Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 311
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We talk with Gail Urban and Willie Thomas from the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation about how better parks, stronger programs, and smarter funding can lift a whole community. We dig into scholarships that help kids participate, plus the July 4 cardboard boat regatta that turns fun into long-term support.
• why the foundation forms and what it funds for Manhattan Parks and Rec
• How the Steel and Pipe Ballpark at Seco Park changes youth sports and tournament travel
• What happens when the quality of life sales tax sunsets and why maintenance planning matters
• how facility sponsorships and local business support create sustainable funding
• Star Spangled Spectacular details, including the cardboard box regatta and corporate challenge
• what it feels like to volunteer coach and why relationships matter as much as wins
• how the scholarship program works, including free and reduced lunch discounts
• the scale of scholarship need and the push toward an endowment model
Go to the Manhattan Parks and Rec Foundation website and you can also go to July4mhk.com
Sponsor And Segment Setup
SPEAKER_01Philanthropy today is brought to you by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In this episode, we feature a recently broadcast segment of the GMTF Community Hour, as heard on News Radio KMAN. We are back with the GMTF Community Hour here on News Radio KMAN. We're going to be talking about some fun things that are happening in our community through the efforts largely of the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation. And we have two members of the board. One is the board chair. She is Gail Urban. Hello, Gail. Good morning. Last time I saw you was at the TFA's where you uh received a nice little piece of hardware to put on display in your office.
SPEAKER_02Very humbling event.
SPEAKER_01Wait a minute. Did you you didn't retire yet, have you?
SPEAKER_02No.
SPEAKER_01No, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Not retiring for a long time.
SPEAKER_01That's a nice keepsake, though. Congratulations again.
SPEAKER_02Thank you.
SPEAKER_01So, and um, we're very, very appreciative of the many things that you do. And this is one of those said projects that you've gotten yourself involved in. Yes. You brought a team player along, and Willie Thomas here on the board. Hello, Willie. Good morning. This is your first time in here, isn't it? Yes, it is. I'm excited to be here. Welcome to Live Radio. Not in a radio station, but we're we're having a lot of fun. How'd you get involved in this?
SPEAKER_00Well, Gayla and I are actually partners and um with Amicus Wealth Partners. And one of the things that she has mentored me is just community involvement. So a lot of things that she's involved with, I've had the pleasure of watching those things grow through her leadership and be involved in as well. So that's that's kind of how we've gotten to that place where now I'm working on some of the same things that she's working on.
SPEAKER_01Okay. You got kids in the system, have had kids in the system?
SPEAKER_00I do. Um, I have a 10-year-old son who has participated in parks and rec programs many times, um, and recently have foster day young man out of Topeka, um, who my wife and I are in the process of going through the adoption process. Yep. How exciting. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that'd be about Bailey. Yeah, we have Bailey too.
SPEAKER_01She's I'm sorry. Was she an afterthought from the beginning?
SPEAKER_00No, she's she's our she is our 19-year-old daughter um who has since moved on and started her own entrepreneurial journey. Um, she is a nail tech uh salon owner in her hometown of Humboldt, Kansas, uh-huh uh where she's the only nail tech, so she's got a capitalized market there. Um so she's off doing big things for herself, and we couldn't be more proud of her.
SPEAKER_01Well, I know why we didn't get her mentioned because I talked about kids in the system. Right. So she didn't apply. It didn't, it didn't count. It didn't count. Well, let's get a little bit of background on
Why The Foundation Exists
SPEAKER_01the foundation. And and Gail, we've talked about this before, but often, you know, oftentimes we have people that are not familiar with what uh the effort is. But this foundation, you were, I mean, you and I had visits back when I was on the county commission about doing different things and trying to develop a lot of things. And this is kind of a result of what happened because you needed a funding mechanism.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Our our parks and rec uh program in Manhattan has had a long history, a long rich, rich history. And but we've we've had funding issues over the years and wanted to create an opportunity not only to make sure that our parks and and facilities are well maintained and top class, but more importantly that every person in the community, particularly our kids, get to participate in all or any parks and recreation facilities or programming that we have available. It's it's really important that uh it's important to quality of life that we have the ability to let everyone participate in those programs.
