GRANT COUNTY GIVES 2023

American G I Forum:

Dr. Hector Garcia believed in the American dream and lived it. He was a man who passionately quoted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and applied such texts to the outcast minorities of society. He inspired Mexican Americans to educate themselves in democratic principles, then worked to apply those principles to all people through his organization, The American GI Forum. Dr. Hector P. Garcia saw the flagrant deprivation of rights of Mexican Americans and spent his life working to effect positive change.  The local chapter of American G I Form has established an education fund that funds scholarships to outstanding local youth.  The education fund is the part that is supported by Grant County Gives.

Bob Wilson Memorial Grant County Hospital Auxiliary:

The Auxiliary is comprised of a group of dedicated volunteers that provide services to the hospital and community. They operate the gift shop located in the hospital, featuring handmade baby items, hold other fundraising projects, and receive monetary gifts throughout the year. These funds are used to purchase needed medical equipment to serve our community and to provide scholarships to entering or continuing students in the medical field. Their purchases for medical equipment average around $7,000 per year. They give 10 scholarships each year of at least $1,000 each, provide gift packages to new patients, host an Appreciation Tea for the hospital personnel and provide gift coupons to hospital personnel. Other ongoing projects they sponsor or are involved with are the Red Cross Blood Drive, Pink Ladies (greeters are the hospital), Visiting Angels (patient visitation), Child Car Seat Safety program, free medical information cards, October Fest, Tumbleweed Bazaar, Chocolate Affair, Scrubs, Geneva Linens, Fall Bake Sale and Knitted Knockers.

Career and Technical Educational Scholarship:

This scholarship serves seniors of Ulysses High School who want to further their education in a Technical School, learning a meaningful trade.  Not all students are college bound.  This scholarship is for students whose talents better lend themselves to learning a skill that will elevate their lives, such as welding, auto or diesel mechanics, auto body repair, plumbing, HVAC, construction management, cosmetology/barbering, etc.  

Compass Behavioral Health Center:

Compass Behavioral Health Center is a community mental health center that offers comprehensive behavioral outpatient, inpatient, community and children’s services.  Our main goal is to put people first while providing the best care possible. We offer a wide range of services through our competent, professional staff which possesses many years of behavioral health experience.  Compass Behavioral Health Center has been serving Southwest Kansas since 1961 when Garden City’s Outpatient Office opened. Since 1961 AMHC has expanded to Dodge City in 1968, Ulysses in 1970 and Scott City in 1976.  All funds from Grant County Gives will be used for the Compass Behavioral Health Center in Grant County, Kansas.

Core Community Ulysses:

Compass Behavioral Health Center is a community mental health center that offers comprehensive behavioral outpatient, inpatient, community and children’s services.  Our main goal is to put people first while providing the best care possible. We offer a wide range of services through our competent, professional staff which possesses many years of behavioral health experience.  Compass Behavioral Health Center has been serving Southwest Kansas since 1961 when Garden City’s Outpatient Office opened. Since 1961 AMHC has expanded to Dodge City in 1968, Ulysses in 1970 and Scott City in 1976.  All funds from Grant County Gives will be used for the Compass Behavioral Health Center in Grant County, Kansas. 

Du Good Events, Inc.

Du Good Events, Inc. was organized to help people struggling with the financial burden of serious illness.  At the same time, we encourage good health and fitness by sponsoring fitness events, like “Frost your Fanny”.  Organized a number of years ago, the group has been revitalized with a progressive board that is dedicated to helping those who need financial help while they are in treatment with diseases like cancer, COVID-19, diabetes and others.

Du Good Events, Inc. relies solely on donations from the public to continue to help those in need with financial hardships due to serious illness.

Friends of the Library:

The “Friends of the Grant County Public Library” is a non-profit organization established in 2011.  Our purpose is to encourage and promote community participation and support for the activities and programs of the Grant County Library and to assist in the Library’s growth and development.

Through membership, donations and volunteerism, the “Friends of Grant County Public Library” help support library activities for all ages.  Friends may organize special library events such as special book sales, author visits, raffles, luncheons, and more.  Friends groups may assist with already established library programs, promote the library through community events and also apply for grants.  Friends may help fund special projects, work with adult literacy or book delivery programs.

Furever Friends:

This group is made up of volunteer animal advocates whose end goal is to eventually manage the day-to-day operations of the animal shelter to reduce the demand on the Animal Control Officer.  This will allow the officers to concentrate their efforts on enforcement of the city ordinances relating to animals.  This group would also be able to dedicate their time and energy toward rescue efforts and making the animals time in the shelter to be more routine & less stressful.  In the future, we would also like to start working towards the root cause of stray animals in our community by sponsoring low cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinics.

GCCF Operating:

This fund helps the Grant County Community fund the budget and operations of the foundation as we serve the community.  In addition to organizing and handling the administration of Grant County Gives, the foundation is home to

Ginger’s Hope:

Ginger’s Hope is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and also has an endowment fund with Grant County Community Foundation.  It is our goal to provide financial assistance to diabetics and their families so they can gain access to the medication, supplies, education, and equipment necessary to provide the best management and care available.  This organization serves the people of Grant County, Kansas.

