The Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) awarded $63,660 in grants to organizations that benefit the Russell County area, including support for wildfire disaster prevention, education, the county fair, summer lunch program, youth job training, and public health. Funding comes from the Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Fund, Kansas Health Foundation Public Health Fund, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Russell Schools Appleseed Fund, Helen Hampl Student Aid Fund, and Russell County Disaster Relief Fund.

Gorham Fire District #1,

Wildland/Grass Firefighting Turnout Gear, $16,812

K-State Research and Extension Midway District

Summer Youth Impact Enhancement Intern, $1,250

Ogallala Commons

Russell Youth Engagement and Career Development, $8,000

Post Rock Family Services

Feeding the Future Summer Lunch Program, $2,000 with additional $500 grant from Myers Family Memorial Fund (Marty Myers – Myers Furniture) and $500 from Franc E. Wagner Fund

Russell County Free Fair

Livestock Housing Improvements and Sound System, $7,100 with additional $500 grant from Myers Family Memorial Fund (Marty Myers- Myers Furniture)

Russell County USD 407 Enrichment Foundation

RJSHS Basketball Goal Replacement, $5,000

Smoky Hills Public Television

Studio Improvements, $2,500

USD 399

Woodshop Duster Collector, $2,500

USD 407

Yamaha Clavinova Digital Piano, $8,000

Uncommon Leadership Program, $3,600

Middle School Math Learning Materials, $398

West Central Kansas Hospital Association (Russell Regional Hospital)

Therapy Pool, $5,000

Applications for the next grant season open August 1 and close September 30. For more information, contact Angie Muller, RCACF Executive Director, at 785-445-3611 or [email protected].

Honoring the legacy roots of the Davis Family, Matt and Mallory have established a Fund for the Future to benefit the Russell County area. After serving on the board of directors of Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) for many years, Mallory saw firsthand the impact the community foundation has in our communities.

Because of her experience helping to fund local projects from endowments created by other generous community members, Mallory felt compelled to establish her own fund to improve the quality of life in Russell County for years to come.

Mallory moved to Russell in 2008 and is now proud to call Russell home. She married her husband Matt, a Russell native, two years later and together they work for the family-owned business and make Russell their home with daughters Emma and Alexis.

“I feel that everyone is able to make an impact in their communities whether it be financially or through the gift of your time and talents,” says Mallory. She has served on the West Central Kansas Association Board for Russell Regional Hospital, the Russell Housing Authority Board, Chairperson of RCACF, currently Treasurer of Trinity United Methodist Church, and volunteers to coach youth sports through Russell Rec Commission. Matt and Mallory encourage their daughters to volunteer too. During the summer, Emma volunteers at Trinity Community Thrift Store and Alexis at the Russell Public Library. “Establishing this Fund for the Future is our way of giving back for years to come,” says Mallory.

For many of us, like the Davis family, there is a compelling need to make a difference – to leave a lasting impact on the people most dear to us and the world in which we live. Funds for the Future are planned gifts funded from your estate, and they allow your family’s name and charitable aspirations to live forever – creating a stable, enduring legacy to benefit future generations as you specify. It’s simple and anyone can do it, whether your nest egg is large or small. Simply name RCACF in your will or trust or designate us as a beneficiary of an insurance policy, stock, farmland, property or business holdings. We can tailor options to best fit your needs, contact us at 785.445.3611 or [email protected].

The Russell County Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce a new fund that will support the needs of area children – the Kiwanis Legacy Fund.

The Kiwanis Legacy Fund supports the impactful projects of the Sunrise Kiwanis Club in the Russell area, fostering positive change and enhancing the well-being of children and local residents. The club supports school supply initiatives, Meals on Wheels, bread for the Russell Food Pantry, local scouting, Aktion club in collaboration with Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK), and the much-loved annual Jim Thoman Halloween Parade and Community Easter Egg Hunt.

“The Kiwanis Legacy Fund will continue the caring legacy of Kiwanians locally for generations to come. For decades, Russell has enjoyed a very strong Kiwanis presence in our community. This fund recognizes the past leadership of many and looks forward to a strong future of continuing concern for others, especially children in need. The Sunrise Kiwanis Club is looking for donations to build up their endowment so the good can be multiplied,” said Angie Muller, Executive Director of RCACF.

The Sunrise Kiwanis Club was chartered on January 19, 1984 and has 18 members. Grants from this fund will support people in need in the Russell County area, ensuring that the Kiwanis caring legacy continues to make a difference, forever.

Interested in adding to the Kiwanis Legacy Fund? Tax-deductible donations can be made at any time at www.rcacf.org or by contacting the Russell County Area Community Foundation at 785.445.3611

Honoring the legacy roots of Nancy G Holland, the community foundation is proud to announce a new charitable endowment to benefit students at Russell Jr./Sr. High School. The Nancy G. Holland Fund for the Arts will provide annual income to USD 407 so students may participate and enjoy visual arts, music and other arts-related classes and field trips. This legacy gift will affect generations of current and future students, promoting a greater appreciation of the arts.

Nancy is a life-long philanthropist whose deep love of the Russell community has greatly transformed it for the better. Her new fund joins four other permanent endowments Nancy has created over the past 20-years to support the hospital and the arts, including the Michael S. and Nancy G. Holland Fund, the Michael S. Holland Fund for Russell Regional Hospital, and The Friends of the Deines Cultural Center Emma M. Gaines Memorial Fund. Earlier last year, Nancy established the Bronco Vocational Training Fund to help area students graduate career ready in fields such as welding, media, construction science, agriculture and healthcare.