SPEAKER_01You know, I remember back in the 80s when I was here, and I I was I go back that far. I don't know how far back you and David go, but you know, when um um the softball facility out west. Oh, Annaberg. Annaburg was put together. And that and it's just like, oh my gosh, this is so nice. And it really put Manhattan on the map in that softball, mostly adult arena, but obviously it's been utilized for kids and that whole park with you know soccer fields and everything else, that really became a tremendous asset. But but that may be about the last big program we've had until Seaco Park. Yes, and that renovation, which I drive by that every day, and I just I just think that is just gorgeous, but but what a what a blessing to have that here in town.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Our our new Steel and Park or Steel and Pipe ballpark is is world class. Um it is is certainly the shiny penny in the state at the moment. Um, we're attracting lots and lots of tournaments, and I mean, k all of our local kids are getting to play. If we've overheard some kids that are playing out at Annaburg, and Annaburg is a great, great park, yet. But the the kids that are playing out there are are disappointed when they have to play at Annaburg. Sure.
SPEAKER_01Sure.
SPEAKER_02Because they are loving this to play ballpark. Yeah. So um, and it's uh all that project is a great example of how we can fund something over a period of time. Um, that that project was funded out of the quarter cent sales tax, uh, the quality of life sales tax, the same same uh source that funded both the Anthony and the uh Eisenhower recreation facilities and all of the trail improvements as well. That sales tax will be sunsetting next year. So um we'll have to think about how we want to fund future uh developments and future maintenance of our our facilities. We are partnering with businesses in the community, uh, particularly we started with Steel and Pipe Ballpark this last year and uh partnering with businesses to sponsor facilities, essentially advertise at the facilities. Not only does that give them an opportunity to communicate to the to the community or to all of the visitors that attend those events, but it also creates funding mechanisms for future maintenance or future um replacement. So if in you know five or seven years, I don't know how long turf lasts, but if we need to replace turf in a field, we'll have funds uh available to do that and don't have to rely entirely on the general fund in order to maintain our our parks. Uh steel and pipe bar ballpark is state of the art. The technology that's being used there is incredible. Um, it's a fun place to be. I mean, and as you know, if you drive by it virtually any day, there's something going on there.
SPEAKER_01Lights are on.
SPEAKER_02Lights are on, and it is beautiful.
SPEAKER_01Willie, you got a son. Is he a ball player?
SPEAKER_00Uh some my son has participated in uh baseball for Parks and Rec starting uh last year. Um, so he has he has uh played at the Annaberg Park complex. Um hasn't had the opportunity to play at the Seco Park um with other uh he hasn't really said a whole lot about wanting to go over there. He went over there for the grand opening um with some family members of mine and and thought it was pretty cool.
SPEAKER_01It's kind of like this is where you're going. This is yeah, because that's that's mostly designed for larger kids, isn't it? That's my understanding.
SPEAKER_02You know, but actually not necessarily.
SPEAKER_01Um, there are some small ones there.
SPEAKER_02It's it's um a versatile, it was designed to be versatile enough that uh young kids, older kids, um high school, it's high school compliant for both softball and baseball.
SPEAKER_01So is it big enough where it is? Do you need more baseball fields?
SPEAKER_02Um, I I think we need to revitalize some of the baseball fields that we have in the community. I think that's in the planning stages.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_02You know, it's always about how are we going to fund that. But all of our other ballparks um need a little bit of love and and maintenance. So I think if we get that done first, um, I I don't know that we necessarily need additional fields at this time. Okay.
SPEAKER_01All right. So, Willie, a 10-year-old, you know, he's looking at it, you know, and and you're there at the grand opening. What kind of thoughts are going through your mind?
SPEAKER_00I just see, like Gail has mentioned, the opportunities for outside tournaments to come in to Manhattan and just kind of bring together more teams for more competition. I think when when young athletes can be exposed to different levels of competition, um, it makes them better. Um, and when other communities come inside Manhattan and see what we've done as a community, it just kind of shows what community action can really look like moving forward and hopefully inspire other communities to do the same. Um, and it just it kind of just brings that whole welcoming atmosphere that Manhattan is known for.
SPEAKER_01What are some things that you as a parent of a youngster and and maybe two here pretty soon? What are some things that you would like to see happen through the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Foundation's efforts?
