Topeka Credit Union Foundation Awards Nine Organizations with $36,500 in Community Grants
The Topeka Credit Union Foundation (TCUF) awarded nine local organizations with $36,500 in community grants this morning at its annual Benefactors Breakfast. The event highlights the impact of Topeka-area credit unions working together to invest in programs that strengthen families, create opportunities for youth and build stronger communities across Northeast Kansas.
Since its formation in 2004, the Topeka Credit Union Foundation has awarded over $549,697 in grant funding to local nonprofit organizations through the shared generosity of its member credit unions and community partners.
“The strength of our community comes from organizations that show up every day to meet people where they are and provide support when it's needed most,” said Christina Schmitt, Chief Operations Officer for Envista Federal Credit Union and Vice Chair of the Topeka Credit Union Foundation. “We're honored to support the work they do and be part of the positive difference they're making across our community.”
The following organizations were awarded grants for 2026:
• Helping Hands Humane Society with a gift of $5,000 to support the Pitty-Kitty Program, helping make spay and neuter services more affordable for owners of pit bull-type dogs and cats, preventing unwanted litters and reducing the number of animals entering the shelter.
• Boys & Girls Club of Topeka with a gift of $5,000 to support Fuel the Adventure, a project to install an outdoor hydration station at the Adams Club Adventure Oasis, giving kids easy access to fresh drinking water while they play and helping them build healthy habits.
• Capper Foundation with a gift of $5,000 to support the Topeka Adult Services Training and Computer Lab, helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities build digital, employment and financial literacy skills while strengthening their confidence and independence.
• Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas with a gift of $2,500 to support Director's Toolbox, a no-cost training program that will help child carecenter directors strengthen their financial management skills and keep their programs financially stable for the children and families they serve.
• Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging with a gift of $3,000 to support the SHICK Program, helping older adults understand their Medicare benefits, compare insurance options and identify ways to reduce healthcare costs with support from knowledgeable counselors.
• LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center with a gift of $1,000 to support professional interpretation services, helping remove communication barriers so children who have experienced abuse and their families can access support throughout the investigative and healing process.
• SENT Inc. with a gift of $5,000 to support the Southside Filling Station/Pantry, helping families in Shawnee County access everyday necessities like toilet paper, soap and cleaning products while easing the strain on already tight household budgets.
• SparkWheel, Inc. with a gift of $5,000 to support FutureNow: Finance, an interactive financial literacy program where high school students practice budgeting and managing everyday expenses with guidance from community volunteers, helping them prepare for the financial decisions they'll face as adults.
• Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy with a gift of $5,000 to support Read the Book, See the Show, providing books for local students attending special matinee performances and helping them connect the stories they read with the lessons brought to life on stage.
About the Topeka Credit Union Foundation
The Topeka Credit Union Foundation was formed in 2004 by a group of local credit unions working together to raise funds and donate to community organizations. Since its inception, the Foundation has contributed more than $549,697 to local nonprofit organizations. Through the contributions of its member credit unions and the generosity of credit union employees, the fund continues to grow each year.
The Foundation is supported by:
• Envista Federal Credit Union
• Empower Blue Credit Union (formerly Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Credit Union)
