Our Impact

Press Release For Grant Awards 2023

The V.J. Wilkins Foundation, a private, not-for-profit Foundation, recently awarded grant monies totaling $508,200 for applications received in 2023.

Since inception in 2014, the Foundation has awarded gifts exceeding $4.6 million dollars to the community of Arkansas City.

The Foundation’s Mission is to assist the community of Arkansas City and Cowley County, Kansas in providing a quality cultural environment of Arts, Music, Language and other endeavors.

Recipients for 2023 include:

- USD 470 - Assist in the purchase of original music, marching and concert instruments, guest performances, auditorium lighting & sound upgrades, and auditorium rigging.

- Cowley College Theatre Department - Establish a Summer Professional Theater Program

- Arkansas City Area Arts Council/Burford Theatre Arts (2 awards given) - Bring quality entertainment to the Burford through the VJ Wilkins Concert Series, and assist in providing arts programming for youth and families.

- Legacy Regional Foundation - Building of a new Early Childhood Impact Center in Cowley County.

- Southwestern College - Southwestern Summer Music Festival

- Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration of Unity - Costs of the celebration, including a keynote speaker

- Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce - Creation of a new painted mural that celebrates Arkansas City

- Juneteenth Event - Musical performances, art and culture show, and fireworks

- Tacolalah - Costs of the celebration, including musical performances

- Music Theatre of Wichita - Children’s theater camp at the Burford

The current Board of Trustees for the Foundation includes James Wilkins and David Wilkins, both of Denver, and Karen Zeller, Jennifer Munson, and Tasha Bucher, all of Arkansas City.

Grant recipients must be in keeping with the Mission of the Foundation which is to financially assist organizations within the community having an IRS 501(c)(3) designation or organizations affiliated under an umbrella of an organization having charitable or philanthropic IRS designation or educational institutions.

Additional information can be obtained on the Foundation’s Website: www.vjwilkinsfoundation.org.

The deadline for 2024 grant applications is August 1, 2024.

Scale of Impact

$508,200+

2023 Funds Gifted

15

2023 Projects Funded

Countless

People Helped

Our Projects

A few of our most recent programs can be viewed below. With such a strong and varying project base the number of people impacted by The VJ Wilkins Foundation is countless. Click the Link Below to see a list of some past recipients and projects.

Some Past Recipients and Projects

Tacolalah

This is an annual event that brings together citizens from various ethnic groups not only locally but from other communities as well. It is a fun day of song, dance, food and fun. As the Presenting Sponsor for this event V.J. Wilkins Foundation allows us to hire various talented people to entertain throughout the entire day.
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Arkansas City Area Arts Council

The Burford Theatre Concert Series, Bison-Bison Film Festival, and The Kids Act Program are 3 Major initiatives bringing Art and Cultural experiences to people of all ages in the community.
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Nitty Gritty Theatre

Through school and community partnership, Nitty Gritty Theatre uses creative play and socially conscious theatre to proactively cultivate mental and behavioral health within each child.
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Bookmobile Outreach

Arkansas City Public Library is improving literacy rates within our school district. In less than four months after creating this new Bookmobile outreach service, ACPL has reached 9 childcare providers & residential units with 14 deliveries of almost 800 circulated items, attended 6 community events with the intention of participating in many more, created 639 new patron accounts who previously weren't cardholders, and anticipate serving hundreds of children every summer through partnerships with Ark City Rec and USD 470.
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Etzanoa Conservancy

Etzanoa is a protohistoric Wichita town that contained about 20,000 residents in 1601. Etzanoa Conservancy will be an outdoor educational center to allow for a “hands-on” approach to archeology in both scientific inquiry and cultural understanding.
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Camp Horizon

Camp Horizon is now able to reach new populations and provide new opportunities for guest and campers. Updates to indoor and outdoor worship spaces has provided opportunities for Weddings and other Performing Arts to take place year round. Major improvements have been made towards making camp accessible to all, with ADA parking and sidewalks as well as an ADA splash pad Camp Horizon now serves over 4,000 guests annually.
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