WWW arkcity.net

By JOANN BIERLY
Special to the Traveler

If you talk to most teenagers, they will all agree they love to spend money. Well, here's a new twist on teenagers and money. It's called KICC or Kids Impact Cowley County. Instead of spending money, the members give funding to various nonprofit organizations.

This unique organization was started in 2002 funded for three years by the Ewing Marion Kaufmann Foundation in Kansas City in response to a grant request written by Pam Moore, executive director of Legacy, a Regional Community Foundation, and Cheryl Rude, leadership professor at Southwestern College. After the end of the three years, another sponsor agreed to continue funding the organization for the ensuing three years.

Nonprofit organizations in the area submit their grant proposals to the Youth Advisory Board of KICC. Together the members decide what funds will be awarded to benefit the children and youth of Cowley County. The members of KICC are teenagers from the Cowley area.

During the past five years, $25,000 in grants have been awarded to various organizations. KICC has supported Sally's Place Teen Center, Habitat for Humanity, CASA, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Arkansas City and Winfield Arts Council projects and many other area leadership projects for kids. Most of the grants have been centered around children. The KICC members made an exception by giving money to the Good Samaritan Center to buy an exercise machine for residents' use.

"KICC is a great story of cooperation between Southwestern College and the Legacy Community Foundation. Involving college leadership students has been a wonderful tool for us to connect with local youth. And, the local kids get to do something that really makes a difference in their community," said Moore.

Each year, two senior students from the Southwestern College Leadership Team are chosen to become KICC leaders. This year, the two leaders were Lindsay Morgan, from Goddard, and Caylin Larsen, from Winfield. Both were very active in the community, sports and were very excited to be a part of KICC.

"I wanted to have a chance to work with high school kids, to put their ideas in actions and to help them make a change. I have loved my experience with KICC so far and can't wait to discover what we dream up for the fall," said Morgan who is majoring in biology with psychology and leadership minors.

"I love working around the community and helping others. I enjoy seeing kids being touched by their projects," added Larsen who is in her final year of Southwestern's nursing program.

"I love being a part of KICC where I know our choices and decisions are important in choosing grants for other kids," said Lindsey Bierle, who along with her brother, Jeremiaih, are active members in KICC.

Members of KICC not only award money to the area organizations, but they also help in community services and find time for their own activities.

This summer, KICC is gearing up to recruit more young people. The group is looking for kids willing to donate their time to work together to address challenges that youth face in their communities and to make real choices about funding programs and projects in Cowley County.

If you are interested in joining KICC, becoming an active teen leader and making a difference in the community, please contact Larsen at: caylin.larsen@sckans.edu or Morgan at: lindsay.morgan@sckans.edu/

For additional information regarding grant applications, contact the Legacy Community Foundation in Ark City (620) 442-1322, or in Winfield (620) 221-7224.