Great Bend Post
Feb 26, 2023

Golden Belt Community Foundations receives Chamber's Legacy Award

Posted Feb 26, 2023 12:00 PM

Central Kansans probably didn’t realize it at the time, but in the early days of establishing the Golden Belt Community Foundation (GBCF) they hit the trifecta.

While countless local individuals and businesses are responsible for GBCF’s success, three groups of community members came together at just the right time. They are the 37 founding donors, first board of directors and the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF).

GBCF’s steady growth over the years has led to the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Legacy Award, which was bestowed Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Great Bend Events Center. This honor focuses on individuals and entities that have made “an indelible mark on the fabric of our community.”

Christy Tustin, executive director, said the three groups that helped create GBCF “set us up for success. This started in 2001 when the Kansas Health Foundation became involved in community philanthropy by helping build and support community foundations.

“The Kansas Health Foundation said ‘if you raise $300,000 in seed money, we will match it dollar for dollar.’ The founding donors stepped up and made this happen.”

GBCF was incorporated in 1996 but there was no office location yet. However, bylaws and other administrative work were completed and Janet Siebert was the first part-time volunteer director; Catherine Brening came next.

The first office was at 1307 Williams - the Chamber’s previous location and GBCF’s current site. “GBCF bought our current location from the Chamber as an investment in ourselves and our communities; we have come full circle,” Tustin said.

The investment seems to have paid off. Today, total assets are approximately $30 million, with more than 200 funds under management. Grants totaling $10.8 million have been awarded since 2002 and $1.8 million raised over nine years of Giving Tuesdays, supporting more than 100 organizations and funds. Grants have reached into nearly every community in Barton, Pawnee, Rush and Stafford counties.

“These numbers point to our legacy,” Tustin commented. “We are giving back to our communities in a big way. Just last year, $2 million in grants was awarded to local non-profit agencies, parks, playgrounds, schools, senior programs, food banks and many other entities in the social-services network.

“The non-profits are the boots on the ground that make things happen. We connect all these pieces that make up a community.”

Examples of GBCF’s recent programs include the Come Home Reverse Scholarship program that strives to recruit professionals to the area and uses funds to help pay off their student loans, and the Farmland Giving Program that allows gifts of farmland to be donated and managed by GBCF with the income supporting the charitable causes chosen by the donor.

In addition, GBCF partnered with Great Bend Economic Development in applying for tax credits for construction of the new childcare facility.

“GBCF was able to accomplish all this by encouraging donations at all levels,” Tustin noted. “No gift is too small to create an impact. Over the years, we have received gifts of cash, land/real estate, stock, life insurance and coin collections.”

Tustin emphasized that the process for giving is easy, no matter the size of the gift.

“The simplicity of donating is one of our benefits,” she said. “You can make one gift and support all the things you care about. We handle all the paperwork.”

GBCF is the only charitable entity in the area that encourages broad community-endowment building. This ensures resources are available for needs that can’t be envisioned today.

The Forever Initiative is one example of communities working to leverage matching funds and secure funding for the future. For instance, Rush County and Rozel/Burdett built broad endowments to provide funding to their ever-changing community needs.

KHF/local leaders
The Kansas Health Foundation GROW project launched in 1999 in an effort to keep philanthropic dollars in Kansas. KHF funding supports: match challenges and assets growth; health and wellness funds; philanthropic leadership training; and preparation for the complexities awaiting foundations in the future.

The 37 founding donors, which include 27 individuals and 10 businesses, met the first challenge by raising the seed money.

“I am grateful and owe much of our success to the KHF for its thoughtful insight and to our first board of directors for taking on this challenge,” Tustin commented. “We appreciate those first donors who invested with the hope and promise that GBCF would become a sustainable resource.

“Today, I know that GBCF has met that expectation and will continue to build its legacy as new opportunities to build community wealth and philanthropy present themselves.”

Current board members are: Past President Leonard Bunselmeyer, Great Bend; President Sheryl Schamaun, Great Bend; Vice President Kara Jecha, Timken; Secretary Joan Panning, Ellinwood; Treasurer Chelsea Steffen, Larned; Laura Luft, La Crosse; Kim Guesnier, Great Bend; Kathleen Foster, Pawnee Rock; Janell Foote, Hudson; Cora Anderson, Otis; Jim White, Larned; and Baudilio Hernandez, Great Bend.

Today’s board concentrates its efforts and dedicates a portion of available funding to three strategic areas – childcare, mental health and economic development philanthropy, along with competitive grant programs that support many other causes and needs.

Original board members were: Mark Calcara, Linda Marmie, Craig Ellis, David Holste, D. Gene Dikeman, Dr. Jimmie Downing, George Drake, Nelva Grimes, Kim Hullman, Dr. Roger Marshall, Kevin Moeder, W.R. Robbins, Kathy Schugart and Krista Smith.

“All of these leaders, along with volunteers, donors, non-profit organizations, and grant and scholarship recipients play a vital role in our progress,” Tustin summarized.

Jerry Renk, Chamber Executive Committee member, nominated GBCF for the award because, in part, the work it has done “has truly made an indelible mark on the fabric of the communities. Founding donors should be recognized for their foresight and the staff for their efforts and time spent creating opportunities for so many.”

About the Legacy Award
The Legacy Award, presented by the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, honors the life and legacy of individuals who have made an indelible mark on the fabric of our community. The first recipient of this award was Great Bend’s own Skip Yowell, founder of the company Jansport - an American brand of backpacks and collegiate apparel, now owned by VF Corporation, and one of the world's largest apparel companies. The award is given at the discretion of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Previous Legacy Award Recipients

2021 Sunflower Rod and Custom Association

2019 Jan Peters

2018 Great Bend Recreation Commission

2017 Kids Ag Day

2016 Kari Smith

2015 Skip Yowell