United Way announces $105,000 in funding for 2023 Impact on the Plains winners

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 19, 2023 – Four nonprofit programs have been awarded a total of $105,000 in funding through this year’s Impact on the Plains. The top program applicants in the four focus areas of health, education, financial stability and basic needs participated in the “Shark Tank”-style social innovation competition hosted by United Way of the Plains this evening at the Textron Aviation Activity Center. This is the third year the event was held to fund nonprofits with innovative and impactful solutions to community issues. It was part of a month-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of United Way of the Plains.

Finalists for the funding competition were selected from applications submitted by numerous area nonprofit agencies based on their creative and innovative ideas for solving complex problems. In addition to learning more about these four initiatives during the presentations, community leaders acting as judges asked questions of each of the presenters to help them determine the winning solutions. The finalists presented on a stage in front of a live audience.

FIRST PLACE – $40,000 investment
Financial Stability
Culture Creations – BeyondFoster – Restorative Justice Youth Circles for Kansas Foster Youth Transitioning to Adulthood
INNOVATIVE OUTCOME – transitioning young people out of foster care with the support, education and resources that lead to holistically healthy lives while empowering them on their journey toward independent adulthood.

SECOND PLACE – $30,000 investment
Education
Aspire Academy – Aspire Academy Childcare Center
INNOVATIVE OUTCOME – delivering enhanced self-sufficiency skills through quality early education for children and resources for parents seeking advanced employment opportunities.

THIRD PLACE – $20,000 investment
Health
Medic All – HealthBridge Initiative: Connecting Communities to Comprehensive Care
INNOVATIVE OUTCOME – providing improved access to quality healthcare for low-income and uninsured individuals with a cost-free pathway that eliminates financial, geographical and linguistic barriers through telemedical consultations.

FOURTH PLACE – $10,000 investment
Basic Needs
Children First – Journey Home – Homeless Family Housing Program
INNOVATIVE OUTCOME –helping stabilize homeless families with financial assistance and wrap around services that include family peer support.

Culture Creations received an additional $5,000 as the winner of the People’s Choice award. A new element of the event, the People’s Choice award, was based on an audience vote at the conclusion of the presentations.

Sam Chandler, President of INTRUST Bank, accepted the 2023 Enduring Legacy Award that was presented to his organization during the event. INTRUST Bank helped establish Wichita’s United Way 100 years ago and continues to provide financial contributions as well as hundreds of volunteer hours to uplift the community and foster positive change.

Visit unitedwayplains.org/impact for more information about the competition. The host sponsor for the event was Textron Aviation, with additional support provided by Berry Companies, Hutton, Kansas Star Casino, and Spirit AeroSystems.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Angie Prather, Vice President of Marketing and Chief Community Engagement Officer, (316) 267-1321, ext. 4105, aprather@unitedwayplains.org

United Way of the Plains is a nonprofit and for-impact organization that focuses on health, education, financial stability and basic needs – the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Our mission is to improve lives by harnessing the caring power of our community to advance the common good in south central Kansas. Follow us on these social media channels: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.