Focusing
energies for collaboration
Advancement Associates was pleased to be part of a creative collaboration
of two organizations with first-rate track records of service to
the community of Hesston, Kansas.
Hesston Community Child Care (HCCC) began in 1976 when an adult
Sunday School Class at Whitestone Mennonite Church decided to address
the need for childcare in the Hesston community. Serving over 200
families in 2000, this not-for-profit childcare program partners
with the community to serve families with children ages 6 weeks
to 12 years.
Schowalter Villa was established in 1961 by the Mennonite Board
of Missions and Charities of Kansas to provide a setting where persons
could retire graciously and receive quality care. This nonprofit
community is currently home to more than 400 residents.
A proposal
The boards of directors of Hesston Community Child Care and Schowalter
Villa proposed a new collaborative program to enhance services to
families and individuals of all ages in the community. They proposed
a capital campaign of $1,480,000 to build and endow an 8,000-square-foot
facility equipped for state-of-the-art childcare to be constructed
adjacent to the assisted living and health care centers on the Schowalter
Villa campus.
This new space would also provide a new main entrance and community
interaction area for creative cross-generational interface for both
programs. The childcare facility would have its own main entrance.
Feasibility Study
The boards of directors of HCCC and Schowalter Villa authorized
Advancement Associates to make a campaign feasibility study to assess
community acceptance and support of the proposed program and capital
campaign. Thirty-two interviews conducted throughout the community
indicated overwhelming support for the program proposed and confidence
that the required funding could be found in the community.
An unexpected event
Two weeks after the campaign began, the attack on the Twin Towers
in New York paralyzed much of the nation and took energy and momentum
from fundraising efforts. Cindy Janzen, director of development
at Schowalter Villa, says that the most important contribution of
Advancement Associates in this difficult moment was “problem
solving and the second contribution was encouragement.”
Other AAI services
In the subsequent months of this campaign, Advancement Associates
offered its usual counsel and support but, in addition, was able
to help in several unique ways.
- AAI provided grant writing services that resulted in a successful
$216,000 challenge grant.
- AAI assisted in making a successful application for Kansas tax
credits, which allowed a number of businesses and individuals
to receive a direct credit to their Kansas state tax bill equal
to their contribution to the campaign.
- AAI helped to assemble a proposal for a community development
block grant from the state of Kansas.
Final Results
The community development block grant will complete the campaign.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2004. In Jerry Kennell’s
assessment, “this campaign demonstrates excellent use of creative
programs and multiple funding sources to accomplish something very
significant for a small community.”
