By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com
Charitable giving that makes a local impact, particularly for rural communities served by The Peoples Bank, is the impetus behind The Heartland Project that began late 2024 and runs through 2025. The Peoples Heartland Foundation, established by The Peoples Bank which has offices in Pratt, Smith, Osborne, Kiowa, Kingman and Barber counties, initiated The Heartland Project which will award $50,000 to approved plans in each county for a total of $300,000, all for the asking this year.
“We try to fund two projects a year with charitable giving,” said Peoples Heartland Foundation board member Thad Henry. “We are trying to foster a charitable environment which provides a vehicle for donations, supports community, and enables tax deductible giving.”
Henry said that foundation began with the Loomis family in Pratt 12 years ago when they wanted to see rural communities not only survive but thrive, providing opportunities for young people to stay, or return, to the heartland of Kansas for the long term, making use of donations by those who wanted to give.
A project that helped kick start the Heartland Project into high gear approximately 10 years ago was the renovation and restoration of Dr. Higley’s Cabin in Smith Center, Smith County, Kansas, Henry said.
“This was the place where the famous ‘Home on the Range’ song was written,” Henry said. “The cabin had been preserved moderately well, but support was needed to bring it up to usability as a tourism site. We were able to help with that and it is now part of an official Historical Marker Database.”
Settle and Henry said that Heartland Foundation board members, as well as The Peoples Bank employees in all six counties, were ready and willing to listen to ideas from the public about meaningful projects that could benefit from seed funds to be brought to fruition.
An application is available on The Peoples Heartland Foundation website or by email request to procoheartland@tpb.bank and kwcoheartland@tpb.bank. The Peoples Heartland Foundation board is currently composed of the following: Mark McClain, Board Member; Thad Henry, Board Member; Kaylene Heller, Board Member; Anne Loomis, Board Member; Mark Watts, Board Member; Ernie Richardson, President; Lori Bortz, Vice-President; Nicole Curtis, Vice-President; Lindsay Cox, Secretary; Alex Smith, Treasurer.
Jenae Settle, AAMS® Trust Officer for The Peoples Bank in Pratt said The Heartland Project was not a new enterprise in counties served by The Peoples Bank offices, but one that has quietly served to boost the rural economy in a variety of ways in recent years. The Heartland Project addresses physical building needs and propels a materially impactful project to fruition.
The Heartland Project is part of The Peoples Heartland Foundation but differs in projects supported. The Foundation is more the vehicle by which people can make donations to support non-profits, scholarships, and local charities.
“We very much encourage anyone to reach out to representatives in their area with ideas about projects that will benefit their communities,” said Settle. “Our TPB staff is an excellent resource for this information and are equipped to better enlighten anyone who may have an interest in applying for The Heartland Project or has questions about The Peoples Heartland Foundation and its other projects.”
In 2021, the Peoples Bank Heartland Found supported Greatness and Gratitude grants that allowed bank employees to select their favorite charities or non-profits and gift them donated amounts. More than $250,000 in funds were distributed that way.
Additional projects funded by The Peoples Heartland Foundation in past years included scholarships for Pratt Community College students, support for the Pratt Health Foundation, donations to the Freedom Gates Boys Ranch, the Marco Teske Dog Park in Pratt, childcare resources in Kiowa County, and startup help for the Greensburg Wrestling Club.
Those who would like more information about charitable giving opportunities may contact Settle at The Peoples Bank, P.O. Box C, Pratt, KS 67124, (620) 672-5611, Fax: (620) 672-1155, jsettle@tpb.bank.
