Lawrence Business Magazine 2018 Q3 by Lawrence Business Magazine

2018 Q3

Publisher: Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC Ann Frame Hertzog & Steven Hertzog Editor-in-Chief: Ann Frame Hertzog Chief Photographer: Steven Hertzog

Graduates, Staff and Volunteers of Family Promise of Lawrence on their porch of their Day Center at 905 Tennessee Street Photo by: Steven Hertzog

Featured Writers: Dr. Mike Anderson Julie Dunlap Bob Luder Emily Mulligan Patricia A. Michaelis, Ph.D. Tara Trenary Liz Weslander Copy Editor: Tara Trenary Contributing Writers: Jackie Hedeman

Daniel Lacy

Contributing Photographers: Patrick Connor

INQUIRIES & ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT:

info@LawrenceBusinessMagazine.com

www.LawrenceBusinessMagazine.com Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC 3514 Clinton Parkway, Suite A-113 Lawrence, KS 66047 Lawrence Business Magazine, is published quarterly by Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC and is distributed by direct mail to businesses in the Lawrence & Douglas County Community. It is also distributed at key retail locations throughout the area and mailed to individual subscribers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reprinted or reproduced without the publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s permission. Lawrence Business Magazine, LLC assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Statements and opinions printed in the Lawrence Business Magazine are the those of the author or advertiser and are not necessarily the opinion of Lawrence Business Magazine.

2018 Q3

Contents Features: 9

Lawrence in Perspective:

The Gift of Dental Care

Elizabeth Watkins: The Gate is Open by Patricia Michaelis, Ph.D.

by Emily Mulligan

Women with a Vision

by Tara Trenary

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No Place Like Home by Bob Luder

A Giving Community

by Liz Weslander

Little Goes a Long Way

Lawrence Business Hall of Fame

Nuturing a Worldwide Need

The Right Fit

More than One Way to Give

by Julie Dunlap

by Bob Luder

by Dr. Michael Anderson

by Julie Dunlap

by Dr. Michael Anderson

Departments: 12

Health

65 Radio 70

Arts

Local Scene

Financial Aid Support

77 Newsmakers Mission:

Lawrence Business Magazine: Telling the stories of people and businesses making a postive impact on Lawrence & Douglas County. /lawrencebusinessmagazine

@LawrenceBizMag

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: LawrenceBusinessMagazine.com/SUBSCRIPTIONS

We have a variety of loan products to fit every need.

Call us today to learn more about our specific products and rates.

Bob Underwood

Vickie Knight

Les Dreiling

David Clark

Derek Bailey

Sarah Schmitt

FULL SERVICE BANKING:

Checking, Savings and Money Market options CDs and IRAs offered at competitive rates Online banking, bill pay and e-statements ★★★★★ Rated 5-Stars by BauerFinancial

LOCALLY OWNED

888A New Hampshire | 3500 Clinton Parkway 785-838-9704 www.GreatAmBank.com 8

LAWRENCE & DOUGLAS CO [IN PERSPECTIVE]

Elizabeth Watkins The Garden Gate Is Still Open by Patricia A. Michaelis, Ph.D., Historical Research & Archival Consulting Photos from the Kansas State Historical Society, kansasmemory.org

own to accomplish this. She also frequently traveled with her employer on similar trips, raising some eyebrows by traveling unchaperoned with a man 16 years older than she was. J.B. attracted investors from the east and foreign companies. From 1873 to 1893, J.B. obtained about 2,500 farms through foreclosures, establishing his farmland holdings. Foreclosures were a product of the times, but only 10 to 20 percent of the mortgages made by J.B. ended in foreclosure.

Before donating it to the University of Kansas (KU) for the chancellor’s residence, J.B. and Elizabeth Watkins left the garden gates of their home, the Outlook, open to provide a shortcut for students walking up the hill to campus. Many believe this was just one way Elizabeth Watkins provided encouragement to students. Elizabeth Miller Watkins and her husband, Jabez Bunting ( J.B.), shared their wealth with Lawrence and the University in numerous ways, and that generosity still impacts the community. Elizabeth (Lizzie Jo as she was known to her family) Miller was born in 1861 in New Paris, Ohio, where her father, Valentine Miller, was a physician. When she was 11, her father joined the Union Army, in which he served as a surgeon during the Civil War. In 1872, the family moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he set up a medical practice. Elizabeth dreamed of attending KU and enrolled in the preparatory school when she was 14. However, her family’s financial difficulties forced her to drop out. At 15, she got a job working for the J.B. Watkins Land and Mortgage Co. She was employed as a clerk but soon promoted to assistant secretary. She eventually became J.B.’s private secretary. The original company’s business was buying land and providing mortgages to other’s buying land. One of her responsibilities was buying land, traveling on her

J.B.’s business grew into an empire, with offices in Dallas, New York, London and Lake Charles, Louisiana. In the 1880s, J.B. purchased nearly 1.5 million acres in Louisiana and built railroads throughout the state. He also got into the banking business, including Watkins National Bank, in Lawrence. The current building was built in 1888. Elizabeth worked on the third floor for the Land and Mortgage Co. The bank occupied the second floor, and the first floor was used as an office for lawyers and civic groups. In 1909, Elizabeth married her boss of more than 30 years in Brooklyn, New York. A brief article in the Lawrence Journal World contained the following announcement: Word has reached Lawrence today from New York of the marriage there last week of Miss Lizzie Miller and Mr. J.B. Watkins, both of this city. This announcement is the most startling that has been made in Lawrence in several years, for no one in Lawrence had any idea that the wedding was to take place. A former director of the Watkins Museum, Steve Jansen believed that Lizzie and J.B. had been romantically involved for most of the time she was his secretary. In addition to accompanying him on long trips, he bought life insurance policies for her and provided for her in his will prior to their marriage. He also believed that the delay in the marriage was because Lizzie’s parents were strong prohibitionists, and J.B. drank heavily. Lizzie’s mother died in 1909, and the couple married that same year. Despite their wealth, Lizzie and J.B. were not included by the city’s elite in social events. They built their mansion, the Outlook, at the end of Lilac Lane three years after their marriage. The three-story Neoclassical Revival mansion had 26 rooms, seven fireplaces and 17 closets, with porches and verandas on every side of the home. Ionic columns graced the front entrance. The more than 6,000-square-foot residence had white stucco walls and a green clay tile roof. The style of the home was called “Prairie Newport.” They only lived in home together for nine years. J.B. died in 1921 at the age of 76. Elizabeth told the Kansas City Star she and J.B. had discussed many things they wanted to do with their wealth but had not fi-

nalized their plans. Having created his own fortune of $2.4 million, J.B. did not want to leave it to his relatives even though he believed they expected to receive it. The estate included seven corporations, 200 Kansas companies, more than 200 Kansas farms and over 100,000 acres of land in Texas and Louisiana. Before J.B.’s death, the couple had been providing financial assistant to hundreds of KU students. The Watkins’s wanted to provide a “hand up,” rather than a “hand out,” to allow students opportunities to improve themselves. On July 1, 1925, Elizabeth donated $75,000 to build Watkins Scholarship Hall, the first cooperative living arrangement for women in the U. S. She then donated another $75,000 to build a similar scholarship hall named for her brother Frank Miller, a Salina banker, who died in 1919. In 1928, Mrs. Watkins provided $200,000 to the city of Lawrence to build a new hospital. In 1929, she donated the Watkins Building to the City of Lawrence, which used it for city offices and, eventually, a historical museum. She donated $175,000 to KU to construct, furnish and maintain a student health facility in 1930. She later donated money to construct the Watkins Nurses Home, a living space for the Watkins Hospital nurses. She donated more than 24,000 acres of land to the KU Endowment Association with no restrictions

“

on the use of the income from the land. This income has been used to purchase the bell that tolls the hour in the campanile and as the largest source of funds for the construction of Danforth Chapel. After her death, her will bequeathed the Outlook to KU to become the Chancellor’s residence.

assigned to the scholarship hall. Her high school counselor suggested she apply for the scholarship hall, and she was accepted. She did not have to pay for housing, and her share of the food costs averaged $50 per month. She received additional support with a scholarship for tuition and books.

However, one of her most unique philanthropic gestures was the creation of the Elizabeth Watkins Scholarship Hall. Her vision to create a scholarship hall where the residents did their own cooking and cleaning to reduce the living costs is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States. Located at 1506 Lilac Ln., the residents were organized into seven kitchens with seven girls assigned to each kitchen. These seven kitchens were in the basement. Each resident cooked one lunch and one dinner each week. The house had a traditional living room, a sunroom, a threeperson study and dressing areas for all the girls on the first floor, as well as two sleeping dorms furnished with bunk beds on the second and third floors. The second-floor dorm was heated, and the third floor was not. Residents chose whether they wanted to sleep warm or cold.

She enjoyed her two years in Watkins Scholarship Hall. Each kitchen had members ranging from freshmen to seniors. Each group also had an international student, with Norma living with a student from Sweden and from East Germany. When Norma lived at Watkins, there were 49 girls and a graduate student who served as a resident assistant.

Norma Hoagland, of Leavenworth, is president of Kitchen 8, an organization to preserve and share the legacy of Elizabeth Watkins and her scholarship hall, where she lived during 1969 to 1971. Norma grew up on a dairy farm near Tecumseh and would not have been able to attend college if she had not been

As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way. – Mary Anne Radmacher

Norma shared memories of several traditions and procedures at the scholarship hall. She remembered that at Christmas, the girls sat in a circle, sang carols and gave “virtual gifts.” They had drawn names and then would give their gift saying, “If I had a million dollars, I would give you … ” The hall had its own disciplinary board, and members had house meetings every other week on Sunday night. There was only one telephone per floor. Each girl had her own code made up of dots and dashes. The first floor phone was answered by the resident on phone duty. She would direct the telephone call to the proper person using a buzzer to tap out the proper code. Norma’s code was dot, dot, dot, dash, dot, dash. The policy was that the sleeping dorms were always quiet, so they were a good place to study without distractions. Norma’s experiences living in Watkins Scholarship Hall impacted her college experience. The Kitchen 8 group is helping document Elizabeth’s legacy by providing a connection to all current and former residents of the Hall. And, this is just one example of the impact of Elizabeth’s philanthropy. It is impossible to document all the KU students and residents of Lawrence who have benefited from her generosity. Many of the donations support activities that are still giving a “hands up” today. In other words, the gate is still open. p

Designs on the Future LMH Maximizes the Well-Being of the Lawrence Community.

by Daniel Lacy, vice president of operations, McCownGordon Construction

It’s easy to think of a hospital as a place that only helps people when they are sick; but that’s a misconception that doesn’t apply to LMH Health. When LMH (Lawrence Memorial Hospital) realized a need for expanded services on the city’s fast-growing west side, Chief Executive Officer Russ Johnson and Chief Operating Officer Karen Shumate knew they wanted to create something lasting that embodied the hospital’s purpose of being a partner for lifelong health.

answers and offer ideas to come up with a medical facility that is not only going to serve LMH and the Lawrence community today, but also for many years down the road. That includes taking into consideration all the advancements in medicine, technology and practices. And, because everyone is working from the same script early on, the design-build approach accelerates the timetable by at least six months.

As the health-care market transforms, issues like improving access, adopting new technologies and promoting wellness are coming to the forefront. These changes mean facilities must enhance and encourage service integration.

Also with LMH’s partnership, the design and construction team has been able to build in community amenities that benefit the health and well-being of everyone, including a therapy garden, event space/rooftop terrace and outdoor walking trails.

The new $100 million LMH Health West Campus will serve as a shining example of how the hospital is adjusting to this changing landscape.

The roughly 200,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to open in 2020, will be built near Rock Chalk Park, in northwest Lawrence.

Creating a Community Asset

Helping the Community and the Economy

LMH used a design-build approach for the West Lawrence project, where McCownGordon Construction is leading a team that includes Pulse Design Group, of Lenexa, and PEC Engineering, of Lawrence. This is a true blending of talent, a team forged and pushing the envelope for a project that best serves the community.

As major employers and businesses, hospitals and the health-care sector as a whole contribute significantly to the economic well-being of a community, according to an analysis published in October 2017 by the Kansas Hospital Association.

With the West Lawrence project, it is the responsibility of the design-build team to ask the right questions, digest the 12

The report explains that health services employs 5,110 people, or about 6.9 percent of all job holders in Douglas County. The health-services sector also has a ripple effect

in terms of additional jobs and spending associated with these organizations. Because of this ripple effect, in total, the employment impact of the health-services sector in Douglas County results in an estimated 7,499 jobs in the local economy. The total income impact of health services results is an estimated $371.3 million for the county economy. Meanwhile, LMH alone provides millions of dollars of uncompensated care to people who need its services but are unable to pay for them. And, the hospital’s civic involvement includes dozens of partnerships and collaborations with the city, county, university, chamber of commerce and many other organizations. LMH’s Johnson and Shumate also note that LMH took community need into account when choosing a site for the West Lawrence campus. “Our development is the first major health-care component in this section of the community,” they explain. “It will improve access to care while complementing Rock Chalk Park and Sports Pavilion Lawrence.” The two executives add that, with many Lawrence residents commuting to work outside the city, the site’s location near K-10 and Interstate 70 will make it convenient for commuters to get their outpatient services quickly and efficiently. Expanding locations for outpatient services, they say, will enable patients to get care where it is most convenience for them, ease parking at the main hospital campus and allow for growth in hospital-based services. The list of services slated for the West Lawrence campus is extensive, including: an orthopedic center of excellence; an expanded LMH Breast Center; an outpatient surgical center; a full imaging center; and an LMH Therapy practice, which will focus on sports rehabilitation services. There will also be office space for primary and specialty physicians. As LMH’s strategies make clear, the hospital of tomorrow will be much different than those of the past. The biggest difference, perhaps, will be the focus on keeping people healthy and limiting the serious illnesses that require hospital admission. Outpatient facilities such as the new LMH Health West Campus that focus on patient access and convenience will pave the future path. As Johnson and Shumate note, “We want to create a different kind of feeling for patients, families and other visitors. After all, LMH isn’t our hospital, it’s the community’s hospital, and we want them to feel like it’s a healthy place.”p 13

“

The

Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.

