Chairman’s Award honors Stand Together Foundation for local social entrepreneurship

Chairman Ryan K. Beatty presented the 2024 Chairman’s Award to the Stand Together Foundation, recognizing the organization’s local philanthropic and community-engagement work in education, foster-care reform, housing and recovery services.

Beatty said the award reflected Stand Together’s “grassroots” approach to social entrepreneurship and highlighted the organization’s role in launching the Care for Every Family network in collaboration with local partners and the Kansas Department for Children and Families. Joe Woodward and other Stand Together leaders described local initiatives including Care for Every Family, Learning Lab Wichita and partnerships with organizations that focus on affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.

Commissioners praised Stand Together’s local partnerships. Commissioner Meitzner and others thanked the organization for work on foster-care issues and neighborhood projects; Commissioner Howell noted the group’s interest in transforming local systems through bottom-up efforts.

Action taken: the commission moved to receive and file the presentation and photos; the motion was approved by roll call vote.

Why it matters: The award recognizes local philanthropy and civic partnerships that county leaders say are addressing complex social needs through community-based initiatives rather than solely through government programs. Stand Together leaders told the commission they coordinate more than 100 collaborating partners and roughly 30 funded partners in local initiatives.

What’s next: Stand Together asked commissioners and the public to engage with partner networks and the organization’s local programs. The presentation concluded with brief introductions of several staff and partners in attendance and a public photo opportunity.