“The purpose of the community foundation it to help donors like Nancy leave a legacy. We are delighted to help Nancy further her caring concern for the Russell community, especially youth. Thanks to her generosity, generations of Russell area students will know the happiness that comes from making art, performing music and learning trades that can be transformed into prosperous careers,” said Angela Muller, RCACF Executive Director.

Grants from these funds will ensure that Nancy’s faithful stewardship continues forever to support her favorite charitable causes in Russell County. Anyone can add to the funds to expand their reach. Tax-deductible donations can be made at www.rcacf.org or by contacting the Russell County Area Community Foundation at 785.445.3611.

Honoring the legacy of Harvey Kay “Coach” Shank, his family established a charitable fund in his memory to benefit the Russell County area. Kay was a beloved teacher and administrator at Russell High School USD 407 for 25-years. He taught mathematics, coached and held the position of athletic director. Kay was honored as Kansas Boys All-State Coach of the Year and shared the title of Russell County Man of the Year. The highlight of his coaching career was leading the boys Russell Broncos basketball team to a 1979 4A State Championship. Kay’s years as an algebra and geometry teacher inspired many students to pursue careers in education and mathematics fields, and his guidance and determination to succeed influenced scores of student athletes. Kay was a beloved family man and avid community volunteer, serving on the Russell Public Library Board for several years.

Kay’s willingness to inspire generations of students to achieve their dreams has resulted in the Kay Shank Fund which will provide annual income to USD 407 Russell Jr/Sr High School for athletics and mathematics. Grants from this fund will ensure Coach Kay’s inspirational legacy continues to make a difference, forever.

Interested in adding to the Kay Shank Fund? Tax-deductible donations can be made at any time at www.rcacf.org or by contacting the Russell County Area Community Foundation at 785.445.3611.

The Russell County Area Community Foundation is accepting applications for spring grants. Online applications are due Sunday, March 30. This year, $50,000 is available for charitable community improvement projects within the Russell County area. This cycle will fund local community projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Programs and projects that address education, health care, community social services and security, conservation and environment, arts and culture, and community beautification.
• Projects that improve the health and well-being of children living in the Russell County area.
• Programs and projects that aid students enrolled in preschool and grade school in Russell County who need assistance in order to obtain their education.
• Programs and projects which directly benefit the students of the Russell schools and which would not be considered a normal or necessary budget item for basic education.
• Programs that benefit public health and safety.

Funding for the spring grant cycle is provided by the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, the Kansas Health Foundation, the Helen A. Hampl Student Aid Fund, the Russell Schools Apple Seed Fund, and the Russell Area Health Fund.

Nonprofit organizations including government and public entities, educational institutions, and churches are encouraged to apply. Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. on March 30. Complete funding criteria and the grant application are available at www.rcacf.org under Grants.

Thanks to a generous outpouring of contributions, the Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) raised $109,707 in November, setting a new match month record. With matching gifts from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and Patterson Family Foundation, this will result in $279,707 to the community foundation for permanent endowment building and local grant-making.

“We live in a very generous area where so many friends and neighbors wish to support each other. Our goal was to raise $70,000 for the betterment of our communities and we are enormously grateful that so many local donors, business and government entities shared this vision to invest in Russell County. This helped us not only to meet our bold match month goal but exceed it,” said Angie Muller, RCACF Executive Director.

Monies raised will support the Fund for a Better Russell County Area, a permanent endowment that is the foundation’s community grant fund. The fund allows RCACF to make impactful grants to support the arts, education, park development, hunger relief, downtown revitalization, historical preservation, local music festivals, public safety, recycling and community clean-up, the hospital, libraries and more throughout Russell County area.

“We greatly appreciate the investment in Russell County by our partners at the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and Patterson Family Foundation who provided matching incentives,” said Muller.

Since Match Month began nearly a decade ago by the generosity of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, more than one million dollars total has been raised and invested in RCACF to widen community grant-making.

RCACF is celebrating 23 years of service in the Russell County area. As an affiliate of the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation, a tax-exempt 501c3 public charity, we join a collective of area community foundations aimed at increasing philanthropic giving in rural Kansas.

Our mission is to help donors leave a charitable legacy to improve our communities. Today, the foundation has more than 80 charitable funds created by donors for a variety of causes to make the Russell County area stronger. Funds come in all sizes. If you would like to create a charitable fund to ensure the things that matter most to you continue in the Russell County area, please contact RCACF Director Angie Muller at 785.445.3611 or visit rcacf.org.

The University of Kansas School of Business highlighted the success of RCACF’s $100,000 SPARC grant to Russell Regional Hospital to retain dental services in Russell County. We love it when community organizations come together to do good. Thank you, KU, for the shoutout and for your support in helping rural Kansas thrive.

The latest edition of Northwest Kansas Today magazine is stellar and tells the story how community foundations are offering residents an opportunity to help charities today and leave a legacy for tomorrow. Read about the Dean and Betty (Balloun) Boxberger Family Fund, our $100,000 grant to Russell Regional Hospital to retain local dental services, RCACF’s amazing scholarship program, and our cooperation with Russell USD 407 to make Russell Jr/Sr High School a state-of-the-art welding and CTE (career and technical education) center. Thank you, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, for the shout out and for partnering with community foundations in Northwest Kansas to make rural communities a great place to live.