”

– Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Gift

Dental Care

by Emily Mulligan, photos by Steven Hertzog

Local outreach program offers community members, many of those children, dental care that may otherwise not be available to them. A woman in her 20s stands in the hallway of the Douglas County Dental Clinic looking at her face in the mirror, tears streaming down her cheeks. They are happy tears. “I haven’t had my teeth cleaned since I was a teenager. I haven’t smiled because I was so embarrassed. Now I can smile,” she says.

Mollie Day, DDS, completing a dental exam on a patient; photo by Johnna Harrison (from Allen press)

An elementary school student has been going to the nurse’s office complaining his mouth hurt. Today, school lunch is pizza, which has soft crust, and he can’t even chew that. On top of his toothache, he now has hunger pain, because it hurts too much to eat. Paying attention in class is impossible. The nurse refers his family to the Douglas County Dental Clinic, and now he can eat anything he wants to, the pain a distant memory. And, he can focus on his schoolwork.

A thirtysomething man calls in sick to his warehouse job. His jaw is throbbing, and his cheek is swollen. Eating is out of the question, and the pain is so intense, he can’t even think straight. He doesn’t have a dentist, hasn’t seen one in years, so he goes to the hospital emergency room. The ER staff refers him to the Douglas County Dental Clinic, where he has a root canal. Good thing, too, because the infection from his abscessed tooth could have spread to the rest of his body and made him very ill had he not received dental treatment. Now, he is back at work like nothing happened.

FREE TASTINGS EVERY SATURDAY

Ask aBout Our

WINE CLUB Memberships

for you & as Gifts

A little girl’s teacher notices a student continually picking at her mouth with an unfolded paper clip. The teacher sends the girl to the nurse’s office. The nurse can see multiple pockets of infection in the girl’s mouth. She calls Mom, who is at work in a call center, and tells her about the Douglas County Dental Clinic. Mom makes an appointment for the little girl for the next day. The school counselor arranges a ride to the clinic so Mom doesn’t have to miss work.

4821 West 6 Street, Suite N & 900 New Hampshire, Suite C th

www.CITYWINEMARKET.com

The next week, the girl unexpectedly moves out of town. It might be years until she sees the dentist again, but the infection has cleared, and she has clean teeth and sealants. Shiny, white teeth are not the only gift that dental care delivers. A healthier heart, lower risk for diabetes, fewer headaches and a body free of infection are also results of regular dental care. Being treated by a dentist can even save a person’s life. Although most patients pay on a sliding scale, many local patients, including hundreds of children, receive dental care for no cost through the Douglas County Dental Clinic, 2210 Yale Rd., and its outreach program, Friendly Smiles. “We know there is a need for access to dental care. Most people don’t have any kind of dental insurance, and there are limited providers who accept Medicaid, because it’s 15

clockwise: Julie Branstrom, director of the Douglas County Dental Clinic. Dental staff working with a patient at the DCD Clinic. The DCDC van provides mobile, on location services.

too hard for private practices to accept the pitifully low reimbursements,” says Julie Branstrom, executive director of the Douglas County Dental Clinic. The clinic is a full-scale dentist’s office, offering the full scope of dentistry, including X-rays, cleanings, extractions and root canals, to those who meet residency and income requirements, which are to be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Patient costs are determined on a sliding scale based on where the patient’s household income is in relation to the federal poverty level. Medicaid patients are also welcome, both adults and children. Friendly Smiles Dental Outreach Program takes dental services to local schools, where it operates pop-up dental clinics on-site in schools twice per school year. Children who receive free and reduced lunches at school can qualify for free dental services, and others who have a medical card or commercial dental insurance also can be treated in the school clinics. The Friendly Smiles clinics save parents the trouble of making an appointment or transporting their child to the dentist’s office, and the clinics offer cleanings, X-rays and extractions, among other services. All the parents have to do is sign a consent form, and the school and Friendly Smiles take care of the rest. “We are able to reach a high-need, high-risk population that has so many outside forces in their lives that make it hard to see a dentist. We alleviate that in the schools with Friendly Smiles,” explains Hannah Sheridan-Duque, Friendly Smiles outreach coordinator and office manager for the Douglas County Dental Clinic.

Douglas County Dental Clinic by the Numbers 2017:

4,401 unique patients 8,760 appointments 2,673 children (age 0 to 18)

Friendly Smiles Outreach

Serves 52 schools in 7 counties Pre-K, elementary, middle and high schools 2017-18 school year, served 1,377 kids with 2,957 outreach visits, including 658 kids in Douglas County Provided more than $380,000 worth of charitable care to uninsured kids last year

“In the school setting, the kiddos see the same people year to year. Also, their friends are in the chair next to them getting treatment, so that helps them feel more brave and push back their fears,” she says. With the dental clinic taking place right in the school, the students also miss less class than they would going to the dentist, and the parent doesn’t have to make an appointment, take off work or transport the child to and from, all of which can present challenges to many families. Friendly Smiles has mobile dentist chairs and transports all of its equipment in suitcases that fit in one of its two vans. A dentist along with three to four hygienists staff the efficient operation, made even more streamlined by all of the paperwork being handled prior to the appointments.

PROFESSIONAL

PLACEMENT AND

RECRUITING

SERVICES

EXTENSIVE SKILLS

TRAINING ENSURING OUR CANDIDATES ARE

QUALIFIED

Cordley Elementary, in Lawrence, is one of the 52 schools in seven counties that Friendly Smiles visits each year. Catherine Bolton, Cordley’s mental health support professional, says the benefits of dental care for Cordley students and their families are incalculable. “Dental day at school is my favorite day in the whole world! Any day we can get 30-plus kids in front of the dentist is a great day. Some of these kids have never been to a dentist before,” Bolton says. “What the clinic staff does is outstanding. They know how to handle those kids’ fears, and they really maintain the kids’ dignity.”

CALL OR COME AND SEE US, TODAY! 785-749-7550 www.expresspros.com/LawrenceKS 1000 IOWA, LAWRENCE KS 66044

Bolton clears her schedule on Friendly Smiles days, so she can save the dental staff time by retrieving students from class when it’s their turn. That way, as many Cordley students can be seen as possible. Dental problems in children can manifest themselves in a lot of different ways in the classroom, Bolton explains, including being grumpy and inattentive, and visiting the nurse frequently. “We all know a toothache can really hurt,” she says. “And, most of our students don’t have insurance—it takes a high-level job to have dental insurance.” Bolton says the ability of the Friendly Smiles program to reach children whose families are wrestling with poverty and homelessness is critical. “Families in these situations just don’t think about things like, ‘You should brush your teeth,’ or ‘Do you have a toothbrush?’ ” she says. “When they see the dentist at school, everybody gets a bag with a toothbrush and floss, and everything they need to keep it up at home.” p 17

“

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?

” Women with a Vision

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tensie Oldfather, photo courtesy DCCF

Many local philanthropies focus on helping community members, especially women, get over a single hurdle that’s preventing them from moving ahead. by Tara Trenary, photos by Steven Hertzog

When it comes to giving back to their communities, women these days seem to be leading the charge. And it’s no wonder, with ever-increasing financial success and leadership in business, that women’s philanthropic roles are booming. It’s become clear women are tired of a lack of progress, and they demand equality. Embracing their roles as heads of households and industries, women have become powerful enough to make big changes in their communities as well as help shape public policy. “This new wave of donor activists isn’t one-dimensional, and that’s what’s so exciting,” explains Cynthia Nimmo, president and CEO of Women’s Funding Network, in the February 2017 Forbes article “The Rising Activism in Women’s Philanthropy.” “They are millennials, they’re Gen Y, they’re Gen Z, they’re stay-at-home moms and work-outside-the-home moms, they’re single, they’re married, they work in tech, in finance, in media—you name it. It’s every woman, and she’s paying to shift the policies and systems that prevent women and girls from advancing … My strong belief is that this will continue to grow in 2018.” 18

She continues: “It is absolutely reaching a tipping point now. What was once a trickle is now a tidal wave. We see women donating $25 a month and women donating millions.” This trend toward women stepping up and creating change in their communities is not only evident across the country, it’s also happening right here in our own backyard.

Combining Local Resources In a more traditional role within the Lawrence community, Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) was established in 2000 with a major gift from the late Tensie Oldfather, of Lawrence, who gave generously to a wide variety of local causes and hoped her example would attract other gifts to the foundation. DCCF convenes government agencies, businesses and nonprofit organizations, combining resources to promote positive change. It offers grants to organizations that impact nearly every person in Douglas County.

Heather Hoy, director of philanthropy and community relations for the Douglas County Community Foundation

“We are not a social service agency, rather a charitable giving organization,” explains Heather Hoy, DCCF director of philanthropy and community relations. “Sometimes we are approached by community members who need help, and we are able to refer them to the appropriate service organizations that can help them in crisis.” Some DCCF funds are endowed to provide for future generations, and grants can go to arts as well as cultural, educational, environmental, health, housing, human services and youth organizations within Douglas County and beyond. “Eighty-five percent of the organizations with funds at DCCF have women as their leaders,” Hoy says. “That’s a lot of ladies giving back to our community in the most important ways. … Tensie Oldfather … has inspired all of us to be more generous. Her philosophy that working together to make the world better for future generations is the foundation of DCCF, and I am so proud to be helping to fulfill her legacy for our community.” The foundation’s mission is to enrich the quality of life in Douglas County communities by: 1) building philanthropic resources and relationships; 2) providing attractive options for donors to make philanthropic contributions; and 3) being a catalyst for the betterment of the lives of the citizens of Douglas County. To meet the mission, DCCF offers donors the opportunity to achieve philanthropic and financial goals by establishing charitable donor-advised funds (DAFs). DCCF provides grant support to nonprofit organizations in the community through competitive grant programs including Community Grants (twice a year); LiveWell Community Wellness Grants; Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund Grants; and Momentum Grants. 20

“In 2017, DCCF granted nearly $4 million to support the most vulnerable in our community, improve our environment and provide educational opportunities for children,” Hoy says. “Over the last 18 years, families, individuals, companies and other organizations have contributed over $60 million, and DCCF has granted over $28 million for charitable purposes.” The DCCF staff is supported by a board of directors and a finance committee, which have helped steward asset development and made DCCF an important resource of support in Douglas County, Hoy explains. Sometimes the most interesting ways support has been offered is simply by understanding what a difference something as simple as an industrial washer and dryer can make for an organization like the Community Shelter, or nametags for Meals on Wheels volunteers, or books for a therapy classroom. “The little touches we can make as a philanthropic organization can be overlooked, but we know how appreciated they are by people who are on the ground, making our most vulnerable citizens comfortable, successful or just giving them a sense of normalcy.” Community members know the names of the women with donor-advised funds at DCCF not only for their generosity financially but even more so for the time and talent they lend to the organizations they support in the community. “Douglas County is a shining example of women helping others in our community everyday,” Hoy says. “There are so many women who I have looked up to as I have worked in development that I couldn’t credit just one … so many women who just believe in something and don’t let go until they achieve success for others.”

The Good Women of Lawrence Founded in 1995 by Sarah Jane Russell and Janet Bouley, 100 Good Women began at the grassroots level to support women who had “fallen through the cracks.” After taking a Leadership Lawrence class, Russell felt compelled to do something to help those in need who were waiting for social services to begin or could not qualify for it. The group began with 80 women and a potluck dinner (it is now 500 strong). “Many of us didn’t understand Sarah Jane’s vision, but we knew we wanted to help,” says former board member Jennie Washburn. One Hundred Good Women is a nonprofit volunteer organization that believes service creates a strong community. It is managed by a board of about eight and responds quickly to short-term needs in the Douglas County community to help back up other local social services. Funding comes directly from members and fund-raisers, and there is no paid staff. “The needs in the community are amazingly enormous,” Washburn explains. “Unfortunately, our organization cannot do it all.” With close relationships with other organizations throughout the county, 100 Good Women steps in and provides smaller needs those other groups can’t provide, such as gas money to get to work or an interview; money for groceries to offset the electric bill; or bedding for kids coming back home after foster care. Services provided include household goods donated by members; other services donated by members depending on need; emergency help with food and gas in the form of gift cards, etc. The group does not provide money, housing or jobs, or pay rent or utility bills. “We expect to change someone’s life in a small and significant way,” Washburn explains. “A $50 cash card can make a huge difference when you are feeling desperate.” In the early days, communication was tough, Washburn explains, and getting the word out about 100 Good Women 23

hindered the organization. But today, “communication has increased and improved, and we have honed what we offer and streamlined how requests are fulfilled.” Facebook has become the main communication by which 100 Good Women receives requests, and group members respond almost immediately to each one. Fund-raisers include a spring clothing exchange; a fall book exchange with wine and chocolate; and a winter accessories exchange and annual meeting. The organization also adopts several families at the holidays. Parents are told to let them know what they need. “They ask for the simplest things,” Washburn says, “a blanket, shoes, pots and pans. We try to go above and beyond, (but) parents never want to ask for anything. They want only for their kiddos.” So 100 Good Women surprises its holiday families with gift cards on top of their other needs. The group also gives shelter teens and single moms gift cards, as well as helping First Step women by providing stuffed animals to its children.

