YES! Fund
The YES! Fund, short for Youth Empowerment for Success, has been a crucial source of funding for various programs aimed at empowering the youth for over 20 years. Recognizing the need to address the uninspired youth activities in Manhattan, a committee was formed in 1993 to engage with the young population and understand their concerns. The committee discovered that many young people felt neglected by the community, leading them to express a desire to leave Manhattan as soon as possible. In response, the YES! Fund was established to support diverse opportunities aligned with the youth's needs, fostering their success, well-being, and sense of belonging in the community. The YES! program advisory board carefully reviews the fund's activities to ensure they positively impact youth development and academic achievement, with a strong correlation between young people's involvement in such programs and their overall success.
Manhattan is a city with excellent schools, but it is essential to acknowledge that not everyone experiences the same level of opportunity and well-being within the community. After-school programs supported by the YES! Fund plays a critical role in enhancing youth development and academic success. These programs have improved school attendance, goal-setting, decision-making, and relationships with teachers and authorities. Additionally, students studying to become teachers at Kansas State University actively contribute to the YES! Fund's initiatives by volunteering their time and expertise to coach, tutor, and collaborate with various organizations. The fund serves as a means to turn the innovative ideas of educators and administrators into realities, filling the gap left by limited school budgets. Administered as a component fund of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, the YES! Fund continues to significantly impact the lives of young people in the community.
Matching Donors
Every donation made to the YES! Fund is matched dollar for dollar by the following donors:
- Russ Briggs/Briggs Auto Group
- The Master Teacher
- The Deihl Fund
- GMCF Goldstein Community Fund
- Phil Howe
- 1988 Jack Goldstein Charitable Trust
- Midge Jones Trust
- KS Statebank
- Edward & Karen Seaton Foundation
- Ward and Brenda Morgan
- Roger and Connie Sink
- Memorial Hospital Foundation
Grant Stories
Explore grant stories from the previous year below or discover Past Grant Stories
True Colors Flint Hills - 2022
Pawnee Mental Health - 2022
Flint Hills Volunteer Center - 2022
Big Brother Big Sisters - 2022
PUMA FC - 2022
