Month: December 2014

Grant to promote health of youth in Argentine area of KCK

A grant announced this week will promote health among youth in the Argentine area of Kansas City, Kan.

The Argentine Neighborhood Development Association has received a $25,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation’s Recognition Grants program that will focus on youth futsal activity in the Argentine area.

Futsal is a type of soccer that is played on a hard-surfaced court, and it is becoming very popular in Kansas City, Kan., with Sporting Kansas City helping to build futsal courts throughout the community.

According to Ann Brandau Murguia, executive director of ANDA, the $25,000 grant will help measure health improvement for children when they enter the futsal program and then see what the improvement is at the end of the program, if any, in terms of the children’s overall health.

The grant is in partnership with the University of Kansas Medical Center research team and Sporting Kansas City, she said.

“All the (UG Commission) districts are getting futsal fields,” Murguia said. “ANDA is just taking it to another level.

“This research will be able to tell us whether this particular program will make a difference,” Murguia said. “If it does make a difference, it will determine whether we offer additional programming to our youths in our area.”

She said there is a lot of youth interest in soccer in the Argentine area, and several leagues currently play there. During the summer, almost all the parks are crowded with either soccer or baseball, she said.

All children are to be included in this new Argentine futsal program, regardless of their physical condition at the outset of the program.

This grant will fund a program at Vega field, across from the new Walmart on 24th Street between Metropolitan Avenue and Strong Avenue. The futsal court at Vega park has not been built yet, and is planned to be built by Sporting KC in the early spring, she said. Closer to the time it is completed, there will be signups for kids to participate in the program, she added.

All the details of the soccer program will be set up by Sporting Kansas City, she said. The KU research team will collect the health data at the beginning of the program from participants and then provide the collective health data at the end of the program.

ANDA’s role will be to do outreach to the community to get more kids interested in the program and in signing up, she said.

Piper results

Piper High School
Girls invitational basketball tournament at Eudora, vs. Paola
– Piper varsity lost 55-62
– Piper plays Bonner Springs for third place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Boys basketball at Ottawa
– Piper varsity won 61-58
– Piper junior varsity won 62-43
– Piper ninth grade won 46-41

– from Doug Key, Piper activities director

Holidays offer opportunity to give

by Cathi Hahner

Holidays are a wonderful time to think about the needs of others, and there are many ways you can help this holiday season.

For a list of opportunities where you can volunteer your time, adopt-a-family or donate, go to the web site at www.unitedway-wyco.org and check out the Holiday Needs Guide.

Local agencies are planning Christmas stores so their clients can shop for gifts. These stores are in need of donations, either cash or gifts. The stores also need volunteers to help set-up, during store hours and break-down the displays.

There are other agencies that have families to be adopted. Adopt-A-Family programs help families during the holidays by providing food, toys and clothing in a compassionate and supportive manner. Adopting a family is a wonderful way to teach children how be charitable and to involve them in a community project. It can also be a wonderful team building opportunity at the close of the corporate year.

You might organize a new gift drive for kids of all ages or make a donation to a gift-giving organization. There are a variety of agencies collecting toys and personal items. Volunteers can also help with distribution of the holiday baskets to the families.

Many local agencies hold holiday parties or gatherings for their clients. Volunteers are needed to help with the parties through a variety of activities such as decorating or serving at the event. These events are a sure-fire way to spread the spirit of the holidays to all.

For more information on how you can volunteer contact Cathi Hahner at 913-371-3674 or chahner@unitedway-wyco.org. You can also find volunteer opportunities by checking out the website, www.unitedway-wyco.org and click on Holiday Needs Guide or Volunteer.

Cathi Hahner is the director of volunteer services at the United Way of Wyandotte County.