Judy Wright founding member of The Fairy Godmother Fund

“Giving back to your community is everything. Everything,” she says. “Buy art, give to a person on the street … pay off a kid’s balance for lunch at school. Just find something that interests you. … You will feel good.”

A Wish Come True In 2003, a group of local women led by Barbara Smith Reavis, former executive director of the United Way, formed The Fairy Godmother Fund to help women in need in Douglas County. Her idea, explains Judy Wright, former director of the University of Kansas (KU) Chancellor’s Club, former assistant vice president of the KU Endowment Association and founding member of The Fairy Godmother Fund, was to “raise $100,000 before the end of 2004 by asking women to each give $100.” Although Wright herself believed that was a hard way to raise money, Reavis wanted to use a grassroots approach that many people could feel they were a part of. By the end of 2004, they had met that initial goal. In spring 2005, the first gifts were given to women in need. Contributing partners throughout Lawrence would recommend qualifying women to the United Way, and it would distribute the fund. “It had to be an emergency, always and only for women,” Wright explains. Fund beneficiaries include women with limited resources facing immediate critical needs that can’t be met by other local funding sources. Some of those who have been helped by the fund in the past include a woman who needed her wood-burning stove repaired so her house would not catch fire during winter (it was her only source of heat); another who needed glasses so she could keep her job; and yet another who had cancer but could not get chemotherapy until her infected teeth were removed (she had no dental insurance to cover this procedure). The fund covered these small, one-time events, which made a big impact in those women’s lives. “By helping women in need, we are helping children and families, as well,” Wright says. 24

According to the Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF), which now manages the fund, financial assistance of up to $499 from The Fairy Godmother Fund can be provided to women who meet the following criteria: on a limited income; limited, short-term, critical need that can’t be handled by any other agency or fund (i.e., the fund does not address rent or utility requests); payment must be made directly to a vendor, not the client; funding must solve an immediate crisis (i.e., no partial payment unless the client has the ability to cover entire payment); applicants must be Douglas County residents. The Fairy Godmother Fund donation checks are written on behalf of recipients to pay bills or expenses. Since the fund’s inception, it has received more than $235,000 in donations and utilized more than $125,000 to help local women and children with crucial emergency assistance. The remainder of the funds has been invested, explains Chip Blaser DCCF executive director, and continue to provide more than $10,000 per year in assistance. Joan Schultz, then executive director of The Willow Domestic Violence Center, a referral agency to the Fairy Godmother Fund, says often, when a woman calls the center seeking access to the fund, they discover what she really needs is services provided by The Willow. Being a referring member has given the center the opportunity to help and reach women who might have missed out on its services. “Knowing it is there for women … is a huge benefit in our community. Women helping women. … Fairy Godmothers matters so much to The Willow and to the community.”

Outstanding Women of KU In May 1900, The Ladies of the Faculty was organized to help women take advantage of the educational, cultural and social heritage of the University of Kansas. In 1915, the now-University Women’s Club (UWC) at the University of Kansas began an annual scholarship donation project among the membership to honor worthy women students. The group has met continuously since 1900 for friendship and to serve the University and Lawrence communities, and has awarded 254 scholarships since its inception. The UWC serves community needs in three ways: 1) scholarship: UWC awards scholarships annually to assist wom-

en students in pursuit of their educational goals at KU; 2) service: UWC members contribute their time and talents to the University and within the Lawrence community; 3) social: UWC fosters friendships, from mentoring newcomers and keeping retirees involved, to forming groups with others who share like interests. With approximately 350 active members, “The UWC offers many opportunities to learn about ways to help others in our community, either through volunteering or financial support. I see the membership growing and using technology to reach even more people,” says Eileen Weiss, UWC presi-

Providing solutions for your business and personal insurance needs. • Workers Compensation • Property • Contract Bonds • Life • Umbrella

BIG CITY

ABILITY

with hometown values

1540 Wakarusa Drive, Suite D • Lawrence, Kansas 66047 phone 785.856.5100 • fax 888.900.4599 www.IntegrityMidwestIns.com

• General Liability • Business Auto • Professional Liability • Home and Auto • Group Benefits

University Women’s Club Board of Directors 2018-2019

dent, former president of the Lawrence Welcome Club and board member of both the Lawrence Community Shelter and the New Generation Society of Lawrence. Since 1915, 254 outstanding KU women scholars have received more than $200,000 in scholarships, money raised through membership dues, donations and special fundraising projects. Its 2015 centennial scholarships honored 10 undergraduate and graduate students, each receiving $3,000 for the coming academic year. This group is the oldest scholarship-granting organization at KU; recent gifts have been made possible by membership donations to an endowed fund started in the 1980s. Kelly Harrington says she was honored to receive a scholarship from the University Women’s Club while working on her master’s degree in social work at KU, particularly because of the club’s history of assisting women achieve their educational goals. “The scholarship was a boost that helped me afford my education, and it was especially meaningful to be recognized by the UWC because of my personal passion for gender equity,” she explains. “Now, I work in the Office of Economic Empowerment at the State of Massachusetts, where we run economic opportunity initiatives, including programs and communications that target the gender pay gap. UWC helped me get to this position, where I can now use my own voice and resources to advocate for other women.” Money isn’t the only way to give back to your community, Hoy explains. So many nonprofits need an extra set of hands or the hidden talent of an individual. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a lot of money; you can help anyway. Don’t be afraid to ask how you can help in ways that don’t equate to writing a check. Nonprofits are small. Help them out with your time and talent. Together, we can make a difference.” p

“

It is not how much we give but how much love we put into giving..

– Mother Teresa

”

Jason Bayless, with the hammer, at his families “Nail Drive Ceremony” to commemorate the start of their Baldwin City home on May 7, 2016 photo by Logan Morley

T here’s No Place Like Home

Continually rising housing prices in Lawrence make homeownership tricky for some, but not out of reach. by Bob Luder, photos by Steven Hertzog

The pride beaming from Bobbi Reid’s voice is palpable when she talks about the two-story, three-bedroom townhome she purchased and recently moved into in Lawrence. It was a life milestone she wasn’t sure she’d ever approach, let alone reach. A data entry/lead trainer for a document imaging company in North Lawrence and single mother of two teenage daughters, Reid’s finances were hit hard by a 2012 divorce, and she had been renting subsidized housing for much of the last 19 years. Homeownership seemed like a dream far out of her reach. But, the memory of a loved one, as well as the love for her two daughters, kept the dream alive. “In 2015, my fiancé passed away,” she says, with more fortitude and steeliness in her voice than yielding sadness. “I always told him that I wanted my own place. I wanted my kids to have a place they could call their own. That was a driving factor in me doing this.” That drive prompted Reid to apply for a 28

home purchase through the Lawrence chapter of Habitat for Humanity, not once but twice. “Initially, I was turned down, so I tried again the next year,” she says. “September of last year, I received a call from a woman who was on the board. She asked, ‘Do you still want a house?’ I said, ‘Like yesterday.’ “I knew this was the only way I could ever own something,” she continues. Habitat for Humanity, which has been in Lawrence nearly 30 years, is an organization perhaps best known for the highprofile involvement of former President Jimmy Carter that gathers volunteers and raises money to build and/or rehabilitate affordable housing for those in need. It is just one of several affordable housing agencies in the Lawrence/Douglas County area. The Lawrence Community Housing Trust (business name Tenants to Homeowners Inc.) uses subsidies from the federal government to sell affordable housing, which it either builds or reha-

bilitates from older houses or units. The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority was founded to build public housing with funding by the federal government but, today, has expanded its services to include jobs and children’s programs, among many other things. Ask just about anyone, and they’ll tell you, as great a city as Lawrence is, it has one of the more difficult housing markets in the central U.S. Costs of homes have risen drastically, as they have around the rest of the country, yet much of the city’s employee force earns wages that place them in the low-to moderate-income categories. That’s made homeownership for many difficult to attain, much less maintain. “It’s very hard in this town,” Reid says. “I didn’t want a handout. Habitat is huge in helping people. But, I still have to pay a mortgage. The loan is interestfree, which is awesome. But, I wasn’t gifted a house.” That’s what all these agencies espouse in their missions, not to give free

Bobbi Reid and her two daughters

Come

handouts but to allow the less fortunate opportunities to pull themselves up and establish independent and productive lives, for themselves and their families. This not only helps those directly affected but the Lawrence community as a whole, they say.

perience the Crown Diﬀerence

cellence Knows cellence

Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority The Lawrence Housing Authority was founded in 1968, merged with the Douglas County Housing Authority in 2001, and is celebrating its 50th year in 2018. Last year, it housed 2,743 Lawrence and Douglas County residents in 1,416 households. That included senior citizens (464), non-elderly disabled (451), families (501), children (993), home veterans (49) and formerly homeless (218). Initially, the Housing Authority built affordable rental units using grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Today, HUD no longer provides funding to build public housing but issues tax credits to build affordable housing for those who fall among lowincome guidelines. Rent for properties managed by the Housing Authority is income-based. Renters pay 30 percent of their income for rent. If they have zero income, a minimum rent is $50 per month. According to the Housing Authority’s executive director, Shannon Oury, a recent housing study stated there was a need for 5,000 units in Lawrence for low-income people. Currently, the Housing Authority has 369 total units of public housing and manages a number of other units through various programs such as New Horizons, which tries to move families out of shelters, and City HOME and HOPE Building, which house the homeless, whether permanently or transitionally. The Housing Authority partnered with Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and Douglas County to build 10 crisis center units for participants with serious, persistent mental illness. Any way you add it up, it’s not enough to satisfy the need. “We continue looking for opportunities to build more units,” Oury says. “The city has stepped up the last few years to address this issue.”

3400 South Iowa Lawrence KS 785-843-7700

CrownAutomotive.com

Oury says Lawrence passed a .05 percent sales tax last year earmarked for affordable housing, as well as formed the Kansas Housing Resource Corp. What she’s perhaps most proud of, however, are the programs the Housing Authority has in place that go beyond simply putting roofs over heads. High on her list is the Move to Work (MTW) program, which encourages tenants to seek work and helps with education and employment services. The Full Circle Youth Program focuses on healthy lifestyles for the children in affordable housing and provides healthy meals and snacks. There are buses to help transport seniors to shopping areas, and the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department hosts senior exercise sessions on-site. “Our goal in the senior population is to allow them to age in place,” Oury says. “For families in the MTW program, the impact is really significant. One woman came to us as a single mother with no real skills. She left an LPN.” Since 2012, the Housing Authority has partnered with Habitat for Humanity in a homebuyer match program. “We remove barriers people have to upward mobility,” Oury says. “Last year, we had four people move out and buy their own home. This year, we’ve had seven.”

Lawrence Community Housing Trust –Tenants to Homeowners Inc. The Lawrence Community Housing Trust endeavors to keep housing affordable with the help of federal and local subsidies. In its homeownership program, it receives a $50,000 subsidy that can only be used for affordable housing. The Housing Trust can then build a $150,000 house and sell it for $100,000. “When you start with $50,000 to $60,000 for a lot, it’s hard to sell a house for less than $200,000,” says Rebecca Buford, executive director. “We can build a nice three-bedroom house for $120,000. If it’s $50,000 for the lot, $175,000 is reasonable.” To date, the Housing Trust has built 96 new-construction homes and rehabilitated or acquired 61 homes for a total of 157 developed affordable houses. The Trust stewards 82 of those units, and all future homes it develops, in trust for perpetual affordability. Thus far, 385 low- and moderateincome families have stepped into first-time homeownership and have begun building equity while having stable housing. “We are doing a good job of using (the funding) in our community,” Buford says. “All the money we get in trust, we restrict it and lock it into that house and into the Lawrence community.” Buford says what she really loves about what the Housing Trust does is that it makes sure new homeowners are successful throughout their time in the house. Because the subsidy can be used as a down payment, buyers are not required to purchase mortgage insurance. All home buyers are 30

mandated to put $25 per month into a maintenance account. If a buyer falls behind on mortgage payments, money from that maintenance account can be used to catch up. “We’ve had zero foreclosures since 2005,” Buford says. “That’s in 130 transactions. If something happens, we find another eligible family to buy the house.” The Housing Trust keeps general contractors on staff to make sure owners aren’t ripped off on bids by outside contractors. And, it builds each home with energy-efficient walls, windows and air-conditioning/heating units. “If what you’re buying is $50,000 less than actual cost, you’re saving about $250 per month on your mortgage payment,” she says. “Energy efficiency goes hand in hand with affordability. We’re saving homeowners $150 per month in utilities.” What most don’t realize, Buford says, is that her homeowners don’t consist of the unemployed and uneducated. They’re people who work jobs that simply don’t pay a wage high enough to afford the standard housing market in Lawrence. In fact, she says almost 40 percent of Lawrence households earn less than $35,000 per year and are eligible for her program.

Shannon Oury, executive director Lawrence-Douglas Co. Housing Authority Presentation to new homeowners of the 86th family to purchase a home through the Tenants to Homeowners program

“The impact to the community is so large,” she says. “The city is full of social workers, teachers, service providers … jobs that don’t pay a lot. This is a life-changer. We’re moving home buyers into the next step in life, build stability so kids can go to college, move on and be successful.”

