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Grant County Community Foundation set a record with the 13th Annual Grant County Gives, raising nearly $321,000 that was distributed among 34 different non-profit organizations. Each organization was given their awards during the Grant County Chamber of Commerce’s weekly Chamber Coffee November 22, at Bear Creek Coffee.
“I want to thank the community because without you guys in the community, of course, Grant County Gives, or even the Foundation, for that matter, could be the success story it is,” said Grant County Community Foundation president Marcus Matkin.
Donations totaled $203,415.41 with $47,550 in matching funds, and a $70,000 match from the Patterson Family Foundation for a total of $320,965.41.
Matkin recognized Judy Keusler for her years of service to the Grant County Community Foundation.
“Judy’s leadership to our organization has been invaluable in getting the organization started out and headed down the right path,” Matkin said. “Judy retired on us this year and luckily we were able to find Sabrina (Gaddis) and bring her in as a new leader for our organization. But it goes without saying that I want to thank you for all your years of service.”
Keusler started at the Western Kansas Community Foundation in 2006 and served as president and vice-president, and said she has always been surrounded by citizens dedicated to Grant County. The Grant County Community Foundation formed in 2012.
“It’s been my absolute privilege to work for Grant County Community Foundation,” Keusler said. “It was an easy slide, really, to Form the Grant County Community Foundation and work to better Grant County. It’s a great journey we're on, isn’t it?”
The foundation has given back $540,000 so far in 2024 in scholarships, grants and Grant County Gives.
“It is an incredible journey, and thank you for walking with me,” Keusler said.
GCCF Executive Director Sabrina Gaddis thanked all 58 of the match fund donors who gave $47,550.
“That really sets the tone and creates the excitement around what is so exciting for those 34 participating organizations,” Gaddis said.
Organizations receiving awards Friday
•American GI Forum $9,962.96
•American Legion Post 79 $10,281.70
•Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary $14,521.95
•Career and Technical Scholarship Fund $3,039.24
•Compass Behavioral Health $4,984.76
•Core Community Ulysses $18,486.70
•DuGood Events $4,765.52
•Friends of the Grant County Library $2,453.04
•Furever Friends $36,302.23
•Grant County Economic Development Fund $490.94
•Grant County Extension Council $1,974.15
•Grant County Health Department $1,704.33
•Grant County Historical Society $2,581.64
•Grant County Recreation $2,991.88
•Grant County Scholarship Foundation Fund $14,639.85
•Grant County Senior Center $15,144.73
•GCCF Operating Fund $17,291.23
•GCCF Grant County Fund $877.30
•Ginger’s Hope $22,785.03
•High Program, Inc. $895.70
•Impact Ulysses $301.60
•Keep Jumping 4 Kay $8,847.10
•LARC DVS $1,013.22
•Loaves and Fishes $15,815.60
•Restored by Grace $52,147.50
•Southwest Health Transport $6,692.02
•City of Ulysses Substance Abuse Treatment $3,301.15
•City of Ulysses Animal Shelter $4,219.41
•Ulysses Boy Scouts $$9,761.00
•Ulysses Cub Scouts #186 $4,342.55
•Ulysses Girl Scouts $932.75
•Ulysses Lions Club $1,011.66
•USD214 Teacher Recruitment Fund $159.60
•USD214 Classroom Grants $1,360.37
•Women of Purpose $8,826.94
•Women of Purpose Demand Fund $16,058.07
Robin Leonard gave announcements at the beginning of the meeting and started with Grant County EMS having a six-month EMT class beginning in January; Grant County Library is having Coats for Kids all winter and is accepting donations of gently use and laundered coats, hats, and gloves for kids at the library.
The Christmas Light Parade is December 5, and anybody who wants to have a float can contact the Chamber of Commerce. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m.; Community Baptist Church is having its annual Thanksgiving Go Dinner from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, dine in or delivery. It’s free and the church is located at 831 North College Street; Hometown Holiday Shopper starts on Black Friday so bring your receipts to the Chamber office to receive a ticket for every $10 spent locally, with a drawing for $400 in Ulysses Bucks at Main Street Blaze December 19. Main Street Blaze will have bonfires and entertainment from 7-9 p.m.
The Historic Adobe Museum will have a Christmas open house with Santa on Dec. 1 and on December 8, is a Christmas open house with music and refreshments.. Both start at 2 p.m.; there will be a chili feed fundraiser for Dexter and Tammy Koehn December 3, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the basement of Pioneer Electric.
There will not be a Chamber Coffee November 29.
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