CKCF recently had the opportunity to celebrate the 2026 KidsFUNd grant recipients at a special award ceremony. It was wonderful to see so many recipients, organizations, and community supporters come together to celebrate the important work being made possible through these grants. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who was able to attend in person and help us recognize this year’s recipients!

The KidsFUNd program would not be possible without the generosity and lasting vision of L. Marie Haun.

Through her estate, Wichita resident L. Marie Haun left a generous gift to Central Kansas Community Foundation to establish the Lena Marie Haun Charitable Fund for Children. Marie had a lifelong interest in children and a particular passion for child welfare, behavioral research, parenting education, and strengthening families.

A dedicated educator and longtime secretary at Wichita State University, Marie was known for her strong work ethic and love for children. Her generous estate gift created an endowment that continues to support organizations serving children and families throughout Central Kansas.

More than a decade later, Marie’s generosity continues to make a difference through the KidsFUNd grant program, helping organizations provide meaningful programs and services that strengthen children, families, and communities.

We are grateful for Marie’s vision and for the opportunity to carry her legacy forward through every KidsFUNd grant awarded!

It’s Match Month at Hillsboro Community Foundation!

During the Match Event, your generosity can have twice the impact. Thanks to a group of generous local donors, every eligible contribution will be matched dollar for dollar.

Our goal is to generate at least $100,000 in charitable giving, resulting in more than $200,000 to support community needs, nonprofit organizations, and initiatives that help Hillsboro thrive for years to come.

Honoring Chelsea’s Memory Through Education

The Chelsea Gerbitz Memorial Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to graduating high school seniors and college students pursuing higher education or vocational training.

One of this year’s recipients, Brett Jacobson, will attend Emporia State University as a freshman. Brett shared that the scholarship will help ease the financial burden of her first year of college. Brett also reflected on the meaning behind the scholarship. Although she was unfamiliar with Chelsea's story before applying, learning more about her made Brett feel honored to receive the award and an opportunity to help spread her story and keep her memory alive.

We are honored to support Brett as she begins this next chapter and grateful to everyone who helps make the Chelsea Gerbitz Memorial Scholarship possible.

Read Brett’s full thank-you letter Here

Watch Chelsea's Memorial Video

Imagine the future.

Hello from the community foundation!

Fall is here, bringing with it a natural opportunity to think ahead. This month, we’re looking at charitable planning from a longer-term perspective: how your estate plan can carry out your charitable wishes, how a family’s philanthropy can evolve over time, and why talking about and documenting your charitable intentions now can be such a valuable gift to the people you love.

Estate planning: More than just a will

October’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week is a good reminder that an estate plan involves much more than a will. If charitable giving is part of the legacy you envision, learn how wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, retirement accounts, and charitable funds can work together to carry out your wishes.

From private foundation to donor-advised fund: A five-point checklist

A private foundation may have been a perfect fit when your family established it—but is it still? If the administrative work has begun to overshadow the joy of giving, our five-point checklist can help you and your advisors explore whether transitioning to a donor-advised fund at the community foundation might make sense.

Charitable giving: Plan while you can!

Your charitable intentions are yours to define, and documenting them early can make it much easier for your family members and advisors to honor them later. We’re sharing practical reasons to talk about your long-term giving plans now—including how early planning can reduce difficult gray areas if health or decision-making capacity changes down the road.

As always, thank you for allowing the Central Kansas Community Foundation to be part of your charitable giving journey. We’re honored to help you think ahead, explore your options, and create a charitable plan that reflects what matters most to you. Please reach out anytime!

Warmly,

Angie Tatro, CEO