Erika Zimmerman, executive director, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity at the Jeff Colter dedication

Habitat for Humanity The Lawrence chapter of Habitat for Humanity was established in 1989 after local resident John Gingerich read a book by Habitat founder Millard Fuller, gathered a group of volunteers and raised $10,000 to build a single house on Harper Street. This fall, the organization will begin construction on its 99th and 100th houses, says director Erika Zimmerman. “That’s 100 families helped in 30 years,” Zimmerman says. “We’re very proud of that.” Low-income families and individuals apply to Habitat for Humanity every January and are judged by three criteria, Zimmerman explains, need, ability to pay and willingness to partner. A family selection committee carefully weighs all different aspects of the application and makes a decision. How many families get selected is determined by what land Habitat has available and what funding resources are on hand. Folks who purchase a Habitat house also must agree to a program the organization calls “sweat equity.” It is a mandatory requirement for each selected homeowner to invest a minimum of 200 hours of volunteer labor themselves, which can include hours spent in homeowner education classes, working at Habitat’s ReStore or helping build a Habitat home. The sweat-equity requirement also is looked at as the homeowner’s down payment on the home. “Sweat equity also allows homeowners to get to know other Habitat homeowners as well as learn all of the things that go into building a home,” Zimmerman says. “When maintenance issues arise, the homeowner can be more confident in figuring out the issue and how to fix it.” In 1991, Women Build was formed as part of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity as a program to encourage women in homeownership and the construction career field. It works in the community to raise money to build one home every other year and educates the community about the importance of shelter and homeownership. Thus far, it has raised money to build eight homes. “Without the amazing women in Lawrence who fund-raise and promote the Women Build house each year, we wouldn’t have been able to build our house,” says Andy Brown, a Habitat for Humanity homeowner and Women Build’s most 32

“We just started buying and rehabbing townhomes,” Zimmerman says. “For 2019, we have one townhome, one new build and 10 to 12 home-improvement projects.” Zimmerman says she has one construction manager on staff, and Habitat pays subcontractors for things like foundation work, plumbing and electricity. All other work is performed by volunteers. The Nard Family with Jeremi Lewis and Rebecca Buford of Tenants To Home Owners

recent recipient. “It takes months of work and planning to raise the funds needed to build these houses and keep them affordable for families like mine. I can’t express enough gratitude for the work they do as volunteers.” Though Habitat for Humanity does receive some funding from federal, state and local grants, a big portion of building dollars is raised privately through campaigns, events and relationship building. “The philanthropic spirit is how Lawrence Habitat began and is how it keeps going after all these years,” Zimmerman says. Another source of income for Habitat is the ReStore, which accepts donations of used home goods, recycles and repurposes them, and resells back to the public. The first ReStore was built years ago in Austin, Texas, and the one in Lawrence sits adjacent to the Habitat offices just east of downtown.

“That’s how we can build a five-bedroom home for $120,000,” she says. Habitat also serves as banker in the transaction, overseeing the mortgage process with its homeowners. Mortgages are interest-free, and monthly payments are usually capped at 30 percent of income. Zimmerman says, thus far, 40 of 98 houses have been paid in full or sold. Bobbi Reid hopes to join that list in about 25 years. She and her two daughters moved into their townhome in early July, allowing them to be independent and secure in ways they hadn’t known in quite some time, perhaps ever. “Had this not happened, I don’t know where we’d be right now,” Reid says. “We probably wouldn’t be in Lawrence anymore. “I wanted to stay here. It’s the only place my daughters have ever known. If not for Habitat for Humanity, this would’ve never happened. We would not be here. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” she says.p

KU Endowment President Dale Seuferling (r) meeting with Drue Jennings, longtime board member, KU alumnus and donor; photo by Mark McDonald

A Giving Community Lawrence residents and KU alumni prove generous with donations to their beloved community and university. by Bob Luder, photos by Steven Hertzog

Ever driven by the newest building on the University of Kansas campus, attended the latest showing at the Lawrence Arts Center or witnessed the newest addition to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and wondered, --“Where did the money come from to pay for all this”?-Chances are, it was donated by private citizens like you. It’s called philanthropy, and the Lawrence community has shown throughout history that it can be a giving bunch. “I believe the people of Lawrence have always thought about the town holistically and want the whole town to thrive,” says Chip Blaser, executive director of the Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF). “People really think about how to give back. It’s a testament to how they feel about the community.” Monies that are given to various nonprofit organizations throughout the city and county are, for the most part, collected, managed and distributed by endowment foundations, themselves not-for-profit organizations that facilitate and invest donations from philanthropists for the purpose of supporting their affiliated bodies. For instance, did you know that 85 percent of land on the University of Kansas (KU) Lawrence campus was provided by donations? Sixty-seven percent of all KU buildings were made possible, in part or in whole, by private support. All of that money ran, and continues to run, through the 223-strong staff at KU Endowment. Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH) provides at least $20 million in charitable care each year. That is, the hospital provides care to all, regardless of ability to pay. That substantial amount is made possible by donor support through the LMH Endowment Association. DCCF has provided funding to about 150 different nonprofit organizations throughout Douglas County—from churches to educational groups to the city itself.

Local philanthropists probably would give regardless of whether they had an endowment organization to work with, but, it’s these foundations that make charitable giving organized, efficient and effective. “Our mission is promote philanthropy,” Blaser says. “If that’s happening through us, at LMH or KU, that’s wonderful.”

KU Endowment

The KU Endowment is historical. Established in 1891, it was America’s first foundation for a public university and was called “the fundamental prototype for more than 1,000 college and university foundations throughout the United States” by author Joseph Phelan in --College & University Foundations: Serving America’s Public Higher Education, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.-State financing covers less than 20 percent of KU’s total operating expenses. That makes private gifts vital to the survival of virtually all aspects of the University. “(The endowment) wasn’t founded as a fund-raising organization,” says Dale Seuferling, president, KU Endowment. “But, in the 1940s and ’50s, proactive fund-raising became the norm. “Overall, our mission is to support the university through philanthropy,” he continues. Of the endowment’s 223 employees, 202 work in Lawrence, with 21 stationed in Kansas City and Wichita. A total of 149 are full-time, while 53 are part-time students who handle telecommuting solicitations for donations. That makes KU Endowment a major employer in Kansas. For the fiscal year 2018, which ended June 30, KU Endowment raised $257.4 million, a significant increase from the $154.8 million raised in fiscal year 2017. Most gifts are des35

FRANK IS FINALLY IN STOCK! Framewoods has exclusive rights to this rare photo!

ignated by donors for specific purposes. Many are endowed gifts, which aren’t spent immediately but are invested in the endowment to be available in perpetuity. In turn, the Endowment provided KU a record $191 million in support, an increase over last year’s total of $185.3 million, which also was a record at that time. Of that $191 million, $36.4 million was spent in student support, $40.3 million was spent on faculty, $51.7 million on construction, furnishings and equipment, and $62.6 million on program and other educational support.

Add Frank to your KU Collection

also available signed

“The Lawrence community benefits by being provided things like performing arts, lectures, events at the Dole Institute … ,” Seuferling says. “It all has a tremendous impact on the community at-large.” The endowment is made up of more than 4,000 individual funds. What KU Endowment provides the University each year is a mix of current contributions plus those given in previous years that were invested in the endowment. About 5 percent of the endowment is spent every year. There is a .9 percent income administration fee on endowed funds used to pay for the endowment’s operating costs. “For us, the key is relationship building,” Seuferling says. “We keep donors informed about things they’ve invested in. We earn donors’ trust.

Mario’s 3-Point Shot

“KU is an outstanding university that provides a great product, and we’re here to support it in its mission,” he continues. “It’s an ideal collegiate setting in a quintessential college town. That makes for a fertile philanthropic atmosphere. “It’s as positive and impactful as ever.”

Very Popular Item:

“Rules of Basketball” Rebecca Smith with previous president Gary Sollars and current president Jason Hoover; photo from Gaskins Photography Collection

LMH Health Foundation

www.framewoodslawrence.com

819 Massachusetts St | Lawrence KS 66044 | 785.842.4900 36

Lawrence Memorial Hospital recently became LMH Health (LMHEA), a change meant to recognize the ever-expanding role the organization plays in creating healthy communities in Lawrence and beyond. And, just as LMH Health has grown to serve a much larger purpose—to be a partner for lifelong health—LMH Endowment must also evolve. As LMHEA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019, it will do so as the LMH Health Foundation.

“LMH is on the front line of compassionate care in the Lawrence community,” says Rebecca Smith, executive director of the LMH Endowment Association. “Whether we’re talking about charity care, mental-health and substance-use crises care, or community outreach and education, the tremendous amount of mission work that LMH does is phenomenal.” LMH is a city-owned community hospital and does not benefit from taxpayer dollars. As mentioned before, it serves anyone and everyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. The hospital’s charitable care extends beyond emergency and critical care, and includes behavioral health, substance abuse and community outreach. “In 2017, there were 4,300 emergency room visits related to substance abuse and mental health,” Smith says. Charitable care is a focus for the LMH Endowment Association. “LMH offers not only exceptional care, but it’s available to all,” she says. “The endowment helps LMH meet its purpose by connecting donors to unique, patient-centered giving opportunities that provide state-of-the-art medical care and wellness initiatives for all the people we serve.” The foundation accomplishes its goals by cultivating a strong network of philanthropists, both large and small. They range from civic leaders to former patients and family members, all wishing to help LMH remain one of the preeminent health-care facilities in the area. “The average LMH donor is someone connected to the community, who cares deeply about the health and wellness of that community,” Smith says. “As a fund-raiser, we’re conduits. We’re helping a donor connect with something they’re passionate about. “Hopefully, when people see the impact we’re making here, they’ll go out and bring more donors into the fold,” she continues. “There’s always a need, and donor funding creates a margin of excellence in community health.” The LMH Health Foundation has a number of funds earmarked for specific areas of care. The Help and Healing Fund provides funds to patients for medications and treatments. Catch a Break is a survivor fund for oncology patients. It also hosts a number of annual events to raise money and bring in more donors. Proceeds from the 2018 Penny Jones Golf Tournament, named for a late surgeon at LMH and held every September, supported the purchase of a new surgical instrumentation sterilization system. The Hearts of Gold Gala, a black-tie event, raised nearly $200,000 for the Breast Center, which will be at the LMH West facility and is targeted to open in 2020. “The goal for the breast center is $650,000,” Smith says. “I think we’ll reach that thanks to generous major gifts and Hearts of Gold. The goal is $4 million for LMH West. Donors 37

Three buildings on the KU campus, Capitol Federal Hall Slawson Hall, and the DeBruce Center, all funded through private giving during the Far Above campaign. photos by Steven Hertzog

“

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give..

– Winston S. Churchill

have provided more than $2.3 million to date.” Rock the Block is an annual oncology fund-raiser. Last year, it raised $75,000 for vital sign monitors. It also helps pay for mammograms for women who can’t afford to pay and provides vouchers for PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests. “Events are a wonderful way to bring people into the fold and help the community understand how donor dollars go to work at LMH,” Smith says. She adds that, in an average year, the foundation raises about $1.8 million and transfers about $2 million to the hospital. This year, it’s already raised $2.2 million and is on track to transfer more than $3 million. “You come to find that, these are not endowment relationships, they’re hospital relationships,” Smith says. “With the support we get from this community, you realize LMH is a really special place.”

Douglas County Community Foundation Executive Director Blaser is quick to point out that identifying DCCF as a fund-raising organization is inaccurate. “We don’t really fund-raise,” he says. “We work as a way for families and donors to set up charitable plans. We advocate for philanthropy in the community. We let people know about opportunities for charitable giving. “We’re basically an executive and educational resource for people in the community who want to be charitable,” he continues. 38

”

Blaser says DCCF holds about 225 charitable funds. A number of those are donor-advised funds, where donors have the ability to choose the nonprofit and/or charitable organizations they want to support. Others are designated funds earmarked to go to particular nonprofit organizations, such as the Lawrence Arts Center or Van Go, an arts-based social services organization in town. Still others are nondiscretionary and can be spent where there’s the greatest need. “We can cover all aspects of the community,” Blaser says. “We’re not limited.” DCCF also operates a community grant program that allows nonprofits to apply for grants once per year. The DCCF board designates these grants from unrestricted funds. Other committee-directed grant programs include environmental impact and education grants, or “momentum” grants, meant to break the cycle of poverty. The impacts of such grants are felt citywide. Whether it’s disadvantaged school children receiving a new pair of shoes or a coat for the winter, the homeless getting fed a warm meal or any number of other various charitable organizations in the city, the impact DCCF makes through its facilitation of local philanthropy is immense. “The impact we’re making on children, individuals, seniors … just the whole gamut of the community,” Blaser says. “The really neat thing for us and the benefit for people we work with is the ability to impact so many different areas of the community. The stories we hear back from the impact donors are making on the families they serve … that’s the best part of this job.” p

Thanks for 48 Years! Stop and See Our New Pre-Owned Location. CHEVROLET

BUICK

GMC

2018 GMC Terrain

CADILLAC

www.dalewilleyauto.com

2018 Chevrolet Traverse

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1970 2840 Iowa St

•

Lawrence, KS 66046

•

785-843-5200

“

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another..

