The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. This is the second part of CFSEK’s story series honoring the 25-year history of the organization, while also looking ahead to the next 25 years of positive impact in Southeast Kansas.
Kayla Joy was serving as the President of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce in 2001. She was attending a conference in Wichita in early January hosted by the Kansas Community Leadership Initiative (which eventually became the Kansas Leadership Center). Kayla recalled a particular lunch session at the conference that she remembers fondly:
“We were just chatting over lunch when a Kansas Health Foundation representative casually mentioned a matching funds opportunity to benefit leadership in local communities,” Joy said. “I still laugh that it was so nonchalantly mentioned when it could mean so much to a community, but it stuck with me!”
The matching challenge mentioned that day was to raise $300,000 by the end of 2001, and those funds had to be housed at a community foundation. With a challenge to meet and no community foundation, work had to start quickly.
“I’ve found that if you want something done, you need to involve the right people. Namely, Lynda Wilkinson,” said Joy. “I went and presented her with the idea of doing this challenge and starting a community foundation. She jumped right on board, and we got to work getting a leadership team and laying out the groundwork! I also remember calling Judy Scudamore and talking to her about becoming the first executive director for the foundation, which was so amazing and she was a perfect fit!”
Kayla thought about where the foundation began, and seeing what it has grown to be over 25 years.
“When the foundation started, my daughter was just a baby, and now she has a baby of her own! Time flies, but the work of the foundation is for forever, so who knows where we will be in another 25 years!”
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas awarded over $2.8 million in grants from all foundation funds in 2025 and has facilitated over $28 million in total granting to Southeast Kansas since its inception in 2001. CFSEK serves the region by providing donors with various charitable interests and encouraging charitable giving, which addresses present and future needs in our area. The Columbus Area, Fort Scott Area, and Girard Area Community Foundations are affiliates of CFSEK. More information about CFSEK is available at SoutheastKansas.org.