Grantee Stories Archive

Grantee Story Series: Inspire Health Foundation

The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) is excited to continue our series of articles highlighting the great work done by some of our grantees in Southeast Kansas communities. Our next grantee to highlight is the Inspire Health Foundation, a recipient of the inaugural 2025 Mount Carmel Foundation Legacy grants for their Pre-K to Professional, Inspiring Health project.  To combat the declining number of area healthcare professionals in Southeast Kansas, one organization is working to encourage area youth to … Continue reading →

Printing to Future Careers, Northeast Middle School

In a low-income, rural community, opportunities for students to experience different career paths can be hard to come by, even when students have that interest. Take, for example, Northeast USD 246: Amber Hribar, 6th grade Social Studies and STEM teacher, saw her students showing interest in STEM and wanted to help them pursue their interests. … Continue reading →

Columbus Schools Park Elementary: Sensory Room Success

Have you ever seen a space that just wasn’t put to full use? You don’t even have to have a plan for it; you just know that it isn’t being used to its full potential? Well, Park Elementary Special Education (SPED) teacher Rylee Crain saw an empty office space in her classroom and had an … Continue reading →

Big Brothers Big Sisters: So simple, but so impactful!

In 1904, a New York City court clerk noticed that more young boys were entering the legal system at a younger age. He began pairing these boys with an adult mentor, and the number of boys in the system decreased. A similar system was implemented with girls after that, with both groups combining efforts a … Continue reading →

McCune Osage Library: The heart of a community

Libraries have long played a vital role in our communities. In 1884, a McCune doctor loaned out books from an office shelf until the 1910s. The next record of the McCune Osage Township Library was in the Scout House in 1968. They moved to the current building in 1984. Throughout all that time, the library … Continue reading →