Date:     June 1, 2007

To:       Greensburg Future Fund Donors

From:   Denise Unruh, Executive Director SCCF

Re:       Update

            Greensburg Future Fund Donors are an important and special group and we want to inform you as to how the Fund you are supporting will be used.  Later, we will update you on the rebuilding projects your dollars actually funded.

            For those of you who are not familiar with South Central Community Foundation, we are a seven county community foundation that has been in existence 12 years.  Kiowa County, of which Greensburg is the county seat, is one of the seven counties.  SCCF already has over 100 funds, which donors have created.  Most of these funds are endowed which means that the contribution is invested and the income from the fund’s investments can be spent each year according to provisions established by the donors.

            The Greensburg Future Fund, however, is a pass-through fund, which means that all of the contributions will be spent or “passed-through”, for the rebuilding of Greensburg.  The SCCF Board, at its last meeting, designated a committee to make specific decisions on how to disburse the dollars. Two Kiowa County SCCF Board members were appointed to this committee. The Board also set aside up to $50,000 from the fund, which can be used this summer to help remove rebuilding “roadblocks” which may arise, and which if not removed, could slow the rebuilding process.  Greensburg City Administrator Steve Hewitt has been informed of the availability of the $50,000.

            For the long term planning process, Kansas Governor Sebelius appointed Terry Woodbury as facilitator.  Terry has many years of experience in community work, and is a very skilled facilitator.  The structure for facilitation that he has brought to Greensburg is based on the “Town Square” model.  Each side of the town square represents a segment of the community including Health and Human Services, Government, Education and Business.  The “Town Square” model is a way to think about the community and organize the planning.  It does not mean that Greensburg will be built around a literal town square. 

            Currently, Greensburg has formed committees for each side of the town square to work on a rebuilding plan for their respective areas.  Representatives from each committee serve on a Steering Committee to coordinate the overall rebuilding plan.  South Central Community Foundation has been invited to sit in on the Steering Committee to listen to the needs and begin to determine how to use the Greensburg Future Fund in the most helpful and efficient way. 

            At this writing, the cleanup of Greensburg is still under way.  We understand over 14,000 truck loads of debris have been hauled out.  A team of federal and state departments along with organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army and Heart to Heart are doing a fine job with disaster relief.  There is still a lot of clean up work to do, and then the arduous but exciting rebuilding process will start. It is evident that their needs will continue for a long time. 

Thanks again.  We will keep you informed.

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