It was Christmas in June on Thursday night, as more than double the usual amount of charitable funds was distributed to nonprofits by the Unified Government Commission.
The annual $500,000 from Hollywood Casino for local charities was added to a one-time amount of $750,000 from Schlitterbahn for nonprofit donations in the community.
Each UG commissioner controlled about $111,581 to allocate from the $1.2 million Hollywood Casino-Schlitterbahn charitable grant funds, except for three.
Commissioner Mike Kane, whose total was $86,581, and Mayor Mark Holland, whose total was $106,000, are setting aside part of their funds for a future grant allocation in 2017, according to Joe Connor, assistant UG administrator.
Commissioner Gayle Townsend had $5,000 more to give this year because $5,000 was returned to the fund last year from one of the grants she authorized, he said.
Most of the commissioners spread out the funds among several organizations, while a few commissioners decided to give larger amounts to fewer organizations.
The highest amount awarded was $100,200 to the Argentine Betterment Corporation for the program, “A Healthy Active Argentine for All Ages,” including $70,000 from Commissioner Ann Murguia and $30,200 from Commissioner Angela Markley.
Other large grants included:
• $81,698 to the Friends of Yates Branch for a domestic violence – renovation program from five commissioners;
• $74,333 to the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Educational Foundation for a healthy life initiative from Commissioner Jim Walters;
• $53,000 to the Turner Recreation Commission for an Outdoor Fitness Zone from Commissioner Angela Markley;
• $50,000 to the Urban Scholastic Center for a program to develop future leaders, from four commissioners;
• $45,000 to the Oak Ridge Youth Development Corp. for a health, education and fitness program, with $40,000 from Mayor Mark Holland and $5,000 from Commissioner Melissa Bynum;
• $43,781 to the County Fair Foundation for a fairground shooting park development, from three commissioners.
The list of grants:
Unified Government – Hollywood Casino Grants
• American Youth Football Inc., Youth Succeed with STEM and Sports, $31,581 allocated, including $6,581 from Murguia, $15,000 from Johnson, $5,000 from Townsend and $5,000 from Philbrook.
• Archdiocese of Kansas City, United Cyclones, $26,800 allocated, all from Kane.
• Argentine Betterment Corporation, A Healthy Active Argentine for All Years, $100,200 allocated, $30,200 from Markley, and $70,000 from Murguia.
• Argentine Betterment Corporation, Youth Softball Field Renovations, $28,000 allocated, $20,000 from Walker and $8,000 from Markley.
• Argentine Betterment Corporation, Spring Valley curb, apron and sidewalk repairs, $35,000 allocated, all from Murguia.
• Armourdale Renewal Association, Armourdale Community Garden, nutrition and year-long canning program, $8,000 allocated, $4,000 from Bynum and $4,000 from McKiernan.
• Avenue of Life Inc., Impact Wednesday Program, $24,000, all from McKiernan.
• Beauty Builders Inc., Body Builders Initiative, $7,500 allocated, $5,000 from Townsend and $2,500 from Philbrook.
• Bethel Neighborhood Center, Youth Fit for Life, $20,081 allocated, $15,081 from McKiernan, $5,000 from Bynum.
• Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Educational Foundation, Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Healthy Life Initiative, $74,333 allocated, all from Walters.
• Caritas Clinics, Duchesne Clinic, Diabetes Care and Prevention, $29,748 allocated, $9,500 McKiernan, $3,000 Philbrook, $17,248 Walters.
• Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, New Roots for Refugees program, $13,000 allocated, $5,000 Johnson, $5,000 Townsend, $3,000 Philbrook.
• CHWC Inc., My Healthy Neighborhood, $9,581 allocated, $4,000 Walker, $3,000 McKiernan, $2,581 Philbrook.
• Connecting for Good, Linking Digital Literacy to Diabetes, $5,000 allocated, all from Townsend.
• County Fair Foundation, Fair Ground Shooting Park Development, $43,781 allocated, $10,000 Walker, $23,781 Kane, $10,000 Philbrook.
• Crosslines Community Outreach Inc., Healthy Choices Hunger Relief, $20,000 allocated, all from McKiernan.
• Cultivate Kansas City, Beans and Greens Nutrition Incentive Program, $24,400 allocated, $5,000 Holland, $5,000 Bynum, $5,000 McKiernan, $9,400 Townsend.
• Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph, Blessed Sacrament Parish Health Program, $9,000 allocated, $4,000 Bynum, $5,000 Johnson.
• El Centro Inc., Promotores de Salud, Buying Local, Buying Healthy, $8,000 allocated, $5,000 Bynum, $3,000 Philbrook.
• Freewheels for Kids Inc., Bike Clubs for a Healthy Wyandotte, $3,000 allocated, all from Philbrook.
• Friends of Yates Branch Inc., Friends of Yates, Domestic Violence, Renovation, $81,698 allocated, $10,000 Walker, $10,081 Bynum, $22,536 Johnson, $22,081 Townsend, $17,000 Philbrook.
• Girls on the Run Greater Kansas City, Girls on the Run of Greater Kansas City, $0 allocated.
• Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri, Girl Scouting in Wyandotte County, $4,500 allocated, $2,000 Bynum, $2,500 Philbrook.
• Grinter Place Friends Inc., Grinter Place Enhancement Project, $17,181 allocated, $13,181 Markley, $4,000 Philbrook.
• Hartwig Legacy Foundation, I Am Here Wyandotte, $0 allocated.
• Harvesters, Harvesters’ Wyandotte Healthy Eating Programs, $15,000 allocated, $10,000 Bynum, $5,000 Townsend.