SPEAKER_00I would just like to see what we've been doing thus far and just increasing accessibility for other kids to get involved. Um, one of the things that I've done over the years is I've actually been a volunteer coach for Parks and Rec uh through the soccer program.
SPEAKER_01You look like you can still play.
SPEAKER_00Uh there's times where I feel like I think I can, and then I actually try to get out there and do it, and my body reminds me that awareness kicks in.
SPEAKER_01Reality is different.
SPEAKER_00But to see the kids come together um and really just enjoy the sport that they're participating in and watch them develop relationships with kids that they might not have gotten the opportunity to develop a relationship with is something that's been really satisfying as a coach. Um, I think if more activities are available, if more kids participate, you know, there's going to be a need for more coaches. And, you know, it causes a lot of apprehension with people when they say, you know, they need a volunteer coach. They're like, oh, I don't know if I can do it. And it's really just about getting out there and supporting the kids. Um, and that's really kind of where my mindset has always been with being a coach. Um just to again help them develop relationships with other kids that they may not have developed relationships with. Maybe they go to different schools, um, or maybe they do go to the same school and they hear their friends talking about you know the sports that they're involved in, but they don't have the opportunity to do it. But that's what the foundation is really trying to put forward for these kids is to have the accessibility to these programs so they can have these lasting relationships with their fellow uh kids and fellow classmates.
SPEAKER_01And one of the great things, you know, is it instills a sense of leadership. And uh, you know, there's always a a shortage for those opportunities, especially for young people. So absolutely. Yeah. Gail, let's talk about another uh subject here.
Star Spangled Spectacular And Regatta
SPEAKER_01Star Spangled Spectacular.
SPEAKER_02Star Spangled Spectacular.
SPEAKER_01Tell me about it.
SPEAKER_02This will be our third year, third annual Star Spangled Spectacular. And primarily at this point, we we assume that this event will continue to grow every year. Uh Willie actually chairs this uh committee. So I'm gonna let him talk about it. I asked the wrong person, but I'm gonna let him mostly talk about it, but um, we are really excited to um do the program again this year. And Willie, you want to tell him what we've added and what give him give him the soup. Dates, details. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Start with dates and details.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so the Star Spangled Spectacular um event is one of our signature fundraising efforts for the foundation. Um, it is highlighted by what is called the cardboard box regatta.
SPEAKER_01Oh, that one.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yes. Um, that will take place on Saturday, July 4th at City Park Pool. Um, and that event, like Gail has alluded to, has just grown immensely over the past uh two years. Um, you know, the first year it's just it was kids coming together with their parents and building a craft that they could race across City Park Pool. Um, only constructed out of cardboard and duct tape. No other materials could be used. Um, and that first year, it was it was it's a little chaotic. It was a little chaotic, but it was so much fun to watch those kids really get into the design of their watercraft um and race each other and just see that level of competition and and the parents having fun and the spectators having fun. Um, and then last year we introduced the uh corporate challenge. So the corporate challenge was um an opportunity for local businesses to sponsor their own craft that they could race across City Park Pool um and compete against other local businesses. They had an opportunity to construct their craft prior to the race, and to see some of the crafts that these businesses constructed and brought out to the race was again amazing to see. And the level of competition um that it brought to the event was pretty phenomenal. Um, everybody was having fun, everybody was laughing, and of course, everybody was wet. Um, but we have seen Did every boat sink? No, not every boat sank. Um, actually, I think there was only maybe a handful that actually didn't make it across the pool.
SPEAKER_01Some of these uh designs is it a timed race?
SPEAKER_00It is a timed race. Um, you know, obviously the faster you get across, the better. Um, but the the amount of uh water crafts that did make it across the pool, the designs that they came up with were pretty shocking. Like you would look at a kid bringing his their uh craft to the the pool, and you would think to yourself, is that gonna float? And miraculously enough, it made it across the pool. So introducing the corporate challenge allowed the adults to get involved as well. And we saw a really big turnout for that uh first corporate challenge event last year, and so for the third year now, we are introducing an adult group. So adults uh 15 and above can come in and have an hour to build a watercraft and they will race it across the pool as well.
SPEAKER_01Are you building one for you?
