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At our 2023 annual fundraising event "Experience Greece" we raffled off a trip to Athens and Mykonos, Greece. We recently heard from our trip winner Deyna Smith about her trip. Here's what she had to say: We had a wonderful time in Greece. Mara at Winspire was so great to work with! Her communication was top notch. All of our accommodations and transfers were first class. It was truly a dream vacation. Our guide in Athens was very knowledgeable and gave us a 5 star private tour of the city. Some of our favorite highlights were visiting the Acropolis and the beautiful island of Mykonos. Here are some photos of their trip: Thank you Deyna and Justin Smith for sharing! Plans are already in motion for this year's fundraiser and we so hope to send another lucky winner on a dream vacation! Stay tuned!

Last week at our annual Christmas party we reflected on the past year. The contributions listed below would not have been possible without our board members, donors, and volunteers. Thank you for supporting the mission of the Derby Community Foundation – to enrich the quality of life in the Derby area! January Grants from Kansas Health Foundation Fund +$500 Derby Dash Scholarships – Derby Senior Services +$500 Derby High School Senior Celebration February Grant to Derby Free Spirits from Patty Anthony Memorial Fund - $250 Career Technical Education Assistance Fund awarded $900 to Derby High School Grant to Wichita Children’s Theater for performances of “Alice in Wonderland” for all Derby area elementary schools - $2,400 (anonymous donor) Grant from Garinger Agency Fund - $1,000 to Spring of Living Water Uncorked 2022 Virtual Event – raised $21,000 March Fund the Future grant to First Presbyterian Church for the Derby Police Appreciation Banquet Grant to Derby BBQ/Music Festival Grant from the Decarsky Field of Interest Fund - $2,500 – to Raise My Head Foundation to assist with repairs to the HVAC system at this women’s shelter Arlo and Charlotte “Kidneys for Life” and Cancer Support Memorial Fund grant to Gioblastoma Foundation Fund in memory of Wesley Steele - $367 March Match Day Madness – had a match pool of $12,000; received 53 gifts to 12 different funds, raising $15,734 April Grant to Girl Scouts of the Kansas Heartland from Patty Anthony Memorial Fund - $110 – to support girls with special needs Grant to Derby Senior Services from the Garinger Agency Fund - $1,300 – as a farewell/tribute to Senior Center Director BreAnna Monk May $117,000 in scholarships awarded to 35 Derby High School seniors from 14 scholarship funds 1 new scholarship established by Jane and David Polk which is now the largest local scholarship worth $30,000 over 4 years Grant to Camp Allegro from Garinger Agency Fund - $800 – to provide scholarships for 4 students to attend this fine arts camp June COVID 19 Response and Recovery grants of $500 each to Derby High School Drama Department and AFJROTC Program; and $6,000 to USD 260 Food Service Dept. for adult meals for Summer Lunch Program Community Enrichment and Kansas Health Foundation Fund Grants +USD 260 - $2,500 – District Welcome Back event +Girl Scouts of the KS Heartland - $200 – Leadership experience for girls +Derby Recreation Commission - $2,500 – scholarships for lifeguard training +Guadalupe Clinic - $2,500 – Optical Visits for Derby area residents who are uninsured July Kansas Health Foundation Fund grant - $250 – Derby Dash scholarships and $500 to support the Community Garden as a welcome to new Senior Services Director Jenny Foster-Farquhar August Grant of $5,000 to City of Derby to fund cleaning of bronze sculptures by a restoration specialist - $2,500 from Drake Charitable Fund/$2,500 from other donors Derby Giving Circle grant - $5,864 – to provide monthly take-home books for all Derby area second grade students September Career Technical Education Assistance Fund grant to Derby High School of $1,200 October Derby North Middle School received a $2,000 grant from the Decarsky Field of Interest Fund to provide training for a therapy dog November Derby area Veteran’s Day Celebration which featured adding 27 bricks to the Walk of Freedom and the announcement of a Hometown Military Heroes banners for light poles along Buckner Street and K-15, south of Buckner (more on this coming in January) December The Derby Community Foundation Board approved over $8,000 in grants through our Community Enrichment and Kansas Health Foundation funds Support from the Decarsky fund to the Kansas Humane Society Also at the Christmas party we announced the nominees for this year's Elizabeth Kinch Generosity Award: Michael Saindon and Rob McDonald. We are pleased to announce our 2022 winner - Rob McDonald! You can see the Generosity Award portion of the presentation at the video link below: We've got some exciting things planned for 2023 - including celebrating our 30th Anniversary and our annual gala! Stay tuned for more information on both!