Organized in memory of Ginger Lozar who died in a diabetic coma when she was only 7 years old, her family and friends have started this organization to help other diabetics live their best life.  Like many other challenges in life, if diabetes affects one person in the family, it impacts the whole family.  While diabetes is treatable, it is difficult to control and in today’s world, insulin and diabetic supplies are very expensive making it an extreme hardship, especially on those without insurance.

Grant County Extension 4-H Fund:

This 4-H Fund is dedicated to the 4-H and Youth Program of K-State Research and Extension in Grant County. In addition to the three active community clubs, the 4-H program has an active school enrichment program. It also encourages community involvement and develops the leadership skills of older youth through involvement in the 4-H Ambassadors program and

Leadership project. Visionary leaders have established this 4-H Fund to build an endowment to help support 4-H and Youth programs in Grant County in the future.

Grant County Health Department:

The Grant County Health Department provides an organized effort to protect and advance the collective and individual health of Grant County residents.  Access to public health will be encouraged through services, programs and educational opportunities.  Services will be aimed at the prevention and/or reduction of risks of injury, disease and disability and the promotion of physical and mental health.  The Health Department established the Agency Fund participating in Grant County Gives to build an endowment to help assure public health services are available in the future.

Grant County Historical Society:

The Grant County Historical Society provides support and leadership for the historical preservation of life in Grant County through the Grant County Adobe Museum.  The Grant County Adobe Museum in Ulysses, Kansas was built in 1938 as a county shop. It opened as a county historical museum in 1978.  The Adobe Museum features historical artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of life on the High Plains. The visual story is set into scenes with dimensional murals and backdrops enhancing the exhibits.

Grant County Recreation:

The mission of the Grant County REC is bringing people together, incorporating wellness, classroom and sports to develop mind, body, self-esteem and social values through total family participation of all ages and abilities. Using recreation to develop sportsmanship and citizenship for the future of Grant County citizens.  This organization provides a wealth of programs for all ages of citizens in Grant County.  Forwarding thinking leaders established the Agency Fund that is included in Grant County Gives to build an endowment to assure that physical fitness, sports and wellness programs can continue in the future.

Grant County Senior Center:

The Grant County Senior Center is committed to providing services, information, education, and recreation for senior citizens and their families or caregivers in Grant County.  It is an important source for health care and food service that is provided daily at the center.  Through annual grants, the fund will provide needed support for important services for our senior citizen population in the coming years even as other support diminishes.  This fund provides a way for our citizens to make tax-deductible charitable contributions to forever support the senior citizens of Grant County.

Grant County Scholarship Foundation:

They provide scholarships to students enrolled in post secondary education.  Many of the students do not quality for other financial assistance and are the 1^st of their family to go to college.  It has provided scholarships to graduates of Ulysses High School for over 55 years, making a difference in the lives of many young people and their families.

HIGH Program, Inc.

They are organized to assist with home repairs for those people unable to complete the repairs themselves and/or cannot afford necessary repairs.  Their services are often needed by elderly citizens, single parent households and handicapped individuals.

Impact Ulysses:

Our goal at Impact Ulysses is to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce risky behaviors for youth, their families, and our diverse community. Our health initiatives are aimed at identifying and improving health outcomes in Grant County. Through a variety of grant funds and dedicated and passionate community partners, we have been successful in implementing several evidence-based programs to address under-aged drinking, drugs, vaping, and opioid abuse. Many individuals, organizations, and businesses in Grant County have already come together to make a difference in our community and we invite you to partner alongside us in innovating to inspire, impact, and invest in healthy lives to build healthier communities in the future.

Kansas Children’s Service League:

Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL) works to create, repair, and restore healthy parent-child relationships. It has been our mission for over 130 years. Our work with children and families improves school readiness now so that graduation rates improve in the future. We help families succeed now to be better parents and better employees. We are creating a stronger, more resilient and educated workforce. Our Head Start and Early Head Start programming works with children in health, safety, and education. Our programs help both children and parents develop skills for success at home, in school, and in their workplace. 

KCSL’s Head Start and Early Head Start services in Ulysses offer wrap around family services which help families connect with resources and/or develop strategies to meet their family’s basic needs. Home-based options are available for pregnant women and their children until the age of five. Center-based services are available for children ages three to five years old.  Additionally, KCSL employs Certified Car Seat Technicians to safely install car seats for families living in Grant County.  All funds raised through Grant County Gives will benefit Head Start and Early Head Start services in Ulysses, KS.  

