News Release: HCCF CELEBRATES THIRD MATCH DAY + SCHOLARSHIP & 33RD GRANT ROUND  RECIPIENTS

The Harper County Community Foundation recently recognized the grant recipients for the May 2025 round at an Awards Presentation held in conjunction with their Annual Meeting. The event was held at 6 PM, on Monday, May 19th at Westview Lodge & Apartments in Harper. HCCF also celebrated their third Match Day partnership with The Patterson Family Foundation at this event.

Match Day Results: Our community raised $150,276.00. Donations were made to the following non-profits and will be paid in two installments (original donation and later the match monies):

The Arts Center
Roadrunner Concession Stand
Harper City Historical Society
Harper Art Association
K-State Extension Endowment
Anthony Municipal Hall
Harper County Core Community
Patterson Health Center
Harper County HOPE
Harper County Fair Barn
Main Street Ministries
4H Backers
Obadiah’s Pantry
Anthony Theatre
Country Living
Prepare to Launch Program
Harper County Community Foundation

For this grant round, 49 grant applications were submitted to HCCF with a total of $438,516.95 requested. The Harper County Community Foundation awarded $150,057.95 to 38 organizations and projects that benefit Harper County. These monies from the Waste Connection Landfill Revenues and the Harper County Board of Commissioners represent the 33rd round of grants awarded since the inception of the granting program in May of 2009. The Foundation also awarded monies from their discretionary funds along with anonymously granting $45,500 to 11 organizations. A total of $3,825,684.00 has been awarded since the inception of this granting process.

The following scholarship recipients were recognized during the event: Jack and Lavera Bertholf Scholarship // Cole Bergman, Makayla Swartz, Mya Deviney, Zoie Redgate; Jean L. Jensen Language Arts Scholarship // Cole Bergman, Julee Clark, Naenah Lawrence, Cassidy Misak, Avery Pulliam, Makayla Swartz; HCCF Top Scholar Award // Conner Hostetler, Naenah Lawrence, Cassidy Misak, Mac Harnden, Zoie Redgate, Carter Swingle, Chloe Traffas; Debbie Wilkinson Trailblazer Athlete/Scholar Scholarship // Taryn Meek; Charles & Ella Clotene Masner Scholarship // Cole Bergman, Julee Clark, Payton Haley, Naenah Lawrence, Tobias Peake, Avery Pulliam; and Anthony American Legion Scholarship // Julee Clark, Naenah Lawrence, Avery Pulliam. Prepare to Launch is also awarding a $1,000 scholarship to all 2025 Harper County graduates upon submission of their application through the link found in the Prepare to Launch Scholarships section on www.harpercofoundation.org. HCCF wishes all of these scholarship recipients the best of luck in their future endeavors!

The Foundation would like to thank Donald Holt for serving as the event photographer and The Arts Center for providing entertainment for the children in attendance. More thanks go to Prepare To Launch Squad members Taryn Meek, Jocelyn Hazel, Aliya Davis, Max Deviney, and Jack Alexander, for their support and service at the Awards Presentation. A special thank you to the Chaparral Singers for showcasing their talent including April Atkins, Cora Christner, Piper Gilbo, Ian Whisman, Ross Bradley, Zach McDermott, Henson Reames, Isaac Whisman, Gabe Duvall, Kassidee Hedlund, Naenah Lawrence, Addison Troyer and Kendie Cooperrider. Led by Sonya Battin. Accompanied by Pamela Roe.

Recipients of the May 2025 grant monies include Attica Public Schools for Bulldog PRIDE ($2,000), Elementary & Middle School Art Department Materials, Supplies & Equipment ($2,000); Science Department Field Trips ($1,100); JH & HS Classroom Novels ($500); Break Boxes ($3,000); Classroom Updates for Jr. High Math ($4,500), Ag Science ($4,000) & English ($1,000); Pixton/Elementary Book Enhancement ($350) & Communities Read Programs ($600); and Kindness Club ($150); Harper Public Library for Catch Up to Reading Program ($1,000); Harper County T2C Program, Career Spotlights ($375), Reality U Event ($2,573.70) & Welding Program ($4,386); City of Attica, Downtown Tunes ($2,250); Chaparral Schools for Weight Room Flooring ($5,000), Tennis Courts Hitting Wall Replacement ($2,000); Big Blue Backers, Concession Stand ($10,000); The Arts Center, Inc., Community Theatre – Professional Development ($3,500); Roadrunner Robotics, 2025-2026 First Inspires Lego Challenge ($3,105); Harper County Sheriff’s Office, AED Replacement Project ($11,431); Attica Rec Commission, Batting Cage Update ($3,800) & A&A Titan Youth Football Essential Equipment Maintenance ($1,944.80); HPCO HEART, Inc., Fireworks in the Heartland ($5,000) and Homegrown Market ($1,500); USD 511 A&A Football Program, Proper Tackling Form Equipment ($2,102.45); Anthony Lake Advisory Board, Restroom and Shower House ($10,000); Attica City Library, Summer Reading Supplies ($500); Harper Fair Board for their Fair Barn Bathroom Renovations ($10,000) & Fair Kids Entertainment ($4,000); Anthony Gun Club’s Shells Purchase for Shooting Sports ($7,040); Harper County Core Community ($20,000); Anthony Christian Church for their Community Youth Group Meals ($5,000) & Summer VBS ($2,000); Harper City Historical Society for Harper Museum HVAC ($4,500); Chaparral TSA for a Trip to Nationals… Again! ($1,940); and Harper County Community HOPE ($6,000).

HCCF’s Mission is focused on education, human needs, health care, community improvement, or rural development projects that will enrich the communities of Harper County through support and resources. The deadline for the next grant round will be October 1, 2025.

More information about HCCF may be found on their website at www.harpercofoundation.org. In addition, any questions may be directed to Michelle Fahring, Assistant to the Foundation, by calling 620-840-1153 (cell phone), or by sending an e-mail to michelle@harpercofoundation.org. EIN 48-1189755.

Entering our 29th year we’d like to express our gratitude to the generous donors and volunteers who’ve contributed to our success. Thank you. Kevin Alexander

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Photo identification // Front Row left to right:

Cheryl Adelhardt, Harper City Historical Society; Afton Forred, Harper Public Library; Andi Giesen, Anthony Lake Advisory Board; Jen Clark, Big Blue Backers; Megan McDaniel, A&A Titan Youth Football & USD 511 A&A Football Programs; Robin Ybarra, Attica Science Department: Holly (Bane) Helus & Dollie Mathes, HPCO HEART, Inc.; and DeJay Vaughn, Youth Group at Anthony Christian Church.

 

Back Row left to right:

Shawn Nulik, Chaparral Schools; Bruce Wilson, Harper County Community HOPE; Bryan Hilgemann & Paula Means, Attica Public Schools; Christy Mans, Attica Rec Commission; Chris Mathews, Roadrunner Robotics; Kenny Hodson Jr., Harper County Sheriff’s Office; Michelle Sullivan, Harper County T2C Program; Cris Davis, Attica Public Schools; Lewis McCartney, Harper County Fair Board; Matthew Wilson, Chaparral’s Technology Student Association; Kyndel Moore, CHS Trapshooting/Anthony Gun Club; Juliana Whisman, The Arts Center, Inc.; and Joel Gerber, Chaparral Schools.