RCACF announces scholarship recipients 

This year the Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) is pleased to announce 103 scholarships totaling $526,855 awarded through the Foundation to area students.

Every year, the need for scholarships is greater than the available resources. As tuition continues to rise, support of scholarships becomes even more important. RCACF is pleased to manage 12 scholarship funds. These scholarships were established by donors who believe in the youth of our area and want to support their pursuit of higher education.

The Sean Paul Banks Memorial Scholarship is for students graduating from Russell High School who are involved in sports their senior year and maintain high academic standards. The recipients of $450 scholarships are Jordayn Buhrle and Lauren Franks.

The Adolph Boehler Student Aid Fund is for students graduating from Russell High School. Emily Cole and Lauren Franks received $1,200 scholarships.

The Doran and Bina Dole Scholarship is for students graduating from Russell High School. Hannah Dapogny received a renewable $2,500 scholarship. Jaelynne Seier received a $2,500 scholarship.

The Kenneth V. Dumler Memorial Aid Scholarship is for students graduating from Russell High School. Brayden Strobel received a $925 scholarship.

The Elaine Hilger Scholarship is for students graduating from Russell High School with an interest in music or a career in the medical field. Sydney Krauss received a $1,000 scholarship.

The Joshua Scholarship is for students up to age 30 who are graduates from a high school in Russell County. This scholarship is a permanent endowment of several million dollars created by Dr. Starr F. Schlobohm, who desired to share his success in the oil and gas business with the Russell County area. Annual gifts from his education trust will help the scholarship fund grow to significant levels. A percentage of the fund is allocated annually to scholarships. Matthew Buhrle, Maci Clark, Braydon Gibson, Darian Klee, Kirsten Kyger, Jace Peerman, Delainey Pospichal, Aniya Stierlen, LaAries Winzerling and Mackenzie Zimmerman received $10,000 scholarships. Students receiving $8,500 scholarships are Macie Banks, Cheyenne Blundon, Alexia Charbonneau, Abigail Cross, Bailey Dollison, Jordynn Guenot, Halle Hall, Kelly Lopez, Nick Miller, Abigail Myers, Lauren Myers, Renee Nichol, Aidan Rohr, Hunter Throop, and Jesse Whitmer. Recipients of $5,000 scholarships are Mileah Backhus, Mason Berens, Ryan Birky, Cole Birky, Isabella Boxberger, Jordayn Buhrle, Emily Cole, Jackson Cross, Chesney Cunningham, Hannah Dapogny, Camille Dortland, Tiffany Dortland, Caleigh Evans, Cameron Farmer, Kayla Farmer, Brittan Fritschen, Avalon Garland, Gracie Gray, Cameron Hendryx, Lacy Herndon, Sydney Krauss, Katherine Krauss, Charlie Krug, Tyler Lampert, Kyle Lampert, Aubrey Larson, Grace Lumpkins, Gillian Lynch, Amiah Meiss, Wyatt Middleton, Rylee Miller, Shelby Ney, Jacob Ney, Emerson Nichols, Kayla Noller, Whitney Nuss, Megan Peeler, Caden Pfeiffer, Kalli Pfeiffer, Rhett Pospichal, Chase Prester, Samamtha Ptacek, David Pummell, Christopher Pummell, Rylan Reeves, Andrew Roth, Janae Schulte, Jaelynne Seier, Jacob Sohm, Joshua Sohm, Skylar Steinle, Trevor Steinle, Brayden Strobel, Mackenzie Thomas and Alayna Van Der Wege. Students receiving $1,250 scholarships are Lauren Franks and Gracie Karst.

The Murphy Memorial Scholarship is for high school seniors living in areas served by the following school districts: USD 299, 392, 399, 407 and 432. Students receiving $365 scholarships are Taylor Fallis and Raylyn Paget.

The David Ochs Memorial Scholarship is for students graduating from Russell High School. Mason Berens, Jacob Ney and David Pummell received $1,200 scholarships.

The Pohlman Family Scholarship is for students graduating from USD 407 or USD 399. Recipients of $600 scholarships are Macie Banks and Raylyn Paget.

