- What can $5,000 accomplish in a community? In Herington, it helped support a new homeowner. It helped people improve their credit, reduce debt, increase their income, strengthen their sobriety, and become more involved in their community. Just as importantly, it helped people build relationships and find a place where they feel they belong. Those are just some of the results Herington Hearts Core Community accomplished after receiving a $5,000 Herington Community Legacy Grant in 2025 from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County.
Herington Hearts is one of sixteen programs operating across Kansas under Youth Core Ministries, an organization working in rural communities to help individuals and families move from poverty toward greater stability. With $5,000, Herington Hearts was able to fund the first phase of their 2025 “Getting Ahead” class, a 25-week program that gives participants an opportunity to examine their circumstances, identify barriers, build resources and relationships, and create a plan for a more stable future. The program is offered at no cost to participants, with meals and childcare provided.
The Herington Community Legacy Grant helped cover curriculum and programming, supplies, childcare materials, and graduation expenses. What Herington Hearts accomplished with that support went far beyond $5,000. The class began with thirteen participants, and after 25 weeks, eleven graduated. An estimated 134 people were impacted during these 25 weeks, from staff to volunteers to those who were enrolled in the class and their family members. One participant became a new homeowner, three improved their credit scores, and participants with histories of addiction increased their clean time. Sixteen volunteered in their community, two joined a church, and fifteen people reported that they now felt like they belonged in their community.
Total results of the program after seven completed classes tell an even bigger story of how Herington Hearts is positively impacting the Herington community. As of April 2026, they reported seventy-three total graduates, and collectively, those participants had increased their annual income by $993,000 and paid off $320,000 in debt. The program also reported that fifty-three people moved above 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Although those numbers are impressive, Herington Hearts Program Director Chardy Magnett shared an important reminder that not every success story can be captured by a number. “Our program is making a real difference in rural communities across three counties. By amplifying the voices of those in need and offering dedicated support systems, homes are becoming calmer, families are thriving, and poverty rates are falling. The whole community benefits as people work on the eleven resources of poverty: becoming stronger employees, more youth joining traveling sports teams, reducing IEPs… adults are buying homes, and that is boosting local revenue. Those who relocate here and join our program often say, ‘This is the first time I have felt like I wanted this to be my forever home; we have found a place where we belong.”
The work does not stop with the 25-week class; that is just phase one. Once an individual graduates, they are asked to join phase two, which encompasses year-round work. These new Core Leaders help guide and support the next class of participants, so they too can graduate with successful outcomes. Breanna, a Core Leader, shared her thoughts about the program: “My trust was broken at a young age, and the most important people didn't keep me safe. It mentally messed me up. I am so thankful that I gave this program a chance so that I could heal and be the best version of myself for my son. My son saved my life; Core Community helped me build a better future for him.”
Planning, networking, and building partnerships are another important piece of work that must happen to sustain the program. With support from local businesses, individual donations, alumni campaigns, a variety of fundraising opportunities, and grants like the Herington Community Legacy Grant, Herington Hearts can continue to change the lives of the community members it serves.
A grant does not have to be enormous to make a significant difference. In the hands of a local organization that understands its community, grant dollars become curriculum, childcare, supplies, and opportunities. They help remove barriers so people can show up, do the work, and begin building something better. And that impact reaches beyond the individuals participating in the program. It reaches their families, employers, neighbors, and the community they call home. That is how a $5,000 grant can become an investment in an entire community.
About the Community Foundation of Dickinson County
The Community Foundation of Dickinson County connects donors with the causes they care about, serves as a resource for local nonprofit organizations, and provides leadership to strengthen communities throughout Dickinson County. Through charitable funds, grants, scholarships, and community partnerships, the Foundation helps turn generosity into lasting impact for current and future generations. For more information, visit www.communityfoundation.us or contact the office 785-263-1863. For good. For ever.
