Wichita Foundation

Congratulations to the 2024 Humanitarian Award recipients, including our President and CEO Shelly Prichard. The President's Award honors those who have profoundly impacted and inspired others to strive for change in our community. We look forward to celebrating Shelly and the winners at the Humanitarian Awards Benefit in August.

A $416,500 loan from ImpactICT Fund at WF will aid The Neighboring Movement with project renovations in South Central (SoCe) Wichita. The project is set to bring social and economic revitalization. Plans for SoCe include a coffee shop, added retail space and refreshed apartments by late 2025. “Our impact investment loan will kick-start immediate renovations to attract tenants and generate revenue, helping to revive the neighborhood’s spirit,” said WF Chief Strategy Officer Courtney Bengtson. Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/ep4U6WkG

Candace joined our team in April. As our Executive Assistant and Scholarship Coordinator, she supports day-to-day administrative tasks while overseeing scholarships.   "I was attracted to joining an organization dedicated to enhancing our community. I'm eager to collaborate with the team, build meaningful connections, and contribute to projects that keep Wichita moving forward." Get to know more about Candace in our latest news & insights: https://lnkd.in/eQV3rHmg

Are you looking to flex your design muscles and support marketing tactics to✨spark change✨ in Wichita? Be our Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator. Learn more about this new position and apply >> https://lnkd.in/gFeNuHJJ Remember: We're also hiring for a Campaign & Major Gifts Officer >> https://lnkd.in/ga4_vcgc

We're looking for community builders to join our growing team. Do you know someone with a strong desire to spark change in Wichita? Below are two new positions at the Foundation. Learn more and apply: 1️⃣ Campaign & Major Gifts Officer - Be at the forefront of cultivating relationships and campaign and major gifts fundraising 👇  https://lnkd.in/ga4_vcgc 2️⃣ Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator - Flex your design muscles to craft visual content and support marketing strategies 👇 https://lnkd.in/gFeNuHJJ

Congratulations to the 2024 Marketing Awards recipients, including our WF Communications Manager Joselyne Hernandez. WF Board Member Tammy J. Allen was also inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame. Read more about these two community builders in the Wichita Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/eVNQvMcw

A new fiscal year means welcoming new leaders to the Foundation. We're thrilled to introduce four new members to our Board of Directors: - Bree A. Cox, media relations professional - Patrick Gearhart, Simmons Bank - Stephanie Harder, Textron Aviation - Jennifer Hill, McDonald Tinker PA Our staff look forward to working alongside these community builders to spark change in Wichita.

Word to Life has empowered nearly 60 youth from four USD 259 middle schools to navigate their mental health challenges and thrive through artistic expression. Facilitated by hip-hop artist Samuel Thompson and poet Desmond Bryant-White, the program allows students to express their feelings and fears through writing lyrics or poetry. Most recently, students at Sowers Alternative School put together a song using lessons from the program. "Word to Life created a culture where the young people can be seen, heard and valued,” said Sowers Alternative School Behavior Tech Chris Robinson. Read more about Destination Innovation Inc's program, which is supported by the Class of Wichita Fund at WF: https://lnkd.in/gxpueare

On Wednesday, we celebrated and bid farewell to outgoing WF Board members Todd Ramsey, Steve Cox, and Gloria Farha Flentje. Debbie Gann also completed her 2-year term as WF Board Chair. To recognize her, we're gifting $1,000 to her nonprofit of choice: the Kansas Humane Society. These leaders have done so much to support not just our Foundation, but our entire community. Pictured left to right: Shelly Prichard, Todd Ramsey, Steve Cox, Gloria Farha Flentje and Debbie Gann.

Our Foundation is thrilled to announce that Micaela Ramirez will join our team as the Strategic Initiatives Manager in late July. In this newly created role, she will collaborate with partners to develop and implement programs to address community needs. Micaela brings extensive experience, including her previous role as Executive Director at the Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation. Her diverse background equips her with unique insights and skills that will greatly benefit our Foundation and the Wichita community. "I don't only get to provide my perspective, but I get to learn more," said Ramirez. "And I get to be a part of something that's much greater than only my community. It's our overall community and being able to improve it." Read more in the Wichita Business Journal below. https://lnkd.in/ghvWagPx