Case Studies

Expanding the Kansas Sports Footprint

The Opportunity
Founded in 1961 by the Kansas Legislature, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is operated as a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation under the governance of a Governor-appointed Board of Trustees. The Hall of Fame has functioned in several Kansas locations through the years. The Board, with the support of a passionate executive director, Ted Hayes, had functioned by recognizing superior Kansas athletes, teams and coaches in the state and throughout the United States and the world. By 1994, the challenge was to provide a state-of-the-art facility to showcase these star Kansans and provide education to the citizens of the state. 

The Solution
Kathy Clausing Willis provided a master plan to raise charitable funds to build and create a 24,000-square-foot facility that could make Kansans proud. A feasibility study was conducted to accurately determine the amount of money that could be raised, and a report was presented to the Board. During the study it became obvious there is a great deal of Kansas pride and enthusiasm in promoting successful sports and athletes. Based on the feedback, the Board authorized the “To the Stars” campaign to raise $500,000. 

The Result
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame was opened the spring of 1996 in Abilene. Hundreds of Kansas elementary, middle school and high school students and adults, as well as tourists from outside the state, have toured the facility. The state-of-the-art facility features interactive videos, awards and other donated memorabilia from famous Kansas athletes.

Enhancing Services for Kansas Seniors

The Opportunity
Meadowlark Hills is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Manhattan, Kansas. In 1974, a group of citizens noticed that the city’s retired population was decreasing due to a lack of living options. In an effort keep the community thriving and to give older adults more choice in the matter of where they live during retirement, these citizens partnered with six local churches to create Meadowlark Hills. Built on a continuum of care model, and the ideals of respect and compassion, Meadowlark Hills opened in 1980.

For nearly 20 years, the facility provided retirement services. In 1998, CEO Steve Shields, always thinking out of the box, wanted to expand services to more appropriately address the specific needs of individual seniors. The Board determined that to institute these unique changes would require funding outside the regular revenue and fee structure.  

The Solution
Directed by the Board to look at funding options, Mr. Shields determined philanthropy was a crucial resource that had not been tapped. Residents left small memorials to Meadowlark but there was no formal foundation or strategic plan to capture contributions. After an exhausting process for Request for Proposals and interviewing firms, Mr. Shields and the Board hired Kathy Clausing Willis to assist with the creation of a charitable foundation and a feasibility study to determine if there was an interest in for charitable support of Meadowlark Hills. 

The Result
Meadowlark Hills created a charitable foundation led by a Board of Directors.  A part-time foundation coordinator was hired, and with the Kathy’s leadership the “For All Our Tomorrows” Campaign raised more than $2.5 million to enhance and expand services for seniors.  Meadowlark Hills has received national recognition as a leader in the field of long-term care, emphasizing levels of care in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  Meadowlark Hills has continued to grow the foundation and charitable resources for the institution.

Developing a Culture of Philanthropy in Health Care

The Opportunity
Lawrence Memorial Hospital was created as a 50-bed facility in 1929, with a gift from local benefactor Elizabeth Miller Watkins. In 1937, an addition to the north, again made possible by funds donated by Mrs. Watkins, was constructed to bring the total number of beds to 75. In 1969, five community leaders stepped up to create a charitable foundation to see that the community hospital would benefit from gifts and donations. Its founding purpose was to facilitate the contribution of funds to further the advancement of LMH services and facilities. Over the years the hospital had grown largely from patient revenue, and today it consists of 173 patient beds. The Balanced Budget Act in the 1980s restricted funding for health care and resources were limited. In 1998 the hospital Board of Trustees and the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association Board of Directors recognized the opportunity to engage the community and raise philanthropic support to further expand programs and services.

The Solution
Kathy Clausing Willis was hired in 1998. Under her leadership the endowed funds grew from $1.9 million to nearly $13 million, the hospital garnered $30 million to expand programs and services, and community supporters grew in number from several hundred to nearly 10,000.

The Result

• Enhanced employee scholarships
• Created employee crisis fund, indigent care funds, and specified funds for hospital departments
• 1999 - expanded X-ray to accommodate more patients 
• 2003 - expanded cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation 
• 2003 - expanded the LMH Regional Oncology Center and radiation therapy services
• 2004 - established Bob Billings Cardiac Evaluation Center
• 2009 - built new facilities for emergency and surgery, additional space for maternity, intensive care and critical care; added a new 18-bed wing to allow the hospital to convert semi-private patient rooms to all private rooms
• 2010 - renamed the maternity unit the Cindy Murray Family Birthing unit
• 2010 - Mario V. Chalmers Foundation donated $25,000 to create Mario’s Closet
• 2011 - conducted Jamie’s Wish campaign to renovate oncology
• 2012 - renovated the medical floor
• 2015 - renamed radiation oncology
• 2016 - renovated the skilled nursing and acute rehab floor 

Creating and Nurturing a Private Foundation

The Opportunity
Mario V. Chalmers created a charitable foundation with a dual mission — to create and support community-based programs that encourage the positive development of youth through sports and education, and to fund initiatives for breast cancer research and treatment. After nine years of operation, he and his family recognized the opportunity to seek professional leadership to expand the foundation’s reach and scope.

The Solution
Mario and his family had worked with Kathy while she was at Lawrence Memorial and after her departure in 2017 contacted her to seek assistance to coordinate the annual Lawrence golf tournament and other supporting events to benefit the new Boys and Girls Club Teen Center.

The Result
The 2017 golf tournament raised more than $20,000 net. One-half of the net proceeds ($10,000) was transferred to the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence. The balance of the proceeds will go to other youth and cancer initiatives.