United Way announces $105,000 in funding for 2024 Impact on the Plains winners

WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 12, 2024 – Four nonprofit programs have been awarded a total of $105,000 in funding through this year’s Impact on the Plains. They participated in a “Shark Tank”-style social innovation competition hosted by United Way of the Plains this evening at the Textron Aviation Activity Center. This is the fourth year the event has been held to fund nonprofits with innovative and impactful solutions to community issues.

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 each presenter questions to help them determine the winning solutions. The finalists presented on a stage in front of a live audience.

FIRST PLACE – $40,000 investment

• Entrepreneur Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM) Academy
  The Center
  INNOVATIVE OUTCOME – Provides no-cost, after-school programming to improve test scores and learning abilities for Spaght Elementary School students who are not currently meeting Kansas grade-level benchmarks

SECOND PLACE – $30,000 investment

• Hope Medical Forensic Services
  Hope Rising
  INNOVATIVE OUTCOME – Seeks to reduce barriers that prohibit survivors of sexual violence or domestic abuse from seeking care through a comprehensive, trauma-informed support system

THIRD PLACE – $20,000 investment

• Grow Your Own Farm
  ICT Farms
  INNOVATIVE OUTCOME – Provides residents with plants, seeds and materials to produce their own food program to amplify the positive benefits of neighborhood-based food systems

FOURTH PLACE – $10,000 investment

• Domestic Violence Employment Program
  The Women’s Network
  INNOVATIVE OUTCOME – Empowers women who have experienced trauma and abuse to achieve economic self-sufficiency through a comprehensive employment cohort program

Hope Medical Forensic Services received an additional $5,000 as the winner of the People’s Choice award, based on an audience vote.

Aron Dunn, Senior Vice President of Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, accepted the 2024 Enduring Legacy Award that was presented to his organization during the event. The award recognizes AGH’s decades-long commitment to fostering a community where all can thrive through their volunteerism, community leadership and financial support of United Way.
 
Visit unitedwayplains.org/impact for more information about the competition. The host sponsor for the event was Textron Aviation, with additional support provided by Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C., Hutton, and Spirit AeroSystems.

Click here to download a photo of the winners.

Check @unitedwayplains on social media channels over the next week for event photos and video.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Bryan Ramsdale, Manager of Digital Content Creation, (316) 267-1321, ext. 4103, bramsdale@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, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.