Nine local organizations receiving financial support from the Topeka Credit Union Foundation
Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka, Breakthrough House, GraceMed Health Clinic, Housing & Credit Counseling, Jr. Achievement of Kansas, Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas, Shawnee Regional Prevention & Recovery Services, TARC and Topeka Rescue Mission.
The Topeka Credit Union Foundation was formed in 2004 by six local credit unions “to support organizations conducting philanthropic or charitable purposes for the greater good of our communities.” Today, the Foundation is supported by Envista Credit Union, Azura Credit Union, Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Credit Union, and Mid American Credit Union. With this year’s grants, the Topeka Credit Union Foundation has contributed $246,275 to numerous organizations primarily in the Topeka community.
Details regarding how much each organization has received from the Topeka Credit Union Foundation and how they are using the funds are provided below:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka ($1,562.50) – To purchase first aid kits and ice packs for all 10 locations and five new locations opening in January.
Breakthrough House, Inc. ($3,794.30) – To purchase three indoor tower gardens for meal-preparing kitchens where vegetables will be grown to provide healthy meals to guests.
GraceMed Health Clinic, Inc. ($3,125) – To provide over 5,000 children one-on-one instruction in proper and daily brushing/flossing, along with a free dental screening and an oral health kit containing toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and brushing calendar.
Housing & Credit Counseling, Inc. ($3,604) – To support the “Money for Life” program, a HCCI evidence-based project raising awareness for working teens (juniors and seniors) that they should file Federal and State Income Tax Returns and be eligible to receive a tax refund of the amount withheld from their paychecks by employers for federal and state taxes.
Jr. Achievement of Kansas ($3,780) - To expand programming for financial literacy, entrepreneurship and workforce readiness to seventh graders at Eisenhower Middle School.
Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas ($4,745) – To support the “Adopt-a-Route” meal delivery service that delivers 5 meals a week (Mon-Fri) to an individual for 3 months. One route consists of 10 individuals. Three months will be 650 meals over 65 days to 10 individuals.
Shawnee Regional Prevention & Recovery Services, Inc. ($5,000) – To support the Safe Streets Coalition, a partnership of law enforcement leaders, business executives, government officials, education administrators and the community, in the costs associated with hosting and facilitating meetings, leading to a community plan to address human trafficking.
TARC, Inc. ($1,338.37) – Providing supplies, activities and equipment that emphasize healthy cooking, nutrition, healthy activities and gross motor skills for the Parents & Children Together (PACT) and Special Parent and Respite Kare for Kids (SPARKK) programs to support individuals with developmental disabilities, as well as their siblings and parents. Topeka Rescue Mission Ministries ($5,000) – Support for TRM’s Hunger Relief Project addressing food insecurity through the distribution of prepared and non-prepared meals, and food pantry food box distribution.