United Way spurred by support

By PHYLLIS J. ZORN

Hays Daily News

The United Way of Ellis County keeps getting stronger and stronger as the community continues to respond to those who need help.

The 2005 United Way campaign drew contributions and pledges totaling $353,304 — overshooting the campaign goal of $345,000. The original goal was a $35,000 increase over the year before.

The 16 member agencies that will receive funds this year, and the proposed allocations for each are:

nÀFirst Call for Help, 205 E. Seventh, $36,000.

nÀCancer Council of Ellis County, 114 W. Seventh, $15,000.

nÀNorthwest Kansas Family Shelter, 403 E. 23rd, $8,000.

nÀKansas Legal Services, 2017 Vine, $7,000.

nÀEllis County Ministerial Alliance, 105 W. 12th, $15,000.

nÀHays Area Children's Center, 94 Lewis, $27,000.

nÀWestern Kansas Association on Concerns of the Disabled, 2401 E. 13th, $18,000.

nÀUnited Cerebral Palsy of Kansas, Wichita, $6,500.

nÀDevelopmental Services of Northwest Kansas, 2703 Hall, $12,000.

nÀCourt Appointed Special Advocates of the High Plains, 103 W. 13th, $13,000.

nÀCatholic Charities, 2707 Vine, $4,000.

nÀGirl Scouts of the Sunflower Council, 2707 Vine, $7,000.

nÀEllis County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 103 E. 27th, $22,000.

nÀBig Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County, 207 Vine, $22,000.

nÀParents and Children Together, 323 W. 12th, $2,500.

nÀCoronado Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, Salina, $4,000.

The remainder of the money raised goes for administrative and fund-raising expenses as well as community response grants, used for emerging community needs.

United Way Executive Director Sue Rouse said the community response grants are not yet decided for 2005.

“I don't know what they will be. We will open the process as soon as we approve the project,” Rouse said.

Those decisions will be made in two phases, Rouse said.

“I don't anticipate a change in the funding of the grants, so we will be looking for expansions of projects or new projects. And then we have emergency grants, like if someone has a basement flooded and they lose all their computers, we'd be able to help them,” Rouse said.

In addition, the United Way has community disaster-oriented grants help with sudden disasters, Rouse said.

“The United Way is also looking at doing some internal initiatives, like if we see something and we think we should do something about that,” Rouse said.

The grant process is open both to agencies that normally receive funds from the United Way as well as other nonprofit agencies in the community, Rouse said.

Last year's community response grants totaling $22,219, of which $10,000 is set aside for Habitat for Humanity as start-up money, Rouse said.

“Basically we will pay that when they are to a point where they can begin construction or have a target date for construction of their first unit,” Rouse said.

“We do see a need for housing and we believe Habitat is just beginning to address that need in our community.”

A $4,000 grant was given to the Youth Advisory Council, a group of senior and middle school students looking to become involved in the Hays community.

The Center for Civic Leadership was given $500. The work to promote service learning, linking Fort Hays State University students with projects in the community.

“This is very vital to agencies in our community who are looking for people to get involved,” Rouse noted.

The Hays Area Children's Center got a grant for $3,719 to update their playground to meet safety standards.

“We also gave a grant to the Red Cross for $4,000. They were slow on their fund-raising and needed the boost,” Rouse said.

This year the United Way hopes to give about $20,000 in grants.

Since 1953, when the Hays Chamber of Commerce first established an organization to raise funds for health and human services needs in the community, the United Way has raised more than $5 million in Ellis County.

Reporter Phyllis Zorn can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 137, or by e-mail at

phylz@dailynews.net.