Congratulations to our first-ever Grant Slam finalists! These organizations and their programs were selected by our Douglas County Advisory Council volunteers to pitch their ideas to you and our judges on October 21 at Maceli's.
Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK)
"The Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas (SACK) is a statewide advocacy group made up of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, the majority of whom receive services through the Kansas Developmental Disabilities Service System. SACK encourages and teaches people to speak up for themselves and to obtain the highest possible level of independence."
Just Food
"Just Food is the food bank of Douglas County, supplying over 30 partner agencies with fresh produce, dairy products, meat, bread and pantry staples. Tuesday through Friday, Just Food operates a food pantry out of our main building serving 400+ families daily. We are a team dedicated to our guiding principles and listening to our shoppers &community to serve the larger needs of our neighbors facing food insecurity."
LRM Foundation
"Founded on a core value that healthy relationships are essential to healthy living, LRM Foundation’s mission is to Instill Hope, Reconcile Broken Relationships, and Restore Healthy Living, and our purpose is to demonstrate that life finds a way to give us a bridge to new beginnings, and a path to wholeness. We achieve this through multifaceted programming of the Performing Arts, Mental Health and Wellness, and STEM Education Partnerships."
Eudora Schools Foundation
"The Eudora Schools Foundation raises funds to enrich the student experience, reward teacher excellence, and make our schools the very best. Every day, we’re fueling innovation, providing critical student support, and creating new opportunities for success. From classroom grants to career programs, our focus remains clear: support students and empower the educators who guide them."
Our Special Guest Coach: Matt Tidwell
These finalists are honing their pitches with help from United Way community impact staff and a special mentor from the University of Kansas. Matt Tidwell is a professor of the practice and the interim chair for Digital Marketing Communications, Advertising and PR at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. His past roles have included assistant dean for graduate professional studies and program director for the M.S., Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications degree. His teaching covers topics including crisis communications, branding, leadership, advertising and PR. Before coming to KU, he was a marketing communications professional with more than 25 years of industry experience in the healthcare, energy and technology sectors.
Join Us for Grant Slam on October 21
Your participation will help make this first Grant Slam a success. And when you attend, you also vote for your favorite pitch to earn an extra $1,500 People's Choice bonus! Come with a friend, or purchase a table and invite more friends, colleagues, emerging leaders, or family members who would enjoy learning more about and supporting UWKV’s work and vision for healthy and resilient communities. This is a welcoming and affordable way to bring people together in support of our community. Tables of eight are $500, and individual tickets are $65.
Our emcees for the evening are Curtis Marsh and Kim Murphree. Our celebrity judges are Representative Barbara Ballard, Steve Maceli and Bonnie Lowe. Music will be provided by DJ Steve Holzman. Thanks to all for saying yes to this new event!
Don't miss your chance to be at this first-ever event! Reserve your table or tickets now. To save your place, contact Jarrod Guth at 785-228-5128 or visit https://www.uwkawvalley.org/grantslam to purchase.
We hope you’ll join us, and bring others who are ready to connect, celebrate, and support the future of our community.