Forty-four groups share Pritchett funds
March 19,2004
By STACY M. DRENNAN
Morning Sun Staff Writer
Gold Bank Trust company awarded about $400,000 in Pritchett Trust grants
to local non-profit organizations Thursday afternoon during a ceremony at
Gold Bank, Fifth and Broadway.
Grant recipients included local school districts, including Pittsburg Community
Schools, which, along with Pittsburg State University, received a $15,000
grant for an Extended Summer Learning Program; and local community programs
such as the Franklin Community Council, which received a $10,000 grant for
construction of a community park, playground and walking area.
Overall, 44 organizations received grants for 57 projects that were approved
by the Pritchett Trust selection committee.
"You people here today, representing these organizations, do a fantastic
job of serving our community," Gold Trust Officer Ken Webb said. "We are very
pleased to do our part by funding some of the projects you are undertaking.
With these distributions it becomes your responsibility to utilize the quality
of life in Pittsburg and Crawford County, Kansas."
According to Webb, William and Athlyn Pritchett wanted their trust to be
used to improve overall life in Pittsburg.
"Through their wills and trust they left their estates to the Pritchett
Trust to provide for the benefits we are presenting here today," Webb continued.
"They left their estate in the hands of the bank and directed that the income
of their life endeavors to be used for the benefit of the citizens of this
community."
The Pritchett Trust was funded in 1994 after the deaths of William B. and
Athlyn C. Pritchett. Since the first distribution in 1995, and including the
current grants for 2003, the trust has awarded $3,428,626 to its organizations
in Pittsburg and Crawford County. The amounts awarded are about 5 percent
of the trust's assets each year.
Organizations receiving Pritchett Trust funds this year include:
* PSU and USD 250/Extended Summer Learning Program - $15,000.
* Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center/Support for dental clinic at the Weede
Physical Education Building at PSU - $10,000.
* Girard Public Library/Audio books and young adult materials - $3,000.
* USD 250 for all County Schools/Kids Voting in Kansas curriculum - $3,427.
* PSU - KRPS Public Radio/Production equipment modernization and upgrades
- $4,000.
* Community Health Center/Frontenac/books and supplies Reach Out and Read
- $750.
* McCune Attendance Center/Laptop computers, camera, printers and supplies
- $5,000.
* USD 249 - Frank Layden Elementary/Expository materials for reading program
- $3,900.
* USD 249 - Frank Layden Elementary/Manipulatives to utilize in math program
- $3,000.
* City of Pittsburg - Memorial Auditorium/Risers for use by all groups -
$5,809.
* Pittsburg Public Library/Renovation, furniture and computers for young
adult room - $12,000
* USD 250 - Westside Elementary/Partial funding of playground equipment
and shelter - $12,500
* Ozark Trails Boy Scout Council/Plagens improvements/Restroom facility/picnic
shelters - $20,000
* USD 250 - Westside Elementary/After School Program - $1,000
* Children's Advocacy Center/Tuition and travel for training/ two computers
- $5,110
* Elm Acres/Celebrating Family/Funding for family activities - $3,900
* Little Balkans Festival Association/Attraction to festival - $2,000
* Big Brothers Big Sisters/Support for Crawford County mentoring program
- $5,000
* USD 250 - Meadowlark Elementary/YouthFriends mentoring in the Crawford
County schools - $4,500
* PSU Department of Biology for Free Clinic/Medical services and pre-medical
student education - $6,500
* Catholic Charities/Social work and advocacy services at Wesley House -
$10,000
* PSU Foundation/Scholarships for students from Crawford County, fifth year
- $50,000
* Family Resource Center/Enrichment classes and small play equipment - $5,000
* The Farm/Musical instrument rental and lessons for foster care children
- $6,000
* YMCA/Gymnastic Equipment for young children in new YMCA addition - $5,000
* Chicopee Foundation/Restoration of vestibule/entranceway of Center - $3,000
* PSU College of Education/Young Authors Conference Scholarships and Honorarium
- $7,000
* PSU Department of Nursing/Materials and Promotions for Infant and Early
Childhood Project - $1,000
* Sperry-Galligar Audubon Society/Adventure Classroom Kits for third- and
fourth-graders - $1,038
* USD 250 - Lakeside Elementary/Musical Instruments - $2,000
* Northeast USD 246/STAR Math Renaissance Program - $8,153
* Franklin Community Council/Community Park/Playground, Walking, etc. -
$10,000
* City of Pittsburg - Memorial Auditorium/four Children's Programs/Educational
Workshops - $7,000
* City of Pittsburg - Memorial Auditorium/Children's Drama Workshop/Expansion
- $4,000
* Sunflower Kiwanis/Renewal of Countryside Addition "Pocket Park" - $3,000
* Pittsburg Sunrise Rotary Foundation/Pritchett Family Support Fund for
Wesley House - $5,000
* Cherokee Village School/Star Math License, Program and Computer - $4,239
* Pittsburg Community Theatre/Support for "Babes In Toyland" Production
- $5,000
* Arma City Library/Juvenile and Young Adult Materials and Furniture - $2,500
* USD 250 - PHS Band/instruction and Equipment for Percussion and Color
Guard - $2,000
* USD 248 - R.V. Haderlein Elementary/Purchase "Write Time for Kids" literature
program - $500
* City of Pittsburg - Deramus Park Shelter House/Labor, Material and Supplies
for Construction - $10,000
* USD 249 - Frontenac Junior High/Videos, CD-ROM's for Eighth Grade Science
Stations - $1,600
* St. Mary's-Colgan Schools/Tables for First Grade and Tutorial Software
- $3,300
* St. Mary's-Colgan Schools/Computer, Projector and Cart for Power Point
Presentations - $3,000
* City of Frontenac/Padding/Mat for Playground Equipment at City's Rotary
Park - $5,000
* St. Mary's-Colgan Schools/Performing Arts Center/Audio Equipment/Mics,
Amplifier and Mixer - $6,255
* Crawford County 4-H Clubs/Dog Agility Equipment for Character Training,
County Fair - $690
* Northeast USD 246/E-Mac Computers for Graphic Arts Program - $3,000
* Crawford County 4-H Horse Club/Lumber and Materials/Trail Equipment at
Fairgrounds - $500
* Southeast Kansas Humane Society/Kennels and Cages for New Facility - $10,000
* Judicial District Drug Court Team/Treatment Program/Seed money for Federal
Grant - $15,000
* Crisis Resource Center of SEK/Purchase/Construct ADA components for Pittsburg
facility - $8,465
* AARP Tax-Aide/Computer for Electronic Filing via Internet - $750
* PSU Foundation/Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, second year on a five-year
commitment - $40,000
* Pittsburg Area Community Foundation/Immigrant Park Pavilion/ second year
on a five-year commitment - $20,000
* USD 250-Pittsburg High School/Wood flooring at gymnasium paid July 31,
2003 - $4,500
Staff Writer Stacy M. Drennan can be reached at 231-2600 Ext. 137