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Greg Seibel invited three Rotarians who are the head of three foundations in Emporia to speak on philanthropy. There are 22 foundations in Emporia with $300 million in endowed funds.
The Emporia Community Foundation, represented by Shirley Antes, is one of eleven accredited foundations in Kansas. Serving Lyon County and six contiguous counties, ECF has $18 million in funds among 40 funds, half of which are endowed. ECF funds distributed between $1 million to $1.5 million in grants in 2015.
The Flint Hill Technical College Foundation, represented by Mike Crouch, is 25 years old, and is the strongest and most robust among all the technical college foundations in Kansas. It recently largely funded two new facilities, including the new 11,000 square foot welding facility, and three new labs, including the new dental hygiene lab. Their $3 million endowment pays out $70,000 to $80,000 per year to high school juniors and seniors for FHTC scholarships.
The Emporia State University Foundation, represented by Shane Shively, has been breaking records with the Now & Forever Campaign over the past five years. The campaign's goal of $45 million has passed the $50 million mark in funds raised. Almost half of their funds are from estate giving. A recent phenomenon is student-lead philanthropy across the ESU campus. The student foundation raises funds from students to their ESU student peers. Students who run into financial difficulties and who are getting close to dropping out of school are being assisted to help them maintain progress toward their degree. Each student finding themselves in this situation has a story to tell.
Rotarians have been and are currently involved in some of the leading foundations in our region.
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Our club had the Dirty Kanza Checkpoint 3 in Madison for the 200-mile race well-covered during the afternoon of the Dirty Kanza 200. Although the first shift started at 1:00, a strong headwind slowed the riders during their northward journey from Eureka. The lead rider, Ted King, arrived in Madison around 3:00 p.m. There was no other rider activity for about another 30 minutes. The picture here shows part of our crew in Madison that afternoon. 
Thanks to all those representing our club at checkpoint 3 in Madison:
Bill Hartman presented a great program of fly fishing for trout in and around the Blackfeet Nation and Glacier National Park in northwest Montana. If you like getting away from people and getting the opportunity to catch lots of trout, this is the area to go. Bill has been traveling there annually for several years.
Richard Snook provided some good information on veterans issues and needs..jpg)
Gary Ace was recognized by Rotary International for sponsoring new members.
Mobilizing Literacy in Kansas Project. Steve is the former assistant principal of Emporia High School, but is now the director of this exciting project. Funded by a $2 million, five-year Jones Trust grant, this project focuses strictly on literacy in Osage, Lyon and Coffey counties. Foundational years for brain development takes place between 0-8 years old. Students by the end of their third grade who are reading at or above third grade level will be much more successful than those who are not meeting that threshold. In fact, this threshold is used in some jurisdictions as a predictor of future prison building project
Two out of three Little Libraries are up and in use. Rotarian Jamie Reever organized 
the building and painting of the Little Libraries by getting Emporia State University volunteers as part of the United Way Day of Caring. Then Rotarian 
his Motel 6 in Emporia to deal with. He had just installed new televisions in his rooms. The idea of giving televisions to people who cannot afford to buy one occurred to Sam, for in his country of India nearly everything is recycled. It is in his nature to think twice before throwing anything away. The Emporia Rotary Club had just completed a project to refurbish part of the local Salvation Army headquarters. He knew from Leut. Lynn Lopez that the Salvation Army collects and distributes food, clothing and other essentials to people in need in our community. So Sam talked to Rotary Past President Barbara Wry, who had been one of the leaders during the recent Rotary Club project at the Salvation Army. When Barbara learned about the potential donation of televisions, she contacted Lopez about it. Upon hearing the news, Leut Lopez readily accepted the offer and replied immediately that they will be sending their truck and volunteers to carry them from their present upstairs location in Sam's Motel 6 to their truck. Leut Lopez herself arrived and communicated to Sam that she was very happy with his gesture of donating his televisions to those in need. 
Sam wanted to make sure that everyone knows how Rotarian Barbara Wry expediently got Sam in touch with Leut. Lopez, who picked up his donation right away to get them in the hands of those who need them. To show his appreciation, Sam presented Barbara with a backpack to show her that he always has her back.