Colene Read, who was nominated by Austin Lee, received the 2021 Elizabeth Kinch Generosity Award. Colene serves as director of Derby Community Family Services. In 2021 she coordinated the annual food drive to benefit the Derby Food Pantry the same week as coordinating the Super Bowl of Caring. In addition to her work with Derby Community Family Services, Read is well known in the community for other efforts, including: serving on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce and the Derby Community Foundation; volunteering with her therapy dog, Molly, at local nursing homes; being actively involved with Derby Circles, a program to help people bridge out of poverty; and, spearheading with her husband, Gary, the campaign that brought Rock River Rapids into the community. “I once heard it said, that if something is good for Derby, you can bet that Colene is out there supporting it,” commented Theresa Hearn, DCF Executive Director, during the award presentation. In addition to the DRC gift basket, Read was given the opportunity to award a $500 grant to the charity of her choice and she selected Derby Community Family Services to receive the grant. She also joins the selection committee for the award which is comprised of past recipients: Carol Keller Becky Robinson Dave Peebler Ben Ray Brody Landers Kyle Russell (on behalf of Citizens Bank of Kansas) Ken Lyerla Jean Garinger The other nominees for the 2021 award were Derby Senior Center Community Quilters, nominated by BreAnna Monk, and represented by Jane Matney and Kay Depriest; and the CJ Seitz Memorial Foundation Board of Directors, nominated by Rob McDonald, and represented by Frank Seitz, Caryn Hendry, Chris Drum, and Lee Noel.

Applications Available for Download If you have any questions in regard to the forms, please contact us , and we will be happy to help. Ada Thoma and Melva Owens Memorial Scholarship Application Deadline: March 31 The Ada Thoma and Melva Owens Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who intends to pursue an education career and will be applied to expenses of his/her first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. The student must have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21. Students who receive full scholarships to college are not eligible for this scholarship. Download Braxton Kooser Memorial Scholarship Application Deadline: February 24 The Braxton Kooser Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a Derby High School graduating senior who plans to attend Kansas State University. The student must also have a high school grade point average of 3.0 (or higher) and must have participated in Derby High School athletics. Download Community Enrichment Grant Application Deadlines: November 22 & May 15 Community Enrichment Grants are grants of up to $2,500 made to grassroots non-profits and government entities doing innovative and meaningful work that fits within the Derby Community Foundation’s mission and that enriches or responds to immediate needs within the community.. Community Enrichment Grants expand the Foundation’s support to a broad range of organizations throughout the Derby area. The Foundation awards up to $10,000 annually in two cycles per year using a competitive application process. Download Decarsky Scholarship Application Deadline: March 31 The Decarsky Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to a Derby High School graduating senior, either male or female, who has maintained a 2.75 grade point average, demonstrates a sincere affinity for entrepreneurship and a free enterprise system, and has been engaged in at least some level of gainful employment during high school. The recipient must meet performance requirements established by the DHS Selection Committee, which as a minimum shall include carrying a 12 hr semester load and maintaining a GPA of 2.75. Download Decarsky Scholarship Renewal Form Deadline: March 31 The recipient must meet performance requirements established by the DHS Selection Committee, which as a minimum shall include carrying a 12 hr semester load and maintaining a GPA of 2.75 at a Kansas Institution. Download Derby Area Veterans Memorial Brick Order Form Deadline: August 1 The Derby Area Veterans Memorial – Walk of Freedom encompasses a quarter of a mile of pedestrian/bicycle path located in Garrett Park in Derby, Kansas. The memorial includes an entryway monument, 5 stations along the path (each dedicated to a branch of the military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy), 5 benches, 6 lighted poles, landscaping, and 12 banners. Each station will have the capacity to hold 55 bricks which honor specific people from the Derby area who are veterans. Once a station reaches capacity for honorees, additional capacity may be added, at the discretion of the City of Derby and the Derby Community Foundation. Other additions to the Walk of Freedom may be made at the discretion of the City of Derby and the Derby Community Foundation (for example, sculptures, benches, banners, etc.). Download Derby Wrestling Club Tom and Iris Faust Scholarship Application Deadline: March 29 The Derby Wrestling Club Tom and Iris Faust Scholarship will be awarded to a Derby High School graduating senior who has participated in the sport of wrestling. The scholarship will be applied to expenses of his/her first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a high school grade point average of 2.8 or an ACT score of 21. Students who receive full scholarships to college are not eligible for this scholarship. Download Diana Unkel Memorial Music Scholarship Application Deadline: March 25 The Diana Unkel Music Scholarship Award will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who participated in music at DHS and intends to continue to participate in music after high school graduation. The scholarship is to be applied to the expenses of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a high school GPA of 3.0. Download Elizabeth Kinch Generosity Award Nomination Form Deadline: October 1 Each year the Derby Community Foundation will recognize an individual for his/her generosity in the Derby area by awarding the Elizabeth Kinch Generosity Award. The award recipient will be honored at the Foundation’s annual Christmas Party and recognized at the annual gala. The Generosity Award recipient will receive a personalized prize package donated by the Derby Recreation Commision and the opportunity to award a $500 grant to the charity of his/her choice. To make a nomination, please complete this form and submit it to the Derby Community Foundation. Download Legacy Society Statement of Intent Deadline: Apply Anytime When you join the Legacy Society, you create hope for us now and for those in the generations to come. The simplest form of a legacy gift is a bequest to the Derby Community Foundation in your estate plan, such as cash, stock, IRA or retirement plan assets, Savings Bonds, or real or personal property. Legacy Society members may also make planned gifts including a Charitable Remainder Trust, Charitable Lead Trust or Life Insurance policy. Download Mike Burr Memorial Scholarship Application Deadline: March 28 The Mike Burr Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who participated in the Derby Senior High School music program and intends to apply the scholarship to the expenses of their first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution in Kansas. