25th Anniversary Included many "Uncommon Acts of Generosity"

Uncommon acts of generosity broke out in Derby during 2018 as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Derby Community Foundation. Through the Generosity Challenge, the DCF invited Derby area residents, businesses and organizations to commit uncommon acts of generosity in 2018.

For 25 years the Derby Community Foundation has been inspiring vision and generosity by enriching the quality of life in the Derby area. The Generosity Challenge was designed to encourage and reward generosity within the Derby community.

There were 14 Generosity Challenge participants:

• Brody Landers (8 years old) used his own money to cater a BBQ lunch for Derby Police Officers.

• Jean Garinger, American Family Insurance agent, provided free office space to Living Water Church and awarded a grant to USD 260’s Food Service Department to provide free adult meals at Derby’s free Summer Lunch Program.

• Verus Bank empowered their employees to “change the world” through a “Pay It Forward” campaign (inspired by the 2000 movie “Pay It Forward”).

• Derby Rotary Club awarded a grant to provide Derby Dash (transportation) scholarships so hungry children could attend Derby’s free Summer Lunch Program.

• Elizabeth Stanton (Keller Williams Real Estate Agent) and Dr. Jason Stanton (Derby Chiropractic owner) enlisted their 4 children (Blake, Alexis, Vivian and Sofia) in a year-long campaign to gather non-perishable food for the Derby Food Pantry.

• Derby Senior Center members adopted plots at the community garden to provide fresh vegetables to area seniors to encourage healthy eating.

• St. Mary Catholic Church Knights of Columbus Council raised funds to support activities for residents who have developmental disabilities.

• Julie Olmsted, Farmers Insurance Agency, hosted “Carriage Rides in the Park,” a free event in December which featured horse-drawn carriage rides through Derby’s High Park.

• MJB Heating and Cooling sponsored many activities to benefit the community including raising funds for the Wyatt the Warrior Foundation and holding a drive to collect items for Harbor House.

• Panther Professionals hosted the Party in the Park on July 4th at Madison Avenue Central Park, a free Independence Day event for Derby families.

• Revive Spa and Salon (Kayci Love) took on the role of Kansas Chapter Leader for The Magic Yarn Project which creates yarn wigs, inspired by beloved Disney characters and Marvel/DC Superheroes, for children fighting cancer.

• Derby Noon Lions Club provided vision screenings and eye-wear vouchers for Derby school children.

• Eye to Eye Vision Care of Derby provided emergency eye care kits to Derby school nurses and coaches.

Each year the Derby Community Foundation awards the Generosity Award to recognize generous acts of an individual, business or organization. Verus Bank (organization) and Brody Landers (individual) were selected from among the 14 Generosity Challenge participants to receive the 2018 Generosity Award.