00 on after school snacks and the
end of the season pizza party, $100.00 for the competition registration which
was paid by team 3172 because we didn't have the funds available in our
account yet.

Impact & Results: We officially began in October meeting twice each week. First, we worked on the Core Values
which is one of the main components of the First Lego League. The most impressive difference I have noticed is that
the students are better behaved and they treat others with respect. So much so that other students are requesting
to be part of the team for next year. Furthermore, I’ve seen a growing interest in programming. Students observed
the First Lego League team and noticed that coding was a large part of the process so students are interested in
learning how it’s done.

This grant provided us with funds to get the program started. Without the funding, we would not have had the
money to purchase the after-school snacks, pay for the entry fee for the competition, or purchase the team t-shirts.
In other words, the program would not exist without the funding. This small team of 8 learned a lot during this
process. The students demonstrated teamwork as they built the robot and agreed on a problem that they would
address. There was research taking place in order to address the problem for the project. They built a robot using
the Lego Mindstorms. This was difficult for them because many of robot plans were extremely detailed. If the
instructions were not followed exactly, the robot would not work. Finally, they needed to program the robot to
achieve the mission. Not only did the students learn a lot but as their coach, I gained a tremendous amount of
knowledge during this process.

Salina Family YMCA, Sport Performance room Adaptive update

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $1,500, Awarded 11/13/2018

Project Summary: Transform a current space to provide a variety of training to enhance the quality of activities of
daily life.

Use of Funds: We purchased a Powerline Functional Trainer with the grant funds awarded.

Impact & Results: At this point in time, we are still in the building stages of our program. We are slowly modifying
the space as funding is available.

4

Church of the Cross, 2019 Night To Shine

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $3,750, Awarded 11/13/2018

Project Summary: Funding for the 2019 Night To Shine event for persons with Special
Needs in the Salina area. Funding will be used to increase the number of guests that
may attend from the Special Needs population and to enhance the event experience.

Use of Funds: Grant funds were used for volunteer support for the event which allowed
for all volunteers to enjoy the dinner with the special needs guests. The dinner cost was
$5,412 and all grant proceeds were used for this purpose.

Impact & Results: 145 Special Needs guests enjoyed an evening where they took
center stage. They were supported by over 250 community volunteers who came
together to honor them. Each guest was given individual attention and were given the
opportunity to celebrate who they are. The volunteers from throughout the community
were fantastic as they joined the guests in their celebration. The grant funding allowed
all participants to enjoy the catered dinner; in the first year only the guests were able to dine, and the addition of
the dinner to all greatly enhanced the experience for both the guests and the volunteers. The event involved the
community as it allowed people to interact with a population that is often forgotten. KWU has been a great partner
as they use the opportunity for some classes to gain direct experience in working with this population. Salina Service
organizations have been a great help in recruiting volunteers for the event and local businesses have donated time
and services to ensuring the experience is at the highest level.

Coronado Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, Oakdale After School Program

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $5,000, Awarded 11/13/2018

Project Summary: When Coronado Area Council visited Oakdale Elementary in 2017, we discovered that funding
for their after-school program had been cut. Since September of 2017 we provided an after-school program twice a
week to students.

Use of Funds: $3,047 were used on intern support; leaving $408 to spend on intern support in the fall. $523 was
used on program supplies, leaving $676 to spend for the fall semester. We still plan to use the $420 to purchase
shirts for the Oakdale Scouts.

Impact & Results: This grant gave us the ability to have the full amount of staff dedication that we can have towards
this program. 60 after-school students who have been in class all day and who may have challenges they are dealing
with outside of school have every right to exhibit some tough behaviors. By being well-staffed, we can ensure for
the hour that they are at the after-school program they are having a positive adult interaction. That may be the only
positive adult interaction they get that day or week. This grant also allowed us to purchase awards for pinewood
derby and their rank advancements so that these kids who worked so hard had something tangible to show for
it! This also went towards materials to make play-doh for the Oakdale preschool and kindergartners to use; that
they earned 120 service hours from making. When we get the t-shirts, it will allow these kids to get that sense of
belonging through uniform.

We accomplished so much this semester. We reached over 60 students, as Oakdale Elementary has a very transient
population we had several students cycle through the program. Of these students all but 7 earned their Bobcat and
rank advancement. We received positive reviews from parents that appreciate the program and the excitement of
their student. The teachers are also impressed with our program and providing a quality meal for their students.
There is so much to be said about this program and so much to look forward to as we continue to adapt and
improve our content.

5

Salina Grace, Salina Grace Shelter

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $5,000, Awarded 1/15/2019

Project Summary: Salina Grace is a winter only overnight shelter to
provide a warm safe place for the homeless community of Saline County.

Use of Funds: Security and Cleaning supplies

Impact & Results: Salina Grace has been able to help 173 individuals
come in off the streets and stay warm as of January 28th 2019. 6 of
which are veterans. 20 have been able to find housing and 35 have found
employment. We have been able to connect 25 with a case worker from Central Kansas Mental Health Center
and 10 with Central Kansas Foundation for further Addiction treatment services. Without the funding from the
GSCF grant we would not have been able to hire the Security Guards to help us with safety concerns and purchase
cleaning supplies to keep the illnesses to a minimum. Thank you for your support.

Salina Community Theatre, Better Sound for Education and Production

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $2,800, Awarded 3/6/2019

Project Summary: Salina Community Theatre wishes to purchase new sound equipment
to better serve the educational, audition, and production process. Electronic and Bluetooth
accessibility has become key In all of these areas.

Use of Funds: Funding used to purchase and install receivers, speakers, wiring in Studio
One, Studio Two, the Rehearsal Room, as well as two portable speakers for rehearsals and
auditions.

Impact & Results: The equipment was installed between Spring and Summer classes, so teachers and students
have not yet experienced using it. SCT will provide more later if needed.

Salina Rescue Mission, Food Service Equipment

Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, $3,720, Awarded 3/6/2019

Project Summary: To replace a refrigerator that is no longer working and replace
damaged food service carts.

Use of Funds: We bought a new refrigerator and shelving for the unit, and 2 heavy duty
food service carts.

Impact & Results: Thank you for providing a new refrigerator and food service carts
through this grant. The Salina Rescue Mission serves approximately 43,000 meals a year
to the homeless in our community as well as others who are struggling to make ends
meet. It is important for people to know where their next meal is coming from so that
they can focus on what they need to do to work towards securing a job, housing, and being able to move forward
in life. Many times we have seen someone come in for a meal and receive so much more. Hope is restored, a sense
of relief, that they can push onward. Thank you for securing the refrigerator which will help us to store foods in a safe
temperature to protect against food borne illness, and for the carts that allows us to move large quantities of food
donations throughout the Mission in a safe and secure manner.

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