The Paul E. Ruggels Memorial Scholarship is for college students who have graduated from Russell High School or Natoma High School, with preference to students pursuing a degree in a health care related field. Isabella Boxberger and Jacob Sohm received $900 scholarships.

The Gerald W. Stoppel Academic Scholarship Fund is for students graduating from Russell High School or a former graduate of Russell High School. Recipients of $1,200 scholarships are Emily Cole, Gracie Karst and Kirsten Kyger.

The Ervin and Denzell Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship is for students graduating from Russell High School who intend to earn a degree in education or agriculture. Gracie Gray received a $700 scholarship.

For more information, please call Angela Muller, Executive Director, at 785-445-3611 or visit www.rcacf.org.

The Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) awarded $205,155 in grants to organizations that benefit the Russell County area, including support for parks, education, and housing. Funding comes from the Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Fund, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Fund for a Better Russell County Area, Russell School Appleseed Fund, Helen Hampl Student Aid Fund, the Kansas Health Foundation Public Health Fund and Myers Family Memorial Fund – Myers Furniture.

Funds available through RCACF are available as result of generous donors and regional funders since establishment of the foundation in 2001. Today the foundation holds more than $20 million in endowments used to fund scholarship and community projects. Grant applications typically span projects involving community revitalization, school education, cultural arts, economic development, quality of life, and others.

“This spring, the foundation chose to invest in projects throughout Russell County that promote the arts, park development and student education, particularly career-path education and internship programs. We are also excited to invest in the innovative Holland Hotel Apartments that will provide residential units to alleviate local housing shortages and help revitalize Russell’s Downtown,” said Angie Muller, Director, RCACF.

Grants were awarded to the following:

City of Bunker Hill, $7,060

Park Modernization

K-State Research and Extension Midway District, $2,500

4-H Shooting Sports Program

Lovegrass Music Festival, $1,000

Summer Concert

Lucas Arts & Humanities Council, $5,000

Gallery and Wall Exhibit Display

Lucas Public Library, $470

Learning Together Language Group

** Also supported by Myers Family Memorial Fund, Myers Furniture $407

Ogallala Commons Inc, $6,600

Russell Co Youth Engagement & Career Development

Russell Arts Council, $10,000

Ad Astra Music Festival

Russell Development Inc, $150,000

Holland Hotel Apartments Housing

Smoky Hill Public Television, $1,000

Literacy for Russell County

USD 399, $7,500

Natoma High School Woodshop Equipment

USD 407, $2,600

Simpson Decodable Library

USD 407, $10,000

Career Path to Health Care Program

USD 407, $1,100

Guitar Program

USD 407, $325

Play-based Learning Program

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]

The Russell County Area Community Foundation is accepting applications for spring grants. Online applications are due Thursday, March 30. This year, more than $25,000 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.

Is your organization looking for grants? Join us for the Essential Grant Writing Skills Workshop on February 13 from 9 am until 11 am at Fossil Creek Hotel, Russell. This workshop will give you general grant writing tips, insight on what reviewers look for, some reasons why grants might not get funded, and ideas on where you can find sources of funding. You will get expert advice from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation and Russell County Area Community Foundation. The workshop is FREE, but reserve your spot by contacting Angie Muller, RCACF Director, at 785-445-3611 or email [email protected].

Russell County area high school seniors and students up to age 30 interested in higher education are encouraged to apply for scholarships at the Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) by Feb 15, 2023. More than $500,000 in scholarship are available to students interested in attending technical and trade schools, junior colleges, four-year universities and graduate school.

Scholarships will be awarded from the Sean Paul Banks Memorial Scholarship, the Adolph Boehler Student Aid Fund, the Doran and Bina Dole Scholarship, the Kenneth V. Dumler Memorial Aid Scholarship, the Elaine Hilger Scholarship, the Joshua Scholarship, the Murphy Memorial Scholarship, the David Ochs Memorial Scholarship, the Pohlman Family Scholarship, the Paul E. Ruggels Memorial Scholarship, the Gerald W. Stoppel Academic Scholarship, and the Ervin and Denzell Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship. Take the eligibility quiz at www.rcacf.org to see what scholarships you qualify for then apply online by Feb 15.

