ACTIVITIES

We enjoy showing you the activities and the history of our foundation. Here you will find some of the amazing experiences that we have shared with others.

2023 Legacy Grant Recipient!

Awarded our 5th Annual Bicknell Legacy Grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas. KSBBBS matches youth facing significant adversity to carefully screened volunteers in their one-to-one mentoring programs. KSBBBS currently offers two program options: Community-based and School-based. Both programs are professionally case-managed and structured around best practices in mentoring to ensure enriching and enduring relationships. Funding will be used to start a new pilot program called The One Initiative. The goal of the program is for students to improve by one reading level and grow one step in their self-confidence over one school year through the support of adult one-to-one mentorship. The program is being started in Cherokee and Crawford County with hopes to expand statewide.

2023 was amazing!

This year flew by and was an amazing time here at the BLF. The amount of organizations and people that we were able to help was astonishing. we are so humbled, proud, and excited to keep doing even more next year.

Below is the list of wonderful organizations we were able to work with this year.

2023 Impacted Organizations

BASE

The Business Associated Student Education (BASE) program located at the Dream Center is designed for students who receive special education services within Springfield Public Schools. These students participate in a Functional Life Skills type classroom to help prepare them for independent living after high school.

Child Safety Center

The Child Safety Center is an organization based on the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) model. CACs are community-based programs designed to meet the unique needs of a community but share the common goal of facilitating more effective prevention, detection, investigation, and treatment of child abuse.

CFSEK Dragon Feet Fund

Fund created by PHS alum Matt Knoll that will provide athletic shoes for underprivileged high school students in the USD250 district.

CHC/Crawford County Sheriff

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office has a Community Health Worker located at the jail that prepares inmates for life after incarceration. This includes helping inmates acquire a GED, prepare for skilled trade certificates, set up housing needs, etc. Funds were used to purchase Educational Life Skills Program material.

Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas

CHCSEK is driven by the simple desire to provide compassionate healthcare for everyone regardless of circumstances. CHCSEK hosted a prom fundraiser that provided dresses to local teens in need. Funds were used to help purchase items that were not available through donations

Dream Big Little One

The mission of Dream Big Little One Association is to improve the quality of life for children in-need by providing clean, new or reusable beds and bedding.

Family Resource Center

The Center is a childcare and learning facility that provides children with a safe, and caring atmosphere that promotes physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Many of the preschool students attend at free or reduced rates based on income levels. The Center also provides specialty services for youth that are identified as at risk for learning disorders. Funds were used to purchase a Sensory Pathway Package.

Family Violence Center (Harmony House)

Harmony House provides shelter, advocacy and education to survivors of domestic violence and promotes the principle that all individuals have the right to a life free of abuse. This mission is supported by four agency goals: provide short-term shelter, help survivors break the cycle, educate the community, and advocate for change.

Josiah Fletcher Foundation

Josiah Fletcher Foundation is dedicated to honoring the legacy of Josiah Fletcher, a remarkable individual who dedicated his life to making the world a better place. Based on his values of inclusivity and a deep passion for music, they strive to continue his mission and inspire positive change in the SEK community.

Kansas City Scholars

KC Scholars mission is to increase postsecondary education attainment in the greater KC area. KC Scholars provides fair and equitable opportunity for college for those that likely would not have otherwise attended or completed. 

Meadowlark K-Kids

K-Kids is a USD250 fifth grade volunteer service group that partners with Kiwanis to fulfill community needs.

Mercy Research Partners

Each year, Mercy Research Partners connects with select Children’s Mercy researchers. Together, they use the group’s annual investment pool and select research projects to receive funding for the year, accelerating high-risk, high-reward, cutting-edge research for families searching for hope.

NAMI Southwest Missouri

NAMI of Southwest Missouri serves 21 Ozark counties providing help, education and understanding to anyone dealing with mental illness and the families that care for them.

Salvation Army – Pittsburg, KS

Each year the Salvation Army in Pittsburg host the annual Christmas Distribution where families in need can apply to receive food and toys for their families in the days leading up to Christmas.  Last year the distribution was able to help 483 homes and 962 children have a little brighter Christmas.    

Springfield Dream Center

DCA is a free after-school program that serves students from Springfield elementary and middle schools. Most DCA students come from low-income families who qualify for free and reduced lunch. DCA teaches a specific curriculum which focuses on social and emotional learning to teach children how to regulate emotions.

The Children’s Place

The Children’s Place mission is to help children and families heal from life’s deepest hurts. They work to restore childhood. They tirelessly pursue, find, and celebrate healing for young children in the KC community who have faced trauma, enabling children to lead happy, healthy, hopeful lives.

True Charity Network

True Charity is championing a national movement for voluntarily sourced, effective charity at the most local level. They are a connector in the effective poverty movement by creating a network of communities and non-profits and providing them the resources and opportunities to transform their current practices.

Trust Neighborhoods

Trust Neighborhoods creates Mixed-Income Neighborhood Trusts (MINTs), operated by and accountable to existing community organizations. MINTs harness the money coming into communities to keep rent affordable for existing residents.

United WE

United WE tackles barriers to women’s economic growth and unlocks women’s economic potential through research, policy solutions and civic engagement.

Vagabond Missions

Teens in the inner-city face a cycle of neglect, violence and broken family life that leads to consequences for them and society. Vagabond Missions intervenes during this time of crisis by inviting them into a relationship with God and others. Through outreach and mentorship, teens experience hope for their lives and a place to call home.