– Charles Dickens

”

A Little Goes

Lawrence’s faith-based community is entrenched in helping by Liz Weslander, photos by Steven Hertzog

The value of giving is embedded into nearly every religious tradition. In Lawrence, the positive impact of this commitment to giving is especially visible where churches join together to serve struggling members of the community. Family Promise of Lawrence and Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen are two local nonprofits that rely on the collaboration of area congregations to provide the lion’s share of time and resources required to fulfill the groups’ missions. Each year, the dedication and cooperation of Lawrence’s faith communities help Family Promise get dozens of homeless families back on their feet, and provide thousands of free meals to people in need at LINK. It’s the kind of synergy that could restore anyone’s faith in humanity. “Lawrence is a beautiful, generous community,” says Dana Ortiz, executive director of Family Promise of Lawrence. “People really care here, which is pretty special.” 40

A Promise of Hope Family Promise of Lawrence’s mission is to help homeless families with children to achieve and maintain permanent housing. The Lawrence branch of Family Promise, which is a national organization with 182 affiliates in 42 states, formed in 2008 after former KU ethics professor Joe Reitz gathered with a group of concerned community members to find ways to address the needs of Lawrence’s under-recognized population of homeless families. Family Promise of Lawrence has four fulltime and one part-time paid staff members. “This is a wonderful organization that allows the local faith communities to walk out their faith—not just speak to it,” Ortiz says. “For those who are willing to serve and get a little bit out of their comfort zone, their faith grows.” One of Family Promise of Lawrence’s four pillar programs—congregation rotation—provides temporary shelter in local churches for up to four homeless families at one time. Under the congregation rotation, 15 local churches take turns hosting homeless families

Ashley kisses her son Anthony on the porch of the Family Promise Day Center

a Long Way

families and community members when they are down.

for a week at a time. As hosts, congregations provide families with comfortable sleeping accommodations, nightly home-cooked dinners and a daily grab-and-go breakfast and lunch. During the day, families leave the host congregation and use Family Promise’s Day Center, at 905 Tennessee St., as a base for their daytime needs and activities. Each hosting week takes about 70 different individuals within a congregation to pull it off, Ortiz explains. “Hosting is one the neatest, most impactful parts of this program in that it involves so many people in our community,” she continues. “Every night, the families we work with get to meet new people who are volunteering in the congregations whose only requirement is to offer basic human kindness and hospitality. There is no agenda.” Ortiz says volunteers at hosting congregations are trained to understand that there will be times when families staying with them will have had a rough day and will need their space. But, by sharing home-cooked meals each evening throughout the course of a week, Ortiz says volunteers and families inevitably develop bonds.

“The meal is always a beautiful place for human interactions to take place,” she says. “The dynamic is not just the volunteers serving the families who are homeless, it’s people getting to know other people by gathering together and talking about KU football, or whether we are going to get any rain, or the various sports and arts activities that their kids are participating in.” Ortiz says Family Promise does not discourage volunteers from inviting families to participate in church activities, but it is never a requirement for families to participate. “We don’t say, ‘Don’t do anything but serve the meal,’ ” Ortiz says. “There is a human connection taking place, so as things feel appropriate, people we will be invited to participate in whatever is going on that week at the church or will be invited to come back later. A lot of the invitations are to city functions like the movie nights or the sidewalk sale—the things that the rest of us all do.” Takesha Clark, a local mother of three boys, spent five months in the Family Promise congregation rotation program in 2011 after a house fire left her and her 41

children homeless. Clark found Family Promise through a referral from a counselor at Quail Run Elementary, where her children attended at the time.

stroyed it looking for a football, I just collapsed. But, Pastor John picked me up and told me to take a moment while he took the kids. So, I sat in my truck, and I had my moment.”

“It was a very humbling experience,” Clark says. “It’s not easy, especially being a mother, when your main priority is that your children are taken care of, and then you can’t even provide shelter for them. With Family Promise, instead of sleeping under a bridge, you have a roof over your head. It’s a program that allows you to continue to work and save up, and your kids are fed every night.”

On average, families stay in the congregation rotation for 49 days, Ortiz says. While some families move directly from the rotation into permanent housing, many move into temporary housing for six to nine months. Family Promise currently has access to six temporary housing buildings, which offer a total of 11 different units.

Clark says that one of the most challenging aspects about experiencing homelessness was trying to maintain a sense of structure and normalcy for the kids under extremely stressful circumstances. During the months when her family was rotating among congregations, Clark describes meticulously organizing her children’s belongings into various containers that she stored in the back of her SUV. When her kids went looking for a football one weekend and left the belongings in disarray, it was enough to send her into a tailspin. Having people to lean on through Family Promise helped her to recover in that moment without putting more stress on the kids. “It was a Saturday morning at Morningstar Church, and we were about to get ready to go out to the next church,” Clark says. “I had everything so structured in the back of that truck, and it was helping keep me sane. When the kids de-

“The owners of these buildings let us use the properties at a low market rate, very inexpensively,” Ortiz says, “and, we allow a family that qualifies to move in while they continue to work with us and work to build up a savings to hopefully be able to afford housing at the market rate or, alternatively, become eligible for a Section 8 voucher.” Local churches sponsor three of Family Promise’s temporary housing buildings. Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church, which owns the building that houses the Family Promise Day Center, also owns a four-unit building directly across from the day center. Trinity Lutheran Church gives use of one of its parsonages for temporary housing, and Lawrence Free Methodist Church sponsors another temporary housing unit. Ortiz says that 86 percent of Family Promise of Lawrence graduates remain in permanent housing. In 2017, Family Promise of Lawrence served 54 unique families experienc-

Thinking senior living would be perfect for you or your loved one? Fall is the best time to move in! Reserve the apartment of your choice ahead of the winter rush, and enjoy the brilliance of fall in Kansas with friends and family. • Take trips to see the gorgeous fall foliage • Enjoy Five Star service and fine dining • Relax and enjoy every day, while our caring staff takes care of the rest Call for a tour and Chef prepared meal

www.BrandonWoods.com ASSISTED LIVING • INDEPENDENT LIVING MEMORY CARE • SKILLED NURSING 42

ing homeless, a total of 175 people. It also served more than 375 individuals through its graduate support programs. Family Promise has an additional 23 supporting congregations beyond the 15 hosting congregations that donate in various capacities across all of Family Promise’s programs and initiatives. Some examples include doing work projects at temporary housing units and providing dinners for graduate support classes. “The local communities of faith are involved in all aspects of Family Promise, including financial support,” Ortiz explains. “We could not possibly do what we do without all of our local volunteers but, especially, the faith-based communities.” Despite its help coming during the lowest period in her life, Clark says Family Promise is one the most positive experiences of her lifetime. “Family Promise never leaves you,” Clark says. “Once you join, you are part of a family. After I graduated, they continued to call and check on me, they offered support groups. At Christmas, they made sure that we had what needed. When we come into the Day Center to visit, everyone just loves on us. It’s a true community, and they are not going to let you fail.” Clark’s support for Family Promise goes beyond her kind words. She also serves as the volunteer Family Promise coordinator at her own church, Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church. The church has been a supporting congregation to Family Promise for several years but recently become a hosting congregation under Clark’s leadership. “God calls us to be givers,” Clark says. “We can’t pick and choose who we give to, we have to give because it’s in our nature. We are in there getting our hands dirty, working in that vineyard. I love, love, love the Family Promise ministry and encourage other people to get involved.”

Linked by Love Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen (LINK) is another testament to the positive impact of interfaith organizations in the Lawrence community. LINK has been serving free, hot, homecooked lunches multiple times a week for the last 33 years. Between 40 and 50 different local faith communities take turns organizing, preparing, serving and cleaning up the lunches, which are open to anyone and occur in the basement of First Christian Church from 1 to 2 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as all federal holidays.

top: Two, Family Promise Graduate Families bottom: Staff, board members and volunteers for Family Promise of Lawrence

top to bottom: Hilary Kass teaches a healthy cooking class to Family Promise graduates

Wendi Meisenheimer, LINK board president, says LINK currently serves about 65 to 75 people at each meal, and a wide a variety of people make use of the free lunches. Some are homeless, some live alone and seek company, and others are individuals and families who have hit a point in the month where the budget is tight. “We are open to everyone—any individual who needs a meal or who might be looking for fellowship—if you walk in the door, you are going to get a meal,” Meisenheimer says. “It’s a place that feels safe. It’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We serve all sort of needs.” LINK is run by a small board of five to seven people and is entirely financed through gifts. Its costs include the rent and utilities on the basement at First Christian Church, the salary of its two paid coordinators and the occasional purchase of supplies such as chairs or an ice machine. Beyond that, LINK runs by the grace of the congregations that donate the food and the personnel for LINK meals. “The churches are the ones who make it roll,” Meisenheimer says. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of LINK. We would not be in business without them.” Groups that serve at LINK are responsible for providing 14 casseroles, 10 gallons of milk, as well ample salad, fruits, vegetables and bread. Dessert is highly encouraged. Groups also provide 12 to 14 volunteers who arrive around 11:30 a.m. to prepare the buffet line. Volunteers usually leave around 3 p.m. once the dining room and kitchen are clean. Meisenheimer explains that finding people who are available to give four hours in the middle of a weekday is one of the most common challenges for LINK. This is why congregations often team up to cover a meal. When LINK occasionally comes up short for labor, Meisenheimer says members are good at getting resourceful. “Some of the church volunteers who have been doing this for years are starting to age out at 70 or 80 years old; and, in this generation, everyone works, so we do have gaps about once a month,” Meisenheimer says. “But, we will always figure out a way to serve the meal. We will grab some long-term guests to help serve or find 44

some folks who need to fill some community-service hours.” Like Family Promise, LINK helps meet a pressing community need while providing a structured and meaningful experience for volunteers who are looking to put their faith into action. “In most church settings, you are called to give back to your community; so giving is something that volunteers already have in their hearts,” Meisenheimer says. “LINK is an opportunity to become more submerged in that act of giving.”p

Family Promise Hosting Congregations

Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6001 Bob Billings Pkwy. Connect Church, 3705 Clinton Pkwy. Eudora United Methodist Church, 2084 N. 1300 Rd., Eudora First Baptist Church of Lawrence, 1330 Kasold Dr. First Christian Church of Lawrence, 1000 Kentucky St. First Southern Baptist Church, 4300 W. 6th St. First United Methodist Church of Lawrence, 946 Vermont St. Holy Family Catholic Church, 820 Birch St., Eudora Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2104 Bob Billings Pkwy. Lawrence Free Methodist Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave. Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church, 901 Tennessee St. Morning Star Church, 998 N. 1771 Rd. Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St. St. Margaret’s Church, 5700 W. 6th St. Vintage Church, 1501 New Hampshire St.

Family Promise Supporting Congregations

Bishop Seabury Academy, 4120 Clinton Pkwy. Central United Methodist Church, 1501 Massachusetts St. City Church Lawrence, 2518 Ridge Ct. Eudora Assembly of God, 823 Elm St., Eudora Eudora First Baptist Church, 525 W. 20th St., Eudora Eudora Hesper Friends Meeting, 2355 N. 1100 Rd., Eudora Eudora Holy Family Catholic Church, 820 Birch St., Eudora Eudora St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 738 Church St., Eudora First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence, 1000 Kentucky St. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2211 Inverness Dr. Greenhouse Culture, 1001 Massachusetts St. Islamic Center of Lawrence, 1917 Naismith Dr. Ives Chapel United Methodist Church, 1018 Miami St, Baldwin City Lawrence Heights Christian Church, 2321 Peterson Rd. Lawrence Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland Dr. Ninth Street Missionary Baptist Church, 901 Tennessee St. MOPs, 3001 Lawrence Ave. St. John’s the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1234 Kentucky St. The Lord’s Church, 565 N. 1624 Rd. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont St. Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire St. Velocity Church, 940 New Hampshire St. Vinland United Methodist Church, 1724 N. 692 Rd., Baldwin City

left: Volunteers serve home cooked meal to LINK participant above-top: Dana Ortiz, executive director for Family Promise of Lawrence serving dinner to two mothers in their program. above-bottom: A young girl with her mother learns to cook for herself and her family.

Lawrence by Bob Luder

Honoring Outstanding Lawrence Business Leaders

Cindy Maude

John McGrew

The 2018 Hall of Fame Class

Bob Moore

Michael Treanor

Tuesday, October 2, 2018 DoubleTree by Hilton Tickets are $175 each or $1,300 per table of 8 To order tickets go to: www.kansasja.org and click on “Special Events” or call 785-841-8245 For more information please contact Debbie Harman debbie@kansasja.org

2018 HALL OF FAME SPONSORS

Junior Achievement ( JA) of Kansas is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future and make smart academic and economic choices. What better way to accomplish that mission than to provide real, living examples of some of the highest achievers and most successful entrepreneurs in Lawrence. Bob Moore was such an example. Before his death in 2016, Moore was involved in the development and construction of thousands of single-family homes and apartment units throughout the city. Cindy Maude, with more than 40 years’ experience in marketing, most recently as owner and CEO of Callahan Creek, a Lawrence-based brand strategy and digital marketing firm, was such an example. So was John McGrew, who partnered with friend Bob Billings in developing Alvamar back in the 1960s and led one of the preeminent real estate companies in the Midwest for more than 40 years. And Michael Treanor, who over the last 37 years has grown Treanor Architects into a nationwide powerhouse in structure design. All of these individuals volunteered their time, knowledge and business acumen to the classrooms and in the field with JA, imparting their wisdom and knowhow in the name of building future business leaders. For that, they have been selected as the 2018 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame Laureates. They will be honored at a black-tie tribute dinner Tuesday, October 2 at the DoubleTree by Hilton (Regency Ballroom). This ninth class of honorees was selected based on a record of business achievement and demonstrating excellence in many different categories. Hall of Fame laureates, which in the past have included such notables as Dolph Simons, Sr. (inaugural class of 2010), Billings (2011), Bob Stephens (2012) and Chuck Magerl, are prominent business leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to Lawrence, earned the respect of the local community and work to lead the community to a better, higher level. Each Lawrence Business Hall of Fame laureate has a very different and interesting background, but one thing in common. Each has devoted hours of volunteer time and financial resources in addition to building strong businesses of his/her own. Here is a little more about each honoree.

