The Cowley CourierTraveler, Tuesday, October 31, 2017 Page 7B

Still providing services after 112 years

Legacy Regional Community Foundation
Service clubs have a long history
in our nation. It was 1905 when the
worlds first service club was formed
when a Chicago lawyer gathered
together a few business acquaintanc-
es. It was his desire to form a club
that would embody the camaraderie
he felt growing up in a small town.
What began as social gatherings for
business networking soon developed
into something more.
The original group determined to
meet regularly and rotating meeting
places among each others offices. The
club adopted the name Rotary. As the
group continued, the focus shifted
to community service and the clubs
popularity grew. Within a decade,
Rotary clubs had started throughout
the United States.
Many service clubs started in the
same manner. First, as social gath-
erings for business networking, but
then quickly changing into organi-
zations focused on performing char-
itable works. Often clubs began as a
single club in a single city, and later
spread into other communities. The
Arkansas City and Winfield Area
Chambers of Commerce are proud to
have nearly 100 non-profit and civic
groups as part of their membership.
Great pride is found in assisting these
groups and organizations, as well as
our public government organizations,
by providing a place to network and
promote their essential work.
Over the years, service clubs have
evolved into a significant source of
funding and volunteerism for char-
ities and other essential services.
Unfortunately, these organizations
are facing more and more challeng-
es of their own. While many people
believe the need for our civic and ser-
vice clubs will continue, many issues
will have to be addressed in order for
them to survive.
Earlier this year leadership of the
Arkansas City and Winfield Area
Chambers of Commerce, Legacy
Foundation and Rotary Clubs in
Arkansas City and Winfield met
together to discuss how to best support
these vital organizations in our Cowley
County community. Chatter among
the leaders had started in the weeks
previous as their individual organiza-
tions continued to face the challenges
of limited resources and growing needs
throughout the county. The organizers
left the meeting determined to spear-
head an opportunity to discuss cooper-
ation and collective impact of our civic,
service and nonprofit organizations.
Brainstorming and answer seeking led
the organizers to consider a Service
United Nations.
Why our own United Nations?
Consider this. The United Nations is
an international organization found-
ed in 1945 after the Second World
War by 51 countries committed to
maintaining international peace and
security, developing friendly relations
among nations and promoting social
progress, better living standards and
human rights. Conceived as a unifier
of states and populations, its central
mission was to restore international
peace, ensure security and to pro-
mote international co-operation. The
United Nations is a cooperative where
individual countries retain their sov -
ereignty, but work together where val-
ues align for the common good.
In September, a small focus group
of community connectors was gath-
ered to discuss these questions: Why
See LEGACY
Page 8B

ACE is all about the next generation

ACE Fund
The ACE Fund, officially known
as the Arkansas City Public Schools
Enhancement Fund, functions by the
work of volunteers who care about
Arkansas City and its youth. It exists
solely with tax deductable donations
under the umbrella of the Legacy
Community Foundation.
This fund was established 12 years
ago as a charitable foundation for
the purpose of supporting students
and teachers in USD 470. Teachers
can apply for grants for innovative
classroom projects. Currently, grant
money is being put to use in 8 indi-
vidual classrooms, and 2 additional
grants are being used for multiple
classrooms. In 2017, 20 ACHS seniors
were awarded scholarships to help
advance their post high school educa-
tions. The scholarships awarded range
from $300 to the Robert Warrender
scholarship of $1,000 which is renew -
able for four years.
The money to support these endeav -
ors comes from individual donations,
group donations and endowment
funds. When funds are endowed,
the original donation remains intact
to establish a perpetual fund, and
scholarship money is awarded from
the funds earnings. Endowments
are ideal for those wishing to estab-
lish a scholarship in memory of or
in honor of individuals or families. contact current committee members: Jay, Terry Naden, Leslie Patterson or
Contributions which are not endowed Iva Lea Bryant, Kathy Bryant, Joi Evelyn Shoup.
are spent for teacher/classroom grants
and general scholarships.
Endowed scholarships have been
established by the K.E. Bryant fam-
ily, Gene and Sally Burr, Robert and
Marcia Childers, Janet English, Angela
Harding, Norman and Joline Iverson,
Nick and Christie Rogers, Jay and The ACE Fund supports ~
Nancy Warren and Robert Warrender. Ark City Students
Scholarships established by groups
Ark City Teachers
include: Class of 1955, Class of 1957,
Class of 1959, Friends of A.F.S., and
ER chapter of P.E.O.
Innovative classroom projects
In addition to grants and schol- Scholarships for graduates
arships, the ACE Fund worked for
an extended time to rejuvenate the
The ACE Fund initiated the renewal of Senior
Senior Picture Panels that once hung
in the halls of the high school with
money that was specifically donated
Pictures ~
for that purpose. Finally, with help On Touch-Screen in the ACHS lobby
from USD 470 and the Technology
department, the pictures are available Online at www.usd470.com Our District
digitally in the lobby of ACHS on a
touch screen. The gallery containing
senior pictures dating back to 1905
can also be accessed online at www.
The ACE Fund appreciates tax-deductible
usd470.com under the Our District donations of any amount.
tab.
For information on donating to ACE Arkansas City Public Schools Enhancement Fund
Fund or creating an endowed scholar-
ship fund, call the Legacy Community
P.O. Box 701, Arkansas City, KS
Foundation office at (620) 221-7224. For detailed information: 620-221-7224
Donations can be sent to P.O. Box
701, Arkansas City. You may also