SPEAKER_00I'm not building one for me because I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be helping my son build his boat. Uh-huh. Um, but we're also hoping to get a larger group of corporate challenge participants this year um so that we can try to introduce multiple heats within that uh corporate challenge. Because again, they have from the time they register until the day of the event to build their watercraft. Um, so they have the time to build something that could go multiple trips across the pool if they can come up with an idea.
SPEAKER_01What all can you build a watercraft out of?
SPEAKER_00So it's still just cardboard and duct tape. Those are the only materials that they're allowed to use. Um and the key to it, and I've had people ask me this, is making it as waterproof as possible so that no water is getting inside the craft.
SPEAKER_01Is there an unlimited amount of duct tape that you can use?
SPEAKER_00So if you wanted to, you could cover the entire craft exteriorly with so we give we give every participant one roll of duct tape. Gotcha. And they have that one roll of duct tape to use on the cr on the watercraft. Um, the corporate challenge, I mean, since they can build their boat from the day they register up until the point of the entry into the event, like they can use as much duct tape as they need to.
SPEAKER_01Okay. All right. How does somebody get involved?
SPEAKER_00So go into the Manhattan Parks and Rec Foundation website is the best place to find all the information about the Star Spangled Spectacular, whether you're participating as a child captain or if you're wanting to register as a corporate challenge participant.
SPEAKER_01Anything else with the Star Spangled Band uh spectacular?
SPEAKER_02You can also uh go to July4mhk.com. Okay. And that might be an easier one to remember than Manhattan Recreation.
SPEAKER_01One of the activities.
SPEAKER_02It's one of the activities.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. Awesome. So uh and by the way, um, Willie, you made mention of the uh website, MHK Parks and Rec Foundation.org is the website for the foundation.
SPEAKER_02But MHK July 4th MHK. MHK is for the Super Star Spangled Spectacular.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
Scholarships And How They Work
SPEAKER_01Well, Gail, let's talk a little bit about um uh the mission of the foundation. Um well, I guess we've talked a lot about the mission, what you're trying to accomplish. But how can people get involved and support?
SPEAKER_02Well, I mean, we are a foundation, so we're a fundraising group. And as Willie mentioned, the Star Spangles Spectacular is currently our signature event. We're working on developing a couple of other events um, but primarily we're funded through donors and other foundations. Um the Goldstein Foundation has generously donated to our scholarship fund. The Morgan Family Foundation has generously donated to our scholarship fund. We we need about immediately we need about $100,000 a year in scholarships. We expect that need to grow to 150 pretty quickly. Last year was the first full year of uh creating scholarships. And in and just for some reference, 2019 was the last year that the city uh had the highest amount of scholarships, and that was 19,000 for the year of 2019. But 2025 was our first year of uh funding scholarships, and we scholarshipped uh about 84,000 in scholarships to about 800 uh 800 different registrations. So that means that 800 participants got to participate in programs. Many of them, most of them actually, were funded at 100%, which means that they were um the the way that the scholarship program works, if you are in a free and reduced lunch program, all you have to do is share that information. That will get you a 50% discount on any registration. And then if your uh limitations are more than that, you simply attest to your income. And um that may get you to 100% based on the federal poverty guidelines. So funding scholarships is our our primary focus. And doing that in a variety of ways, Grow Green Match Day was very successful for us.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you had about 20,000.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that was that was absolutely wonderful. And like I said, the the other local community foundations and then these events that we do, uh Tommy's fundraiser, the we did a car wash a few weeks ago, all of those things add up. And um ultimately we're working toward an endowed foundation so that um so that we can we can use utilize about $150,000 in scholarships every year through an endowment. So we're working on that as well. Um and then the other side of that is um our our second priority is making sure that we have funds to maintain our facilities and and the things that we've invested in in the community.
How To Donate And Get Involved
SPEAKER_01Great. Well, thanks for your leadership and your vision on this, Gil. You've been this has been a pet project for you, and you know, and because of that, you know, the Distinguished Volunteer uh award recipient, uh very deserving. So thanks on behalf of the Great Bull community. Willie, delight to have you in.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_01Good luck on the fourth.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's gonna be a great time.
SPEAKER_01We're gonna be visiting with uh Aaron Dragado from the Museum of Art and Light when we return next on the GMCF Community Hour here on News Radio K M A M.