Business Hall of Fame Junior Achievement Class 2018

Cindy Maude

Callahan Creek has a long history of generosity, one of the company’s core values. Each year, the company contributes 10 percent of profits to public service, involving volunteering and pro bono work. It also has contributed to scholarships to the William Allen White School of Journalism and the School of Design and Architecture. Maude has shown her passion for building Lawrence by working on many community organization boards, including those at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence Arts Center, Friends of the Lied Center and the William Allen White Foundation as well as serving on the city’s Cultural District Task Force.

Maude served as interim CEO for the Lawrence Arts Center and is a proud graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. “I think Junior Achievement is a really great program,” Maude says. “It helps prepare young people for the workplace. It teaches them great skills, from financial skills to working as a team, to negotiating … just the courage to go out there and try something they believe in.” Maude says it’s a great honor to be included as a 2018 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame Laureate. “The people in this Hall of Fame have been tremendous role models to me in helping show me the kind of business person I want to be,” she says. “Not only are they great business people, but they’re people who give back to the community.”

Cindy Maude

Cindy Maude began her career working for design and advertising agencies in Kansas City and Topeka. She began working for Admark in Topeka in 1988. In 1996, she purchased the company, changed the name to Callahan Creek and, in 1999, moved the company to Lawrence.

John McGrew John McGrew is a lifelong Lawrence resident. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1956, obtained his business degree from KU in ’60 and immediately went to work in the family business, becoming President and CEO of McGrew Real Estate, a company started nine years prior by his father, Conrad. Today, McGrew Real Estate has three offices serving the greater Douglas County area and is home to nearly 100 agents and support personnel. I n

1965, McGrew partnered with Billings to develop a 400-acre golf course project in west Lawrence that became Alvamar. Today, Alvamar and its related developments encompass more than 3,000 acres. In retirement, McGrew turned to advocacy and community involvement. He founded Outside for a Better Inside, an organization that spreads awareness of outdoor activity and encourages children and adults alike to spend more time in nature. He also has overseen the developments of the Conrad & Viola McGrew Nature Preserve, the Pat Dawson Billings Nature Area and the Kanza Southwind Nature Preserve. McGrew has served on many boards of directors, including the KU Biodiversity Institute, Douglas County Bank, Faith Promise, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence Villages, Lawrence Board of Realtors, Lawrence Insurance and Lawrence Humane Society. He received the Citizen of the Year Award in 2011.

John McGrew

“I feel we all need to be participants, not just spectators,” McGrew says. “(JA) has done a lot of good with that program over the years. I know people who have gone through the program and have gone on to become business leaders.

“My dad died when I was 14. Some of his friends continued to mentor me, showing me the benefits of hard work and being neighborly. That reverberates throughout the community. “Be kind, be generous and participate.”

Michael Treanor 52

Michael Treanor Michael Treanor established Treanor Architects as a small local architecture firm in 1981. That firm has grown to more than 150 professionals offering architecture and engineering services from eight offices across the country, in San Francisco, Denver, Colorado Springs, Topeka, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas and Atlanta. Treanor decided 21 years ago to focus solely and specifically on certain types of projects, a decision he attributes to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success. Today, Treanor is known nationally as a leader of design in justice facilities, mixed-use housing, student life projects, K-12 education, historic preservation and life sciences laboratory and research centers. Throughout his career, Treanor has made a commitment to environmentally responsible design and has designed green facilities to achieve U.S. Green Building Council standards. He has led multiple projects which have attained the highest levels of LEED certification. Recently, Treanor Architects joined the American Institute of Architectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 2030 commitment to drastically reduce carbon emissions in building design and construction. Treanor holds architecture and environmental design degrees from the University of Kansas. A registered architect in 24 states, he also is a member of the American Institute of Architecture and Urban Land Institute and the Congress of New Urbanism.

Bob Moore lived most of his life in Lawrence, having moved here with his family when he was in the third grade. Upon graduating from Liberty Memorial High School in 1949, he then attended the University of Kansas. In his 20s, he founded Moore Associates, and using a franchised construction system with pre-constructed components, he quickly became one of the biggest national home franchisees in the U.S. An economic downturn prompted the closing of Moore Associates as the 1950s turned to the ‘60s, but he

formed Continental Construction in the early ‘60s and began building apartment projects in the northeast Kansas area. In 1976, he formed Advanco, Inc. and has completed numerous industrial and commercial projects, land development for industrial, commercial and residential uses and property redevelopment. During Moore’s career, he worked with an extensive list of companies, including the State of Kansas, Boeing and Blue Cross BlueShield.

Robert “Bob” Moore

Moore has served on the boards of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence National Bank. He was a founding member of “The Bobs,” a group of donors who annually fund a $10,000 Lawrence Schools Foundation award that honors a Lawrence educator. Moore was married to his wife, Marna, from 1952 until her passing in 2015. He passed away in February 2016. The couple had three children – Matt, Melonie and Martin, and five grandchildren. “Dad was very low-profile and probably wouldn’t want his name to be publicized,” says Martin Moore. “But he would be very honored to be recognized with the people he’s being recognized with. It’s really great he’d be recognized with this group.” JA of Kansas serves more than 28,000 young people annually, inspiring kids to dream big and reach their full potential. To learn more about JA Kansas and its programs and events, visit the website at www.kansasja.org. p

Kenya. Photo by Mike Thompson

“

If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.

– Kofi Annan

by Dr. Mike Anderson

”

Some Lawrencians find helping those in impoverished countries fulfills their desire to give back. James is a Kenyan who grew up in a town called Maai Mahiu, which is translated to “hot water” in English. When he was 5 years old, he ran away from home, not because he hated his family but because he loved his sister. He left so his sister would get his rations of food and, therefore, wouldn’t be hungry. From age 5 to 10, he lived on the streets rummaging through dumpsters and begging for food. At age 10, he discovered an orphanage, one that clothed him and fed him and helped him get an education. He now provides lab resources for the local clinics in town and serves as an interpreter. That orphanage James found was largely made possible by the kinds of people who travel to some of the poorest and health-challenged countries in the world in order to do one thing: give. 54

From Kansas to Kenya Kenya is the last stop on what is called the AIDS highway, which is an actual highway that also goes through the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Truck stops that line this highway are filled with substance abuse, alcohol abuse and prostitution. And, the Kenyan town of Maai Mahiu is considered the worst of the worst. Forty percent of adults here are HIV positive. Hundreds of children are forced into the streets or orphanages when their parents die. Some will even contract HIV from their mothers.

top to bottom: Doctors work at a clinic in Kenya photo by Dr Mike Thompson Tasha Wertin poses with two children in Haiti photo by Stephanie Temple A mother and her child at a clinic in Kenya Photo by Dr Mike Thompson Doctors assist a patient at a clinic in Kenya Photo by Dr Mike Thompson

Dr. Stephen Segebrecht is an ENT-otolaryngologist in Lawrence. Every June since 2005, Segebrecht has gathered a group of people to travel to Kenya in order to help. For the first six years, his group, K2K (a dual anachronism for Kansas to Kenya and Kenya to Kansas), aided the people of Maai Mahiu. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not uncommon for Segebrecht to see a grandmother taking care of six children because their parents died of AIDS. One grandmother, in particular, had a blood pressure of 220 over 148 (120 over 80 is considered normal). Without treatment, she would likely have had a stroke. 55

Taking care of these adults and children is the focus of Segebrecht and his team’s work. He sees people with compromised immune systems, parasitic diseases, upper-respiratory-tract infections, severe knee and back problems and gastrointestinal parasites. For the vast majority, Segebrecht is the first doctor they have ever seen. When food is scarce, parents feed their children “soil cakes,” which is literally just soil. Parasites from that soil get into children’s systems. K2K has put in water-filtration systems and slowdrip irrigation systems, and built grade schools. K2K also develops programs for public health, education, alcohol abuse and women’s rights. In most parts of Kenya, rape and battery against women are not seen as serious crimes. K2K spends time not just instructing women on proper nutrition but also helping them develop jobs and financial security. Segebrecht’s team offers these women refurbished laptops while teaching them about saving money and getting loans. These programs have helped the Kenyan economy by empowering women to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. “It’s possible to transform lives, bring hope,” Segebrecht says. “From their perspective, our presence there is nothing short of grace. Something they didn’t ask for, they couldn’t return the favor and undeserved. That hope and grace is transforming for us, as well.” As you can imagine, it’s not easy to convince others in town to travel to Kenya every June. One of the people who saw value in this trip was Pat Parker, director of the pharmacy department at Lawrence Memorial Hospital (LMH). Ten years ago, Parker began traveling with K2K. Soon, he developed a relationship with the University of Nairobi School of Pharmacy (UoN). Here, he helped with post-graduate programming. Four years ago, he developed a program on how to teach students to vaccinate patients. He worked with UoN to build the program with the faculty at Nairobi. This was particularly important because pharmacists don’t provide vaccinations in Kenya, but the government wants to improve vaccination rates. Doing this work gave Parker the idea to include his students.

Studies in the Field The LMH postgraduate residency program for pharmacists now offers students the opportunity to work in Thailand or with the UoN in Kenya. Here, students gain valuable experience in leadership and management. While in Kenya, students have the opportunity to be in charge of the clinic and find themselves dealing with ailments not often seen in the U.S. It is common for them to see instances of malaria, worms and tuberculosis. Parker explains the experience is paramount to their profession and character. “It gives them a different perspective of our own health-care systems. It gives them a much 56

stronger worldview and appreciation of what they have in the United States. It gives them a feeling of what the rest of the world pays for medicine,” he says. Every year, Parker sees the direct impact Americans are making in this country. He tells the story of one nurse from Nebraska who was traveling with him. “Pat, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m an OB nurse. I deliver babies,” she told him. But, as he explains, on the second day, she delivered a baby. On the third day, a lady came into the clinic hemorrhaging and delivered a baby who was dead. The Nebraska nurse then spent the rest of the day helping the family through its loss. The importance of students in struggling countries is not lost on the University of Kansas (KU). The Jayhawk Health Initiative (JHI) is a program aimed at providing prehealth students with an opportunity to enhance their prehealth knowledge by engaging in experiential learning and philanthropic experiences. Every couple of years, these students get to participate in a medical brigade, where they run clinics and provide health care to different countries. Their most recent brigade was in Panama. For seven days, these KU students see more than 700 patients. In Panama, health-care issues abound. It is not uncommon to see an 80-year-old woman caring for newborn babies. The vast majority of Panamanians they treat have issues related to back and knee pain (from manual-labor jobs working in agriculture), nutritional problems because of bad diets (most Panamanians don’t eat fruits and vegetables because they are too expensive), hygiene (every patient who comes to the clinic goes home with a hygiene pack consisting of soap, toothpaste and toothbrush) and mental-health issues. Here, mental health is a growing problem and one that hasn’t been examined. In Panamanian culture, mental health is not spoken about, which makes it tough to convince someone to open up about his or her problems. Savanna Cox , current executive director of JHI, was part of one of the medical brigades in Panama. In one instance, the brigade treated a little boy who wasn’t talking much in class. They brought the boy and his parents in to talk with a therapist. She marveled at how understanding the parents of the boy became and how relieved they were to finally understand what was going on with their son. Michelle Carrillo, codirector of JHI, has also been on the Panama brigade. For her, JHI is not just helping with medical issues but also quality of life. On one particular occasion, she carried cinder blocks

Vibrant Health ~ Caring Professionals Physical Therapy â&#x20AC;˘ Aqua Therapy Massage Therapy â&#x20AC;˘ Personal Training Wellness Center

We offer free consultations!

Don't just live with that ache or pain. Call us to see how physical therapy can help. 1311 Wakarusa Dr, Ste 1000, Lawrence, KS 66049

www.therapyworkskansas.com 785-749-1300

HEATING & COOLING

Sales

Sevice

Installation

top to bottom: A doctor listens to blood a patients blood pressure; photo by Dr Mike Thompson Doctors discussing eye glasses with patients at a Kenyan health clinic; photos by Pat Parker

several miles to help a community build an outdoor shower for each house. She explains she was the only Hispanic child growing up in McPherson, Kansas, and was hesitant to speak Spanish in her town. In Panama, however, that ability meant something special. “For me, this program showed how much of an impact I specifically could make,” she says. “It reinforced my desire to work in public health. It helped flush out my identity as a person and who I want to be.” Executive director Cox marvels at how, after returning from the brigade, most students came back with a greater appreciation of what they have in the United States. She says most came back with a vigor to do more in their communities, whether it be here in Lawrence or in more rural communities. “The experience with the brigade is eye-opening for things I’ve taken for granted, especially with health care,” Cox says. “Being a student, it gives me more motivation that this is what I want to do with my life.” These brigades often mean helping some of the most struggling countries, but that also means security risks. This year’s brigade was supposed to bring upwards of 70 students to a town in Nicaragua from May 13 through 19. However, security issues over civil unrest in the region where the clinic would have been located cancelled the brigade. The University, along with the members of JHI and likely their parents, decided it was in the students’ best interests to cancel the 2018 brigade. For now, the students will have to wait awhile longer to make a difference on the international scale.

