The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation (FSACF) was launched in August 2007 and serves all of Bourbon County as a partner and resource to non-profit organizations whose goal is to improve the quality of life in our area.

The foundation presented the yearly awards at an After-Hours Chamber of Commerce event, hosted by Landmark Bank on November 4.

Thanks to the generosity of area donors, this year the foundation presented awards to 15 organizations totaling $40,345.

 

The foundation received 24 qualifying applications requesting over $89,000, Greg Motley, a member of the board of directors, said.

The following is a photo of representatives of the recipients receiving their awards.

The Beacon received $3,000 to upgrade and expand nutritional food items.

 

Special Olympics of Kansas recognizes the accomplishments of those with intellectual disabilities and received $500 toward that effort.

 

The Uniontown Saddle Club was approved a $4,000 grant to bring electricity to the recreational vehicle area to facilitate overnight camping at the club’s arena.

 

The Gordon Parks Museum received $3,000 to bring a professional dance group from Kansas City, the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Alley, to the museum’s planned Martin Luther King Day.

 

The Food For Kids program provides weekend meals for chronically hungry school children and the foundation presented a $3,000 check to the Kansas Food Bank Warehouse.

 

The First Presbyterian Church Ramp Pack received $2,500 to build wheelchair ramps to homes of needy Fort Scottians.

 

The City of Fort Scott and the Kiwanis Club of Fort Scott received a grant to plant new trees in the community, in the amount of $1,000.

 

Bourbon County Court Appointed Special Advocates received $4,500 to facilitate training for new volunteers and ongoing education for staff.

 

The Christmas in the Park event will be in Gunn Park this year, thanks to the foundation’s $1,000 grant award.

 

The Pioneer Harvest Fiesta organization and the Bourbon County 4-H Clubs partnered to receive a $2,500 grant to spruce up the Cloverleaf Event Center at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds and buy some picnic tables.

 

Fort Scott Compassionate Ministries received a $2,000 grant to fund transportation services, identification documentation, shelter during extreme weather, and space heaters for those in need.

 

Care to Share, a support organization for those with cancer, received a $3,000 award to ease the financial burden for patients and their caregivers by providing transportation, house cleaning, yard work, meals, and any other personal needs while the patient is focused on the cancer battle.

 

Winfield Scott Elementary School first grade teachers will use their $2,500 grant awarded to familiarize students with local resources through trips to businesses, non-profits, and government locations to build backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math and also help students become community-oriented.

 

The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce received a $4,000 grant to upgrade the Christmas decorations for the downtown area.

 

Fort Scott High School Choir Director Whitley Chesney received $3,845 to purchase appropriate attire for performances at concerts, no matter what the student’s economic status.