• Heartland 180 Incorporated, The 180 Degrees Program, $0 allocated.
• Hillcrest Ministries of Wyandotte County Inc., Health and Wellness for the Homeless, $10,000 allocated, $5,000 Johnson, $5,000 Philbrook.
• Historic Northeast-Midtown Association Inc., Learn to Earn, $24,045 allocated, $10,000 Walker, $3,000 Bynum, $5,045 Johnson, $6,000 Townsend.
• Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, Healthy Pets, Healthy Owners, Healthy Communities, $10,000 allocated, $5,000 Bynum, $5,000 Philbrook.
• Kansas Black Chamber Foundation, Youth Leadership Development, $0 allocated.
• KCKCC Endowment, KCK Organic Teaching Gardens, $0 allocated.
• Kansas City Community Gardens, Community Gardens and Orchards for Healthy Wyandotte County, $11,000 allocated, $5,000 Bynum, $6,000 McKiernan.
• KCK Public Library Foundation, Summer Reading 2016, $2,000 allocated, $2,000 Bynum.
• Kansas University Endowment, Connecting the Dottes, $0 allocated.
• Mattie Rhodes Center, Soccer for Success, $0 allocated.
• Mercy and Truth Medical Missions Inc., integrating primary care and health education, $31,000 total, $5,000 Bynum, $6,000 McKiernan, $20,000 Johnson.
• Mo-Kan 20-20 Vision Inc., Bonner Springs Sand Volleyball Court, $5,000 total, $5,000 Walter.
• Mo-Kan 20-20 Vision Inc., Harmon HUB Outdoor Classroom, $0 allocated.
• Mo-Kan 20-20 Vision Inc., Turner High School Students Building Projects, $0 allocated.
• Mo-Kan 20-20 Vision Inc., Piper High School Students – Embrace Your Library, $15,000 allocated, $15,000 Kane.
• Mt. Carmel Redevelopment Corp. Inc., Mt. Carmel Transitional Housing, $25,000 allocated, $20,000 Holland, $5,000 Philbrook.
• Oak Ridge Youth Development Corp., ORYDS Health, Education and Fitness, $45,000 allocated, $40,000 Holland, $5,000 Bynum.
• Pomeroy Neighborhood Watch Group Corp., placement of a Historic Pomeroy Neighborhood, $2,000 total, $2,000 Philbrook.
• Rosedale Development Association, Rosedale Healthy Kids, $15,000 allocated, $10,000 Holland, $5,000 Bynum.
• Sharing Community in Rosedale Inc., Rainbow Freedom School, $15,000 allocated, $10,000 Holland, $5,000 Bynum.
• Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care, MOMS Maternal Options that Matter, $0 allocated.
• The Downtown Shareholders of KCK Inc., Huron Park Wellness Enhancements, $7,000 allocated, $2,500 Bynum, $2,000 Johnson, $2,500 Philbrook.
• The Downtown Shareholders of KCK Inc., KCK Farmers Market, $7,500 allocated, $2,500 Bynum, $2,000 Johnson, $3,000 Philbrook.
• The Family Conservancy, Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids, $15,000 allocated, $7,500 McKiernan, $7,500 Townsend.
• The Family Conservancy, Growing Healthy Kids, $9,000 allocated, $6,000 McKiernan, $3,000 Philbrook.
• Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church, Nutrition and Physical Activities for Children, $12,000 allocated, all from Townsend.
• Turner Community Connection Inc., 2016 Healthy Turner, $20,000 allocated, all from Walker.
• Turner House Clinic, Turner House Healthy Lifestyles Program, $10,000 allocated, $4,500 Bynum, $5,500 McKiernan.
• Turner Recreation Commission, Outdoor Fitness Zone, $53,000 allocated, all from Markley.
• Turner Recreation Commission, Turner Community Garden Electrical, $14,400 total, $7,200 Walker, $7,200 Markley.
• United Way of Wyandotte County, Wyandotte County Back to School Fair at KCKCC, $25,600 allocated, $5,000 Holland, $5,000 Bynum, $5,000 Kane, $10,600 Townsend.
• Unlimited Play Inc., Include, Inform, Inspire! Unlimited Play’s Wy. Co., $10,390 allocated, all from Walker.
• Urban Scholastic Center, engaging indigenous leaders to develop future leaders, $50,000 allocated, $5,000 Bynum, $25,000 Johnson, $5,000 Townsend, $15,000 Philbrook.
• Vaughn-Trent Community Services Inc., Fresh Foods Program Year 2, $15,000 allocated, all from Walters.
• Wildwood Outdoor Education Center Inc., Camp Wildwood, $0 allocated.
• Wyandot Center for Community Behavioral Health, Mental Health First Aid, $15,000 allocated, $10,000 Townsend, $5,000 Philbrook.
• Wyandotte County Historical Society and Museum, Preservation of the Wyandotte County, $23,000 total, $20,000 Walker, $3,000 Philbrook.
• Wyandotte County Parks Foundation, Armourdale Bike and Levee Walking Trail, $0.
• Wyandotte County Sports Association, Infrastructure Action for Growth, $35,000 allocated, $16,000 Holland, $3,000 Bynum, $16,000 Kane.
• Young Men’s Christian Association of Greater Kansas City, Learn to Swim, Drowning Prevention, $12,500 allocated, $10,000 Townsend, $2,500 Philbrook.
• Young Women on the Move, Advancing health, resiliency and self-sufficiency of adolescent youth in KCK, $19,000 allocated, $9,000 Bynum, $5,000 Johnson, $5,000 Philbrook.