Poverty Abounds

Background and two top pictures - Haiti Tasha Wertin works building with other volunteers in Haiti and helps tend to another women’s medical needs Bottom photo A triage team works under a tree outside a clinic in Kenya; photo by Pat Parker

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. According to the CIA, 80% of Haitians live in poverty. Perhaps no one in Lawrence knows this better than Tasha Wertin. Currently, she and her husband have seven children, all adopted, with another on the way. She was looking to do something more when she learned about a program called Kids Alive through the Lawrence Free Methodist church. Once or twice a year, Wertin visits the town of Cap-Hatien to help locals build houses in an orphanage. This past visit, she even helped build a school. The old school featured only a few rooms where the walls didn’t even go to the ceiling. “I always

wanted to do something, but I didn’t know I could,” she says. Eight years ago, a devastating earthquake ravaged Haiti. The earthquake took 316,000 lives and displaced more than 1.5 million people, the majority of which were children. Thousands among thousands of children who lost their parents came to Cap-Hatien seeking help. “Just to have a pillow is just huge for these children,” Wertin says. Many Haitian children are forced to sleep on the ground. They put one of their shirts on the concrete and try to sleep. The children there have little. Wertin explains just seeing a Band-Aid was huge for these kids. One of the children outside the orphanage was given a towel, and that child wore the towel every day, sometimes on his arm, sometimes around his neck. “He just had so much love and respect for that towel,” she says. A large number of these children only eat three meals a week. The children in the orphanage, however, get three meals a day and a bed. The orphanage currently contains five houses and a school, all of which are surrounded by a wall for security. Each house can fit 12 children. Wertin explains parents are now faking death certificates so their child can go to the orphanage, because they know there’s a better life offered inside its walls. There are no shelters or food banks anywhere in the vicinity for these children. For this reason, Wertin adopted two Haitian girls—Guilande, 10, and Love-Findia, 9. Adoption involves Wertin giving aid once a month to the girls. When she’s there, she often goes on walks with the girls. Guilande doesn’t live in the orphanage. She and Wertin often walk holding hands around the town (something Guilande wouldn’t do on her own). Wertin was later told that when Guilande knows she is coming to visit, she puts on her best clothes (which include jeans and a slightly stained T-shirt). Whenever a car comes on their walk, Guilande yanks Wertin’s hand and body away from the road. (Cars in Haiti are notorious for failing to yield to pedestrians.) The U.S. embassy in Haiti has labeled the roads “chaotic.” Poor road signs and the absence of traffic rules lead to extremely dangerous and unpredictable driving behavior. Outside the walls of the orphanage is a much different life for Guilande. This is why the goal is to build three more houses in the orphanage, which will allow 36 more at-risk children, such as Guilande, to live much more safely. The experience of her work in Haiti has truly made a substantial difference in Wertin’s life. “Coming home and not trying to change our whole world was hard. To experience the severity of their situation is very humbling,” she says. “There is no electricity or plumbing. Everybody is almost always outside living with each other. I didn’t realize how secluded we are in our houses with just our families. We find our joy in our things, and they find their joys in each other.” p 59

“ “We Care at Prompt Care” Full Service • Urgent Care Center Occupational Health No Appointment Necessary • Open 7 Days a Week ALWAYS SEEN AND TREATED BY A PHYSICIAN Michael Geist, M.D. - Owner 3511 Clinton Place – Kasold & Clinton Parkway

785-838-1500 www.promptcarelawrence.com

Money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, our expertise, our love or simply give a smile. The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.

– Steve Goodier

Rack of shoes at the Senior Service League

”

Eleanor Dunlap puts together an outfit of clothes she finds at the Social Service League store (Red skirt: The Villager, $3; Green/blue blouse: Covington, $2; Heels: Pappagallo, $4; Necklace: $4; Clutch: $4)

It’s a common love story: One finds a pair of pants with the perfect fit. The pants move in, and the two live together happily, often for many years before things change. Then seasons change. Jobs change. Waistlines change. And, with one final sigh, the two break up, each in search of another perfect fit. Lawrence has a number of different options where people can send their gently used clothes for all ages and sizes. Many choose to resell their items themselves at garage sales, online or through retail stores, such as longtime Lawrence staple Arizona Trading Co., at 736 Massachusetts St., or any of the other resale stores serving the area. These options all offer instant payment during the transaction as well as opportunities for shoppers to purchase clothing at a fraction of the original retail price. But, for those who wish to impact the clothing choices for the Lawrence community through nonprofit organizations, Lawrence’s oldest charity, the Social Service League, at 905 Rhode Island St., might be the perfect fit. Established immediately after Quantrill’s Raid, in August 1863, by the surviving townspeople concerned about their fellow citizens’ well-being and the town’s sustainability, the Social Service League has a 155-year-old mission of promoting the social welfare of Douglas County by cooperating with local charities in aiding the needy. General manager Lisa Purdon says she is honored to carry on the century-and-a-half-old tradition of what she sums up as, “trying to get our neighbors back on their feet.”

by Julie Dunlap, photos by Steven Hertzog

The retail store, comprised entirely of donated items, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. In addition to providing shoppers with low-priced, high-quality clothing, accessories and household items, the Social Service League has partnered with more than 20 nonprofit organizations in Lawrence to provide free items to those in need. Clients from organizations such as Bert Nash, USD 497, Family Promise, the Lawrence Community Shelter and many more can request vouchers for men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, or for household items such as small appliances, bedding, towels, dishware and more needed to complete a home. Megan Stuke, executive director of Willow Domestic Violence Center (WDVC), appreciates the assistance organizations such as the Social Service League provide. “Being the clearinghouse is hard. In-kind donations are so helpful to those who have needs, but they can be a huge burden to nonprofits,” she explains. “Our storage closet is too small for the volume (of items) our clients need.” WDVC partners primarily with Social Service League and Penn House at Ballard Center to help clients fill the oftenimmediate need for clothing and supplies. “When I started (two years ago), we saw six or seven vouchers per day; but now, we are up to 17 per day,” says Purdon, citing increased awareness and efficiency in the voucher process over a spike in need as the more likely cause for the shift in numbers.

“An entire family can get everything they need at the Social Service League,” says Erika, shopping with her 7-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter with vouchers from one of the two dozen organizations Social Service League assists. “I could not have survived without it,” she adds. Erika’s teenage daughter, Brooke, agrees, lighting up as she describes the store. “Everything in here is unique, and it’s different every time I come,” she exclaims. “Lisa [Purdon] is always so welcoming,” Erika says of her experiences. “My first trip in here, she helped me find bedding for my kids and an entire mix-and-match wardrobe for me so I could keep working even when I was in transition.” Even with the increase in free services, the store has maintained its self-sufficiency, receiving funding from nonvoucher retail sales and supplemental private funding. The service-oriented organization has been able to sustain itself without grants, allowing grant money to be distributed to other groups in need. A favorite way to raise funds outside of regular store hours is by participating in Final Fridays events in the city. This September, Purdon plans an installment of political memorabilia from the past decades, including a pair of George H.W. and Barbara Bush bedroom slippers from the White House gift shop. She hopes this will be a fun, peaceful and profitable way for Lawrencians of all political persuasions to remember times gone by and help finance the operations of the Social Service League. One of the many unique features of the regular inventory is a boutique area filled with high-value designer and vintage 61

items. Sales from this specialized area are key to keeping the store self-sustained. Occasionally, items may come in that could garner a higher profit from an online auction site, but Purdon strongly prefers to keep all items in the Lawrence community, even if it means bringing in a lower price. “The deals here are phenomenal,” Purdon says with a smile. “We had a donation of Asiatica clothing (a high-end designer out of Kansas City) with price tags still on,” she explains. “Pieces that would retail for $750 or $1000, we were able to sell for $50.”

WATER • FIRE • SMOKE • MOLD WIND and MORE

“I found three outfits for job interviews,” says college senior Eleanor Dunlap, “and they totaled less than $50.” Donations can be made during retail hours, and items are placed on the sales floor continually throughout the day. Donors range from local retailers such as Arizona Trading Co. to nonprofits such as 100 Good Women to individuals, including people who relied on the Social Service League in the past and want to pay the gratitude forward by donating now. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful, crazy avalanche,” Purdon says of the flow of items that comes through the donation center. “We edit it, organize it and color-sort it,” she explains of the process.

785-371-2400 rainbowintl.com/Lawrence

The Social Service League only employs two people and has a dedicated team of volunteers who work to make sure the store is clean and items on the floor work and are well-organized. A volunteer board oversees the operations. Each passing hour on the retail floor brings in a new story, whether it be collectors looking for vintage clothing or household decorations, or a parent who has fled an abusive situation with his or her children and is looking for new clothes and household supplies to support the new start he or she seeks. In every case, Purdon combines her passion for helping others and gift for making everyone feel wanted, and welcomes them with her love of the art and history in the store’s many collectibles—making her a true “retail therapist.” The Social Service League accepts in-season clothing that is clean and in excellent condition, as well as shoes and accessories. Purdon recommends that before donating, donors ask themselves if they are giving away items they would feel comfortable giving to friends and family to wear. If the answer is “No,” then the clothing probably belongs with an organization that has the means to reuse and recycle the pieces, such as Goodwill. WDVC’s Stuke agrees, adding that if an item is too stained, damaged or out of date for the donor to wear, the recipient will not want to wear it, either. She emphasizes that every person is worthy of the same standard. The store also takes household items in good working condition, clean linens, toys and more. It is not able to accept broken or stained items, medical equipment, VCR tapes or outdated baby and child-care items.

WHERE TO DONATE YOUR … Adult and Children’s Clothing: Social Service League 905 Rhode Island St.

top: Corey and Andy Wheeler of Salvation Army tbottom: Eleanor Dunlap offering fashion tips to another young customer at the Social Service League (Blouse: H&M, $2.00, Skirt: Mikarose, $3.00 Necklace: $4.00, Flats: Forever 21, $5.00, Clutch: $5.00)

For more information, visit the Social Service League’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/socialserviceleague, or call (785) 843-5414. In addition to the retail store, the Social Service League sponsors a Formal Dress Giveaway (formerly the Prom Dress Drive) each November for area students to receive free dresses for school dances and other special occasions. Details will be released soon, but the event typically occurs at the Lawrence Public Library, with the first several hours reserved for area middle- and high-school students with student IDs to try on the assortment of dresses and select one free of charge. Students also will receive a voucher good at the retail location for accessories. After the student shopping hours end, the store is open to the public, and all remaining items are available for sale for a nominal price (in the past for just $5). With the retail cost of new prom and other formal dresses often soaring well over $100, the opportunity to have a dress for $5 or less means all area students are able to comfortably and confidently participate in traditional, once-in-a-lifetime school social functions. The Salvation Army of Douglas County also has provided support to the community’s clothing and accessory needs both on its own and through the network of area nonprofits. It partners with the Social Service League, in part, to provide eyeglasses for children and adults in the community throughout the year, with Topeka-based Scotch Cleaners to provide winter coats for the community and Payless ShoeSource to provide shoes and backpacks for area school children each fall.

Penn House Clothing Pantry at Ballard 708 Elm St. Salvation Army Thrift Store 1601 W. 23rd St. Catholic Charities 1525 W. 6th St. St. John Rummage House 13th and Kentucky streets Business Attire: Penn House’s Suitable for Work Professional Closet 708 Elm St. New and Gently Used Winter Coats: Scotch Cleaners-Various locations during October Formal Dresses: Social Service League 905 Rhode Island St., late fall BEFORE YOU DONATE, MAKE SURE YOUR ITEM IS: clean, fully intact, wearable, something you would give a friend or family member ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR TEXTILE RECYCLING: • The average American throws away 70 pounds and donates 12 pounds of clothing each year. • Resale thrift stores employ 100,000 people with more than $1 billion in wages. • Charities and private sector reuse/recycling services handle a combined 3.8 billion pounds of clothing each year.

Lt. Corey Wheeler and her husband, Lt. Andy Wheeler, have been with the Salvation Army for the past 22 years, serving Lawrence for 63

Aaron Combs

Isaac Combs • • • • •

• • • •

Agility, Speed, and Power Training Injury Prevention / Pre Habilitation 1 on 1, Couples, Small Group Training Athletic Strength Development By Appt Only

ART (Active Release techniques) MYK (Myokinesthetics) Sports Massage & Bodywork Cupping

4910 Wakarusa Ct, suite A • Lawrence KS 66047 • (785) 766-0763

the past year. “We set up Project Warmth just like a retail store,” Corey explains. Scotch Cleaners collects the coats in October, cleans them all in November and distributes them to Salvation Army locations in Lawrence and Topeka, as needed, throughout the duration of the project, typically late November through Dec. 22. Scotch advertises the drive, and two Salvation Army volunteers coordinate a team of volunteers from Dillon’s and Hallmark to organize the seasonal shop. “Last year, we gave out over 400 coats,” she smiles. “We tracked the families to make sure everyone received coats,” she says, adding that all coats not distributed go to the thrift store for purchase year-round. “The faces on some of these kids, faces that are receiving coats from a facility set up like an actual store—how excited they are to get a new coat.” The store also provides mittens, gloves, scarves and hats to clients to complete the winter set. The backpack and shoe drive each fall provides sneakers, backpacks and school supplies to kids in grades K through 12, with $10,000 worth of new shoes purchased locally thanks to the generosity of the local Rotary Club and $13,000 worth of backpacks and supplies provided with national partners each fall. There is no cap on those donations, with roughly 500 kids being served, including clients from WDVC. “We have to support each other,” Purdon says of the network of nonprofits in Lawrence that work together to identify and fill the needs of the community. p

Giving Back is a

Passion By Susie Rockhold, photos by Steven Hertzog

We lend our support to community charities in so many ways, but the Most Effective is quality air time. Direct communication is the best way to share the information that must get out to the public. We work with large and small community fundraising drives. Some of the larger ones include Visiting Nurses Association 3d Casino Night, LMH Endowment’s Rock the Block Kick Cancer, and the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women. You will find us at Just Food events, Junior Achievement’s Beach Ball party. Maybe it’s a sports’ themed event, Penny Jones Golf Classic, Mario Chalmers Golf Tournament, or my personal favorite Brian Hanni’s Rock Chalk Round Ball Classic to benefit children fighting for their lives against cancer. Runners? How about the Kansas ½ Marathon to benefit Heartland Community Health Center, LMH’s areawide 5K Summer Spray Events. There are some PSA’s, small fundraisers or neighborhood events we contribute to that don’t make the airwaves. The area high school After Proms, school carnivals, volunteer firefighter communities will call or write asking for donations for their prize drawing. We will put together whatever we have, be it tee shirts, cd’s, or free car washes. If your organization has a need, big or small, you can start with our Community Calendar on our web pages. Submit your not-for-profit event on any of our websites at www.klwn.com, www.1059kissfm.com, or www.bull929.com Whatever the cause, we’re happy to help. Local Radio is like word of mouth on steroids. See, we know we talk to at least half of the community every day. And they know the other half! p 65

Mario Chalmers Foundation Field Day helps sponsor the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence

“

Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.