For more information, contact Carol Sloper, Scholarship Coordinator, at 785-734-2406 or Angela Muller, RCACF Executive Director, at 785-445-3611 or [email protected].

The Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) awarded $38,400 in fall grants after receiving a record number of applications totaling over $200,000 representing a broad range of community projects.

“The foundation board is pleased with the fall grant applications involving more community groups and volunteers working together on new projects than ever before” said Mallory Davis, RCACF chairperson.

In the competitive environment with limited funds available to grant, the community foundation prioritizes grants based on three criteria: 1. The project should have strong community collaboration with multiple groups and volunteers working together; 2. The project should have a significant impact on the Russell County area; and 3. The project is supported with multiple sources of funding, such as grants and fundraisers.

“The community foundation board favors projects where the applicant has already invested significantly in achieving their goal,” said Chasen Katz, board Secretary-Treasurer. “Sometimes we see applications where RCACF is listed as the only source of funding and those applications score lower than projects where substantial funding already exists through the applicant’s own fund-raising efforts or volunteer in-kind contributions” Katz explained. “RCACF prefers not to be the sole source of funding for any project.”

Requests from tax-supported organizations for assistance with projects that are generally considered operational or could be budgeted as routine maintenance also score lower in the process.

“This fall we received many big grant applications in the early stages of project planning,” said board member Kristen Windscheffel. “As result, an emerging challenge for our Russell County area community is working together on a broader platform of community planning to establish priority and coordination of big projects for optimized community investment.”

Funds available through RCACF are available as result of generous donors and regional funders since establishment of the foundation in 2001. Today the foundation holds more than $20 million in endowments used to fund scholarship and community projects. Grant applications typically span projects involving community revitalization, school education, cultural arts, economic development, quality of life, and others.

“Working through grant applications each year is a humbling responsibility to assure wise investment of grant funds based on the establishing documents and intentions of generous foundation donors,” said board member Jeff Ochampaugh. “Our community can do great things working together and the community foundation along with all the projects past, present, and future are great examples of that” he said.

The Russell County Area Community Foundation is pleased to award these grants to organizations that benefit the Russell County area, including support for the parks, education, literacy, and seniors. Funding comes from the Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Fund, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, and the Kansas Health Foundation Public Health Fund.

The Arc of the Central Plains, $7,500

Russell Play Park

Black Gold Pheasants Forever, $3,000

Youth Trap Team

Bunker Hill Historical Society, $1,200

Museum ADA-compliant Entry Ramp

Russell Arts Council, $2,000

Dream Theater Ice Machine

Russell Development Inc, $5,200

Historic Park Picnic Tables

Russell Housing Authority, $10,000

Lincoln Manor Elevator

Russell Public Library, $2,000

Young Adult Area

USD 407, $7,500

Baseball Field Improvements Applications for the next grant season open February 1 and close March 30. The community foundation will hold a free grant writing workshop on February 13. For more information, contact Angie Muller, RCACF Executive Director, at 785-445-3611 or [email protected]

We have the bold goal in November to raise $50,000 to strengthen the Fund for a Better Russell County area, our community’s charitable savings account that awards grants for local parks, recreation, schools, the arts, public health, economic development and more. Will you please help? Your gift is matched 200%. During November, every $1 donated to the Fund for a Better Russell County Area will be matched with $2 by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation ($1 for the Fund for a Better Russell County Area and $1 for our operations). Give online at www.rcacf.org or send a check payable to RCACF, PO Box 172, Russell, KS 67665. We also accept stock, IRA disbursements, grain and other assets.

In the past, RCACF had to decline grants because the need outweighed the funds. Won’t you help? Your gift will help RCACF make more grants in Russell County to support the causes that matter most to you.

The Russell County Area Community Foundation is accepting applications for fall grants. Online applications are due Friday, September 30 (note new deadline). This year, more than $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 fall 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 September 30. Complete funding criteria and the grant application are available at www.rcacf.org under Grants.