Golden Belt Community Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2011

HUDSON COMMUNITY FUND SUCCESSFULLY MEETS CHALLENGE

Over 40 individuals and businesses answered the call to “Give an Acre for Hudson.” What began as a challenge to build a savings account for the Hudson community has resulted in an endowment fund that will provide funds for community efforts and projects for years to come. In just six months $20,000 was raised to build the Hudson Community Improvement Fund, which is managed by the Golden Belt Community Foundation.

Much of the success of the challenge was due to the generosity of Stafford County Flour Mills contributing dollar-for-dollar matching funds. As the $10,000 in donations arrived, Stafford County Flour Mills matched it with its own $10,000. Additionally, the Golden Belt Community Foundation, in its efforts to help communities build long-term, sustainable assets, will receive an additional fifty-cent per dollar because of the GROW II Initiative with the Kansas Health Foundation.

Individuals from many Kansas communities and from two other states stepped forward with donations to help a community they care very much about. Many notes were sent with donations stating how it was wonderful to see something positive happening in Hudson. Anyone may continue to add to this fund – at any time and in any amount. UMB Bank in Hudson made the final contribution to complete the challenge.

The best part about the Hudson Community Improvement Fund is that, as an endowment, it is designed to last forever. The funds are invested at the Golden Belt Community Foundation, and every year a percentage of the fund that will be available for a program or project that benefits the Hudson community. Additionally, the foundation will seek input from those who live in and around Hudson about how the funds should be used.

At $6.6 million in total assets and over 100 endowment funds under management, the Golden Belt Community Foundation has been helping donors fulfill their charitable wishes since 1996. Over $1.3 million has been reinvested into the communities of Stafford, Pawnee, Barton, and Rush counties in the form of grants since 2002. For more information about the Golden Belt Community Foundation, call (620) 792-3000 or see their website at www.goldenbeltcf.org.