United Way of the Plains invests $100,000 to build a more equitable community

WICHITA, Kan., June 16, 2022 — United Way of the Plains has announced funding for 10 local nonprofits as part of its work to help close gaps and disparities experienced by minority nonprofits serving communities of color in the Wichita metropolitan region. The new Promise on the Plains funding initiative, totaling $100,000, was announced earlier this year during Black History Month. The grants support and strengthen these area organizations while advancing the work of United Way.

• Common Ground Producers and Growers, Inc. – Making food accessible to all in need
• ICT Launchpad, Inc. – Inspiring, educating and empowering at-risk youth
• NonprofitGO, Inc. (fiscal sponsor for CHD Boxing Club) – Providing a safe, positive and productive environment for youth while teaching life skills and conflict resolution
• Progressive Community Outreach Program, Inc. (PCOP) – Closing inequities in the areas of health and education for the BIPOC community
• Reach Out 2 Someone Else, Inc. – Connecting community members, especially people of color, to quality mental healthcare
• Wichita Asian Association – Empowering Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the area of health equity
• Wichita Birth Justice Society, Inc. – Creating sustainable health equity through community education, advocacy and informational support for Black, Latinx and indigenous families
• Wichita, KS Intertribal Warrior Society – Helping elders, families and veterans with emergency and educational expenses
• Witness Project of Kansas dba Women’s Project of Kansas – Saving lives by educating women of color on the importance of early breast cancer detection
• Women Aspire, Inc. – Helping women and children who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, domestic violence or aging out of foster care

United Way of the Plains President and CEO, Pete Najera, was inspired by the variety of agencies that applied for Promise on the Plains grants. “All but one of these nonprofit organizations has never partnered with United Way of the Plains. We are thrilled to welcome these new colleagues and look forward to seeing the impact they make as they invest in themselves to be stronger advocates for the people they serve.”

Abel Frederic, Vice President for Community Impact at United Way, led the process to select the 10 recipients and announce their funding as part of the community’s Juneteenth celebration. “Investing in a more equitable community enables more people to reach their maximum potential,” said Frederic. “Talent retention, growth and attraction is dependent upon building a more inclusive community where individuals of all racial and ethnic backgrounds can succeed.”

Najera was also grateful to financial partners at the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) and INTRUST Bank who collaborated with United Way by investing in a more equitable community. “In this inaugural year, we had 25 area nonprofits apply for this new funding opportunity and we expect the applicant pool will only grow over time,” said Najera. “We are thankful for partners like KHF and INTRUST Bank. We hope more donors will join our ranks so that we can collectively meet the growing need to foster an inclusive, resilient and vibrant community where every person can achieve their human potential in south central Kansas.”

Learn more about Promise on the Plains at unitedwayplains.org/promise. Read United Way’s Statement of Principle on Diversity and Inclusion at unitedwayplains.org/diversity-inclusion/.

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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, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.