KHF Children’s Health Fund Marks Two Decades of Community Impact

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19 Mar KHF Children’s Health Fund Marks Two Decades of Community Impact

Posted at 14:33h in News by

Camp Invention Scholarships have long been sponsored by the Children’s Health Fund

For more than 20 years, the Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Health Fund has helped support programs that shape the lives of children across McPherson County.

Established in 2004 through a matching grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, the fund was created to support organizations and projects that improve the health and well-being of children across McPherson County.

The funding was awarded shortly after the Community Foundation itself was established, with the first round of grants distributed in May 2004. In its first year, the fund supported three organizations:

  • McPherson Health Care Foundation — $2,758
  • Youth to Youth International — $1,500
  • YMCA Children’s Center — $2,742

The fund expanded significantly in 2007 and 2008, when the Kansas Health Foundation awarded a total of $1.15 million through its fifth round of GROW matching grants.

With this additional support, the Children’s Health Fund has grown into one of the largest competitive grant programs in the county. Over its lifetime, it has awarded more than $866,000 to projects benefiting children in McPherson County.

Funded projects have included educational programs, after-school initiatives, playground improvements, and efforts focused on youth health, nutrition and housing.

In recent years, the fund has supported a range of local projects, including:

  • Helped continue programming for STARBASE Kansas after a portion of its Department of Defense funding was lost in 2025 – this funding allowed several elementary schools the opportunity to continue their attendance
  • Expansion of infant and toddler care capacity at Christ Kids Childcare in 2025
  • Replacement of playground equipment at Park Henry in Galva
  • Development of a new after-school program through the Inman Recreation Commission

The Kansas Health Foundation Children’s Health Fund accepts applications through the McPherson County Community Foundation’s general grant cycle.

For more information about applying or supporting the fund, contact Director of Community Services Betsy Davis at Betsy@McPhersonFoundation.org.