”

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

More Than One Wa to Give

Donating products, services and time instead of cash is paramount to many local organizations. by Dr. Mike Anderson

In-kind donations not only play a major role in fundraising events for not-for-profit organizations but, also, their day-to-day operations. In-kind donations are more tangible, specific and, often, the most economical way to give. They also represent the fastest-growing segment of philanthropic giving.

gives you a donation or lowers the cost on an item or a service that they specialize in, that’s huge for us. From building the Center for Great Futures to helping our Club kids get school supplies to hosting community fund-raising events, we simply couldn’t make ends meet without in-kind donations.”

In-kind donations are mostly given in the form of goods or services, but they can also encompass donations of properties, stocks, bonds or other financial assets. Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence CEO Colby Wilson explains: “In-kind donations don’t get the credit that they deserve. Cash donations are always valuable, of course, but when someone

The United States is the largest in-kind donor country in the world. According to a study done at the Georgia Institute of Technology, U.S. donors (individuals, businesses and the government) contribute roughly $58 billion in in-kind donations per year. Corporations are not leading the way; Individuals and community groups contribute the largest share of in-kind donations. And, it’s not hard to see why.

As Linda Cottin, Cottin’s Hardware and Rental, puts it: “Inkind donations allow small businesses like us to give back to the community in a broad and responsive way. Anyone who has worked in or run a business, or even managed a household budget of any kind, knows that keeping enough cash on hand to cover expenses is a tricky venture. When businesses make in-kind donations, they do not need to wait for checks to clear or business to pick up. In-kind donations allow us to donate immediately on an as-needed basis to anyone and everyone. Giving discounts, donating services, partnering with events or organizations, and donating merchandise all provide the greatest benefit to our community while reaching the largest amount of people possible. Nothing makes us happier than being able to truly help the community that we live, work and play in.” A comprehensive study done in 2013 by the Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development found that 91% of local business owners across the U.S. contribute to their communities, including schools, nonprofits and community groups, by volunteering and making donations. Local business owners invest in the community and have a vested interest in the future of that community. In two further comprehensive studies conducted in 2013 in Austin, Texas, and Portland, Maine, researchers found that locally owned businesses donated four times the amount of money than corporate businesses. The relationship between locally owned businesses in Douglas County and the community is paramount. Emily Peterson, proprietor of Merchants Pub and Plate, believes in-kind donations are a great asset to both community organizations and business owners. “With in-kind donations such as dinners, gift cards and merchandise, we are able to amplify our support, making more frequent and more significant contributions than what we would otherwise be able to accomplish with monetary donations,” she explains. “We also find this format of donations to be symbiotic: The inkind contributions benefit the nonprofit organization, often as a fund-raising tool, and also benefit the local business by increasing its exposure, not to mention strengthening the overall fabric of our community through working together. Win-Win-Win.” Simon and Codi Bates, Bon Bon and Burger Stand, also see in-kind donations as a great collaboration with causes about which they care. “In addition to monetary donations, in-kind donations allow us to give items, food or services that can benefit not only the organization’s bottom line but help businesses like ours show a partnership with organizations we are passionate about in the community,” Simon Bates says. The difference Douglas County business owners are making with in-kind donations is highly visible. As Just Food Executive Director Elizabeth Keever puts it, “From the of-

Are you earning points with Chick-fil-A One™?

2735 Iowa Street, Lawrence KS

SUPERVISED • TRAINED RELIABLE PROFESSIONALS WEEKLY • BIWEEKLY • ONETIME Eco Friendly Cleaners • Move-In/Outs • Carpet Cleaning • Spring/Fall Cleaning • Floors

buckinghampalacehousecleaning.com

We Give Your Home A Royal Cleaning

1st Place

Cleaning/Maid Services

Cleaning For Your Health Since 1984 939 Iowa • Lawrence • 785.842.6264

TRANSFORMING IDEAS INTO COMMERCE

Facilities Guidance Connections

785.832-2110 Learn more at btbcku.com

fice furniture we work on to the computers we use and the 800,000 pounds of food donated every year, Just Food wouldn’t be able to serve thousands of Douglas County residents if it weren’t for in-kind donations.” Before donating, however, it’s important to understand the needs of the organization to which you are donating. “People who make in-kind donations thoughtfully can really help out an organization in need, and The Willow couldn’t survive without them,” says Will Averill, the Willow Domestic Violence Center. “That being said, all nonprofits have stories of getting boxes full of things that are opened, broken, expired or in sizes and quantities they can’t handle. So, I think it’s important for people to look at why they’re donating and research the organizations they are giving the support. That way, the donation goes further, and the donor has a stronger connection to the agency they have supported. Most agencies’ donation policies are carefully thought out, and taking the time to check them out really maximizes a donor’s impact.” It’s also important for business owners to understand what they can and can’t do with their financial deductions. Michele Hammann, a CPA with Summers, Spencer and Company P.A., wants to remind businesses that when they donate in-kind donations to a 501(c)(3), they are only allowed to deduct the actual cost of the donation and not the current fair market value. It’s also important to understand that one must classify that as a charitable contribution in financial statements. “Contributions can be limited as it relates to how much you can actually deduct in any one year, and the IRS requires that amount to be separated from your regular operating expenses,” she explains. It is also important to understand that the donation of time and the act of donating time is typically not eligible for a charitable deduction. Even

if hours are billable and specialized, similar to an attorney, one does not get to deduct the contribution of time on a personal return, but the charity may be able to record it as an in-kind contribution, she continues. Considering the number of not-for-profit organizations in Lawrence and all the organizations that strive to help adults and children, it’s vital for businesses to do what they can to help. Everyday, businesses in Lawrence are asked about in-kind or monetary donations. Some business have multiple requests for donations in one day. Cash is hard for small businesses. In-kind donations are a way to benefit both the business and the not-for-profit organization, as well as lift up and aid in the exposure of both organizations. As Matt Llewellyn, 23rd Street Brewery, says, “In-kind donations really benefit everyone. Good for the nonprofit because it helps them raise money, the business because they are not out cash but gives them exposure. Good for the public because it is a benefit to the community as a whole.” Here in Lawrence, you don’t have to travel far to find a business that understands the importance of giving and an organization that is grateful for its gift.p

left: Al Hack board member at Boys and Girls Club volunteers at the Field Day Event this page: Several Lawrence first responders, from the LKPD and the DGSO, volunteered on the ropes crew at the Boys & Girls Club Over The Edge event

“

Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need.

– Khalil Gibran

”

Financial Aid Support Means a Space for Everyone Donating money to a beloved organization or cause offers much-needed support to the professionals who know how best to allocate it. by Jackie Hedeman, Lawrence Arts Center, photos courtesy Lawrence Arts Center

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about my sphere of influence. I’ve been meditating on the power I have and where I wield it. So far, this has mostly been useful for staving off anxiety; I may not be able to personally do anything of significance about rising sea levels or North Korea, but I can recalibrate my own behaviors. I can support people who can do something about it. If you are motivated by alarm or excitement to support a specific cause or organization, the choice to provide financial support can sometimes feel like a cop-out, the equivalent of sending your niece a gift card for her birthday because all she cares about is video games, and you know nothing about video games. I would argue that charitable giving is one of the best ways to extend your sphere of influence. In particular, unrestricted charitable giving signals your support of meaningful causes, while allowing profes70

sionals to do the work they do best. To extend the metaphor, sure, your niece, connoisseur of video games, will be able to pick the video game that makes her heart sing. General operating support is a vote of confidence in that organization and an acknowledgement of its expertise. In addition, such gifts are an acknowledgement of the reality of the work that goes into running a nonprofit. Grantmakers for Effective Organizations puts it this way in its General Operating Support Action Guide: “Flexibility. Predictability. Stability. The same words come up again and again in conversations among grantmakers and nonprofits about the benefits of general operating support. Two questions are at the heart of these discussions: How can grantmakers expect nonprofits to deliver on their missions when many of them are struggling just to stay afloat? How can grantmakers expect nonprofits to perform effectively when they don’t have the funds they need to invest in decent salaries, technology and

other infrastructure?” These gifts have a direct impact on both that organization’s ability to carry out its mission and on that organization’s participants. Donations earmarked for a particular project or program are valuable, of course, but those projects and programs rely on their organization’s ability to keep the lights on and employees fed. Consider making general operating donations in honor or in memory of someone important in your life. This can be a way to lend significance and specificity to an unrestricted gift. Gifts made to financial aid funds also maximize impact. When schools and educational organizations charge tuition, they must offer a program of financial aid if they are to consider themselves a service to the community. If education is ever really going to be the great equalizer, equality of access is essential. A robust financial aid program, ideally built on grants and scholarships rather than loans, can go a long way toward bringing people in the door. Donations made to financial aid funds are another way to hand your metaphorical niece the metaphorical gift card and set her loose. Those most in need gain the ability to customize their classroom experience without being financially burdened as a result of their curiosity and eagerness to learn. At the Lawrence Arts Center, a donation to our Financial Aid Fund is a donation to the financial aid recipient, with no restrictions placed on the type of class or activity they may use financial aid funds to access. I hear financial aid success stories on a nearly weekly basis at the Arts Center, so I am eager to see more organizations unaffiliated with educational institutions offer financial aid. Offering financial aid can be an opportunity to allow donors

to rise to a challenge. More significantly, offering financial aid indicates an organization’s classes and activities are essential and worthwhile. Essential programming is necessarily available to the community at-large, not only the most affluent. Beyond providing assistance for individuals and families, a financial aid fund allows for community engagement with public education and social service institutions, and for students from those institutions to attend classes at a free or significantly reduced rate. At the Lawrence Arts Center, we have been enriched by our relationships with USD 497, Boys and Girls Club, Head Start, Little Nations Academic Center at Haskell Indian Nations University, The Children’s Shelter, Douglas County CASA, Lawrence Community Shelter, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Family Promise and Douglas County Housing Authority.

3500 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka, Kansas 66611-2374 Main (785) 233-2338 Toll Free (877) 489-4656 Fax (785) 233-6864

www.MainlinePrinting.com

General operating support allows us to do what we do. Financial aid support allows our students to do what they do. As School of Dance coordinator Olivia Hernández puts it, “There is such joy [in being] a small part of that process for them, to be the one who mails them their scholarship acceptance letter, or to be the person who encourages them to come to the forefront, come to this audition, being able to reach out to low-income families who think that there’s not a space for them and really let them know that we have financial aid here. I’ve been in that position before. This is a space for you.” p

COTTONWOOD INC MASS ST MOSEY & GRAND TASTING

THE LOCAL

[SCENE]

THE LOCAL

[SCENE]

LMH HEALTH HEARTS OF GOLD

NEWS [MAKERS] PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Good Energy Solutions of Lawrence, Kansas Recognized as a 2018 Top Solar Contractor More than 10,600 megawatts of solar power were installed last year in the United States, and local installer Good Energy Solutions has been recognized by Solar Power World magazine for its contributions to the industry. Good Energy Solutions achieved a rank of 248 out of 450 solar companies on the magazine’s 2018 Top Solar Contractors list.

O’Malley Beverage of Kansas earns Anheuser-Busch Ambassador of Excellence Gold - Top Performer Award O’Malley Beverage of Kansas earned the Anheuser-Busch Ambassador of Excellence Top Performer designation for the company’s performance in 2017, successfully reaching the distinguished Gold Level of achievement. The O’Malley organization is one of just seven teams out of 450 to attain the Gold Level in the program, recognizing the Top Performing Anheuser-Busch wholesalers that achieve exemplary results in the areas of leadership, teamwork, and commitment.

PROSOCO products used on local concrete art floor / renovation A recent renovation of Lawrence’s Peace Mennonite Church provided an opportunity to turn ordinary concrete floors into works of art. In seeking out a company to install two artistic designs on its finished concrete floors (one of a Tree of Life and one of a meditative labyrinth), the church’s building committee discovered the concrete colors and stains used for the artwork came from PROSOCO, also of Lawrence. Work was completed by Ennis Art of Asheville, N.C.

Brian McClendon has the technology and leadership experience to manage and secure our elections, protect the fundamental right of every eligible Kansas citizen to vote, and safeguard our voter data.

Learn more: bam4kansas.com facebook.com/bam4kansas twitter.com/bam4kansas info@bam4kansas.com 77

WHOSE DESK ? Be the first to correctly guess which local business figure works behind this desk. Winner receives a $50 gift card to 23rd Street Brewery. facebook.com/lawrencebusinessmagazine