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion or national origin. The student must have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21. Students who receive full scholarships to college are not eligible for this scholarship. Download Multifaceted Student Scholarship Application Deadline: March 25 This scholarship is designed to reward a student who pursued a well-rounded experience while attending Derby High School. Our family believes that a strong public education, volunteerism, and participation in extracurricular activities are critical building blocks in developing the future leaders of our community and our state. Derby Public Schools can provide many opportunities for learning both inside and outside the classroom. Students who took advantage of those opportunities are well on their way to success in the next stage of their education. Many of our family members, including Dan Stang (scholarship co-founder and retired USD 260 teacher), have had meaningful careers in public education and this is our family’s way of giving back. Download Pat Paske Memorial Scholarship Deadline: March 31 For more than 50 years, Pat Paske taught, coached and served as an administrator at several high schools and middle schools across Kansas. At the time of his death, he was in his 18th year as a science teacher at Derby High School. His belief in the importance of public education and the relationships he established with students and fellow educators continued to bring him back to the classroom. Mr. Paske not only wanted each of his students to succeed academically, but took a genuine interest in their personal achievements, challenges and future aspirations. The Paske family is proud to partner with the Derby Community Foundation to assist a Derby High School graduate who shares a similar calling in the field of education through the Pat Paske Memorial Scholarship. Download Polk Family Scholarship Deadline: March 31 The Polk Family has had five generations graduate from Derby High School and has been a part of the Derby community for over 100 years. This scholarship has been established by the Polk Family to assist deserving Derby High School graduates attend college. The Polk Family Scholarship will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors, if eligible) who demonstrate financial need and meet the scholarship criteria. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0, must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, and must have participated in DHS extracurricular activities. To be eligible for renewal of this scholarship, recipients must have a cumulative college GPA of 2.75 and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. Recipients must annually complete a scholarship renewal form with proof of GPA (college transcript) and return by March 31 (available on Derby Community Foundation website). Download Re’Ana Mekaeil Memorial Scholarship Application Deadline: March 31 The Re’Ana Mekaeil Memorial Scholarship is a one-time award of $500 for a graduating senior from Derby High School. The only requirements are that the student be a current graduating senior at Derby High School who will be furthering their education in the fall. Preference will be given to students who are able to demonstrate through their transcript and their essay that they are going to strive to make the world a better place. Download Rod and Marilyn Caret Scholarship Application Deadline: March 31 The Rod and Marilyn Caret Scholarships will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors if eligible) who intend to pursue a technical certification and will be applied to expenses of first year of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.75 and must have held a job (no restrictions on type) during junior or senior years of high school. Download Ross Hearn Vocal Music Excellence Scholarship Application Deadline: March 25 The Ross Hearn Vocal Music Excellence Scholarship will be awarded to a USD 260 graduating senior who participated in the vocal music at Derby High School and intends to continue to participate in vocal music after high school graduation. The scholarship is to be applied to the expenses of education after high school at an accredited post-secondary educational institution. Selection of recipients will be made without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. The student must have a high school grade point average of 3.0 or an ACT score of 21. Download Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship Application Deadline: March 31 The Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors if eligible) who have demonstrated a willingness to put their best efforts forward and have shown integrity in their academic activities and community engagement. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0, must have held a job (no restrictions on type) during junior or senior years of high school, and must have participated in extracurricular activities. Download Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship Renewal Form Deadline: March 31 The Steve and Leanne Caret Scholarship will be awarded to USD 260 graduating seniors (or juniors if eligible) who have demonstrated a willingness to put their best efforts forward and have shown integrity in their academic activities and community engagement. The student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.0, must have held a job (no restrictions on type) during junior or senior years of high school, and must have participated in extracurricular activities. Download

Around Town Start your tour around town with the Around Town prize package! This prize package is the perfect opportunity to explore the restaurants and small businesses in the Derby area. What's Inside? The Around Town prize package is valued at $600.* This prize package is full of gift certificates to businesses and restaurants in the Derby area!​ The package includes: ​ $100 Gift Certificate to Shirts Plus $100 Gift Certificate to Luciano's $50 Gift Certificate to Pizza Johns $50 Gift Certificate to Bittersweet $40 Gift Certificate to Applebee's $25 Gift Certificate to Snappy Chicks $25 Gift Certificate to Hog Wild Pit BBQ $50 Gift Certificate to Field Station Dinosaurs $100 Gift Certificate to Wheat State Hobbies Kansas City Chiefs t-shirt and travel mug ($60 value) ​ 2023 Experience Raffle Tickets can be bought here or from any DCF Board Member. ​ *We are still in the process of procuring donations, so more items may be added to this prize package. We will update this page if we receive more items. Event in a Box Event in a Box is perfect for someone who loves to entertain friends! What's Inside?