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EXISTING FUNDS
To see the list of scholarship funds, click here | To give to any of these funds, click here
Wamego’s July 4th fireworks display is a long standing tradition. Trained
and licensed community pyrotechnic volunteers donate time and energy to
plan, order, and shoot the show. This 12 to 15 member group, referred to as the
Pyro Crew, routinely volunteers more than 400 hours of personal time to prepare
for the annual display. The show consists of more than 10,000 shells and delivers
30 minutes of sky-saturating, heart-pounding action. Billed as the “largest
hand-fired display in the Midwest and possibly, America,” the show brings
loyal visitors from near and far into the community each year to witness the
spectacle that has become uniquely Wamego. Major funding for the show comes from
a host of grassroots business and individual sponsors. The financial generosity
of the community allows this fireworks display to maintain its high-quality standards
and remain the crown jewel of Wamego’s annual Independence Day Celebration.
Upon the tragic death of Donna Swanson, a well-known local business leader in the Wamego community, her family established in her memory a fund which would be used to help build a much needed baseball and softball complex for the residents of this community. This fund will be used to help make a new recreation complex a reality for those who enjoy playing and watching baseball and softball games.
Created initially to respond to the family needs within our community, the Family Life Education Center has established a fund within the Foundation that will help pay for worthwhile programs and training sessions for local families, such as car seat safety check points, infant wellness programs, and many more.
The same citizens who saw a need for playground equipment in the park also saw a need for a fund that would maintain the upkeep of that equipment within the city park. The Endowed Fund was established to ensure that those maintenance needs will be met throughout the years to come. The earnings from this fund will go toward the upkeep of the city park and its equipment in the future.
Realizing that our city park is a focal point for this community, a group of concerned citizens formed the Friends of the Park organization and established a fund within Wamego Community Foundation to finance the replacement of much needed playground equipment and amenities in the city park. This fund is used to purchase such things as playground equipment, decorative brick for walkways in the park, and many other equipment items.
Leadership Wamego Children's Fund
In November 2005, with a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, the Leadership Wamego Children's Fund was established. Wamego Community Foundation will soon be initiating its first Leadership Wamego program class focused on improving the health and well-being of children living in the area served by the program.
Leadership Wamego Fund
Also established in November 2005 with a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, the fund will help supplement costs associated with the new Leadership Wamego program, which the Wamego Community Foundation plans to rollout in 2009.
Believing that the local community would benefit from an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, a group of talented local individuals came together to form a fund within Wamego Community Foundation that annually would fund this performance. This organization has benefited from grants through the Kansas Arts Council and other contributions made through the Foundation to subsidize the cost of this annual production.
A recreational trail between St. George and Wamego has long been an ambition of
many outdoor enthusiasts in Pottawatomie County. Pottawatomie County Economic
Development Corporation established the “Old Military Road Recreational
Trail Fund” with the Wamego Community Foundation in May 2005. This fund
was used to finance a feasibility study for the creation of a new recreational trail
connecting Wamego, St. George, and the Manhattan Linear Trail.
The fund provides a way for interested parties
to assist with this project. The net proceeds from a series of bicycle rallies
continue to be placed in this fund, including the March “Cabin Fever,”
the June “Hills and Thrills,” and the October “OZtoberfest” rallies. For more information
Since fall of 2003, a group of concerned citizens representing the communities
of Wamego, St. George, Westmoreland, Onaga, and St. Marys formed the Pottawatomie
Recycling Committee (PRC). The mission of the PRC is to raise sufficient funds to
pay for the transportation and related expenses of the recycling trailers in
each of these towns to the distribution site northeast of Seneca. Through PRC
public awareness activities, the quantities of recyclables in each of these
towns have substantially increased, creating a need for additional fund raising
to support this growth. Several communities in the county have requested a
recycling trailer for their recycling efforts; therefore, another goal of the
PRC is to accumulate funds for the purchase of additional trailers. As funds
increase, the PRC will be involved in more extensive public awareness activities
related to the preservation of the Pottawatomie environment. The major fund raising
events are the newspaper drives held in late October and late April. Simply
stated, the Pottawatomie Recycling Committee is proudly serving the environmental
needs of the county.
The miniature train was built in 1947 by Ottaway Amusement Company of Wichita; it was purchased for $5,000 in 1955 by Wamego citizens Neil Balderson and Harold Stewart, who presented the train to the City of Wamego. Located in the City Park, the train has been an integral part of community celebrations and has been enjoyed by generations of children for more than 50 years.
Sadly, the “Tulip Blossom Special” has suffered the ravages of time. Studies show that it will not be feasible to repair and maintain the existing train due to its age, lack of available parts, and safety issues. In July 2007, the Wamego Chamber of Commerce started the “Save the Train Fund” (later renamed the "Train Enhancement Project Fund") to raise funds to preserve and permanently display the train, either in the Wamego Museum or in a glass-enclosed area of a new depot in the Park.
In September 2008, local citizens Eric Artzer and Cliff Baughman began building a new electric train to replace the existing train. The City of Wamego also proposed several projects that may include:
See Save the Train Fund above
The Wamego Chamber of Commerce created this fund in December 2003 to raise funds for the relocation and current restoration of the birthplace of Walter P. Chrysler. The Chrysler house not only will maintain its historic presence in our town but also will serve as a unique visitor’s center in its new location at the intersection of Hwy 24 and Hwy 99.
This fund was created to fulfill charitable needs in the Wamego community and surrounding area by offering grants to worthwhile non-profit organizations that apply. To be considered for a grant, these organizations must be beneficial to residents of the Wamego community.
As with any worthwhile organization, Wamego Community Foundation has operating costs associated with its day-to-day operations. To offset these costs, the Administrative Fund was established. Several local businesses and individuals have supported Wamego Community Foundation through contributions to the Administrative Fund. Continued support through this fund is needed and much appreciated.
The library board established this fund to address the needs of the library in future years. The earnings from this endowed fund will be available to the library to help maintain the existing library building and provide long-term solutions to building or operating needs.
Recognizing the need for a fully-equipped recreation complex within our community to benefit all area residents, the city of Wamego established this fund to provide a means by which local residents could give to make this a reality. It is hoped that this fund will eventually be used to build a state-of-the-art recreation complex, complete with baseball, softball, and soccer fields, as well as provide for other recreational needs within the community. View plans for the complex
The Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation created this fund in
2005 with an initial donation of $500. Money donated to this fund provides a
tax deductible way for interested people to donate money for the construction
and maintenance of a new public boat and canoe landing near the Highway 99 bridge
in Wamego on the Kansas River. The landing will consist of a convenient ramp
to launch and retrieve boats and canoes and will also feature a pleasant picnic area
with tables, restrooms, and parking.
Boy Scouts, canoeists, kayakers, fishermen, and hunters are
among the increasing numbers of people using the Kansas River
for year-round recreation. The long term plan is for the Kansas
River to become more accessible from Junction City to the Missouri
River at Kansas City. A new river access landing was built
by the community of St. George in 2004, and others are working
to build new landings further down river. As time progresses,
it is hoped that there will be a public access river landing
every five to 10 miles along the Kansas River.
See Old Military Road Recreational Trail Fund
The Wamego Telephone Company Inc., established in 1912 to serve the communications needs of the citizens of this area, has chosen to give back to the community in a number of ways. Through the Wamego Telephone Company Fund, many charities are supported each year. In addition, the Fund provides five scholarships to deserving senior students in the areas that the Telephone Company serves, including
Wamego High School,
Rock Creek High School,
Alma High School,
St. Marys High School, and
St. Marys Academy. For more information
To give to a fund:
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