Liberal Area Rape Crisis & Domestic Violence Services:

LARC DVS is a non-profit organization serving Grant, Haskell, Morton, Seward, Stanton and Stevens Counties by providing safety and support to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking by working to eliminate these crimes. The major work of the organization is to provide a victim advocate program offering temporary shelter, a 24-hour hotline, crisis and support counseling, information and referral, emergency transportation, accompaniment for legal and medical procedures, and public awareness education.  All services are voluntary, freeof charge, and confidential. All funds from Grant County Gives are dedicated to helping Grant County victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or stalking.

Loaves & Fishes:

This organization serves as a local food cupboard, providing an emergency food source for people in Grant County who are in need.  It is not meant to be a grocery store, but is here to help people over a rough spot in life.  People are usually referred to Loaves & Fishes by one of the local pastors or the Law Enforcement Center as needs are identified.  They typically serve a large number of people over the course of a year.

Restored by Grace:

Restored by Grace serves our community by providing a much needed place for people to purchase gently used clothing and household items at affordable prices as well as donating items to those in need. It also provides a place for our community to donate items they no longer need to benefit others in our community. Restored by Grace has been blessing our community since 2016.

Southwest Health Transport, Inc.:

Our “Southwest Health Transport” 14-passenger bus will be used for transportation services to meet the special needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities (KDOT 5310). Services under our program will be open to all elderly persons and persons with disabilities. Non-elderly persons who have a medical need in Garden City may ride the bus, if seats are available, as long as the transportation needs for those individuals specified in the grant application have been satisfied. Bus route will run Monday, Wednesday and Friday to Garden City and back. Care givers may accompany patients if space is available. KDOT has notified us that we will receive our bus this November or December.

Substance Abuse Treatment Fund:

In recognition of the damaging effects that drug and alcohol abuse has on the community and particularly their families and the need for effective treatment, the City of Ulysses has established this fund to provide a way to fund treatment and prevention programs now and into the future.  Donors with a heart for this persistent problem can make tax-deductible contributions to the fund.

Ulysses Animal Shelter:

The Ulysses Animal Shelter takes in domestic animals that do not have homes; stray animals, when their owners pass away, other animal control agencies, and owners who can no longer care for their pets.  The shelter houses the animals on a short-term basis, provides vet care as needed and assists in finding new homes and the adoption process.  This established fund uses its grants to provide care that otherwise could not be funded.

Ulysses Boy Scouts:

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.  BSA teaches leadership by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun. All donations through Grant County Gives stay in Grant County and help with supplies and materials to run the local program.

Ulysses Girl Scouts:

The Girl Scouts of America is the preeminent leadership organization for girls. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  All donations through Grant County Gives stay in Grant County and help with supplies and materials to run the local Girl Scout program.

Ulysses Lions Club:

The current Ulysses Lions Club was chartered on January 1, 1952, and has been involved in projects to help the Ulysses community and Grant County since.  The main beneficiaries from these projects currently are testing pre-school and kindergarteners’ eyesight with our Pedia-vision Screener, working with Ulysses Eye Care to provide glasses for those who cannot afford them, and diabetes awareness and education.  Proceeds from Grant County Gives, our booth at the Grant County Fair and our Pancake Supper go to support these programs.

Ulysses Stampede:

The Ulysses Stampede Board is a non-profit organization whose mission is “To promote and produce quality western lifestyle events while preserving western heritage and promoting agricultural education.” We are community members who have a passion for the western way of life. We come from diverse backgrounds who work towards our common goal of producing and hosting top notch quality events that are beneficial to our outstanding community! The Ulysses Stampede Board has much gratitude for Ulysses and the support that the community has given to us and for that we Thank You! For more information please contact the Ulysses Stampede Board at ulyssesstampede@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page.   We will use these funds for equipment and facility improvement. 

USD #214 Classroom Grants:

The United School District #214 is dedicated to providing a quality education in a safe environment.  The USD # 214 Classroom Projects Fund provides a way for citizens of Grant County to make tax-deductible, charitable contributions to provide support for classroom projects  and programs that could not otherwise be funded.  This mini grant program has been very popular among the teaching staff within the district.

USD #214 Teacher Recruitment Fund:

In recent years, it has become more difficult to attract and retain quality teachers for USD #214.  In the fall of 2017, USD #214 started a Demand Fund in the Grant County Community Foundation to provide incentives to bring more teachers to our area.  The fund can be used to provide scholarships or pay student loan payments.  This fund gives the community an opportunity to help fund some meaningful extras to bridge the gap for teachers with incentives above what school districts can provide.

Women of Purpose:

The goal of this fund is to empower Grant County women to take an active and powerful role in philanthropy to serve women and children. The Women of Purpose fund will allow dedicated, engaged women to make a difference in the lives of many without a significant time commitment.  To meet this goal, the women of Grant County focused their attention on building an endowment that would forever make grants to improve the lives of the women and children in Grant County

GCCF Operating Fund:

At the request of some donors, we have added an opportunity to donate to the Grant County Community Foundation operating fund.  This money supports the Grant County Gives campaign in addition to managing the other foundation activities including writing and administering grants that benefit our community.  Our budget is very small but important to providing services.