Warrior’s Ascent

Warriors' Ascent was founded by two Iraq combat veterans who returned home and realized they needed additional resources to cope with the moral injuries they suffered on the battlefield. Seeking cutting edge holistic medical practices based on scientific research, they developed the Warriors' Ascent Program and began inviting other Warriors to join them on the journey to recovery.

2023 has begun and has been great!!

Here is a list of our early endeavors this year. We are extremely proud to anounce our first quarter non-profits!

Child Safety Center is a newly founded non-profit organization dedicated to providing education, expertise, research, and professional resources about various safety topics. This website covers child safety at every age, from early infancy to late teenage years. Some of the topics we focus on include physical safety, school safety, home safety, online safety, mental health safety, among other categories. Our organization was founded by parents who believe that every mother and father should have detailed insight into the best ways to raise a happy, healthy, and most importantly, safe child.

NAMI SWMO is also a partner agency with the Missouri Department of Mental Health. We are a grassroots, not for profit organization dedicated to providing programs and services to individuals and family members impacted by mental illness. NAMI serves as a drop-in center and offers peer supported groups to manage and help in their recovery. Collectively, we are the “Area's Voice on Mental Illness”.

Community Health Care (CHCSEK) We believe that everyone has the right to quality healthcare. We eliminate the barriers you’ve grown accustomed to in traditional healthcare: high costs, lack of accessibility and poorly coordinated care.Our focus is on caring for every patient regardless of ability to pay, and not on profit. We provide compassionate care in our clinics, in schools, in long-term care facilities, and even in workplaces so we can bring quality care closer to you. By listening to our patients and assessing healthcare outcomes, we make informed decisions about the services we provide so we can better care for you and better serve our community.Our goal is to provide care that keeps you healthy and happy. It’s healthcare the way it should be.

Springfield Dream Center exists as a hub of practical help and life-giving hope to families in Springfield, Missouri. Located within Zone 1, the Dream Center gives donors and supporters the opportunity to make a direct impact by providing resources and long-term skills in order to help families gain traction towards spiritual, mental, and physical stability.

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE is Kansas City’s leading trauma-informed childhood education program and counseling center. with dedication, love, and the highest level of research-based care, we walk hand-in-hand with the youngest children in our community and thier families as they heal from life’s deepest hurts. Here, families overcome trauma. Healing is tirelessly pursued, found, and celebrated together. Childhood is restored. Welcome to the Children’s Place.

2022, What a year!

This year went by so quick, but during that time, we at the BLF were able to make a difference in our communties. We would like to show you the non-profit organizations that we were able to donate to, as well as our 2022 grant recipient. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and we will see you in 2023!!

The 4th annual BLF Grant recipient

This year, the Bicknell Legacey Foundation is proud to award our grant to Fore The Kids.

They are a fantastic and fun organization that have some of the best minds and biggest hearts. Please click the link above to see more. Their vision is as follows:

To help every kid smile from the enjoyment of life and support positive mental health through improving community awareness and advocating access to high quality care and research.

2022 Impacted Organizations

Children’s Advocacy Center

The Children's Advocacy Center is a neutral, child-focused setting where children can be interviewed when there has been an allegation of child abuse. Their goal is to reduce the trauma associated with abuse investigations and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of abused children.

Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks (Isabel’s House)

Isabel’s House provides 24/7/365 care for the community’s most vulnerable children when a family is in crisis. Families who bring their children to Isabel’s House partner with their team of Family Advocates to create a plan specific to each situation, and their team works to connect parents and caregivers with the right resources to address their crises and build up the family.

Family Violence Center (Harmony House)

Harmony House provides shelter, advocacy and education to survivors of domestic violence and promotes the principle that all individuals have the right to a life free of abuse. This mission is supported by four agency goals: provide short-term shelter, help survivors break the cycle, educate the community, and advocate for change.

The Children’s Place

The Children’s Place mission is to help children and families heal from life’s deepest hurts. They work to restore childhood. They tirelessly pursue, find, and celebrate healing for young children in the KC community who have faced trauma, enabling children to lead happy, healthy, hopeful lives.

Kansas City Scholars

KC Scholars mission is to increase postsecondary education attainment in the greater KC area. KC Scholars provides fair and equitable opportunity for college for those that likely would not have otherwise attended or completed. 

Art as Mentorship

Art as Mentorship takes an innovative approach to exploring young artists’ full potential through creativity, mentorship opportunities, and fostering their inherent sense of exploration and achievement. Mental health practices are threaded throughout their programs for children and adolescents.

Communities in Schools of Mid-America (Southeast Kansas)

Communities in Schools is a program that works with poverty-stricken students that are struggling in school or at home and helps identify barriers to their education and finds ways to remove those barriers.

Veteran Community Project

VCP is an innovative community of tiny houses for Veterans experiencing homelessness. The community provides wrap around services for veterans including employment support, counseling, case management, military documentation services, etc.

I Pour Life

I pour life was founded to empower and equip individuals with social and economic disadvantages to become self-sufficient. Life strengths is a nationally recognized, innovative solution for helping hundreds of "at risk" youths leave behind negative labels and self-limiting beliefs and successfully transition into productive and successful adults.

Springfield Dream Center

DCA is a free after-school program that serves students from a local elementary and middle school. Most DCA students come from low-income families who qualify for free and reduced lunch. DCA teaches a specific curriculum which focuses on social and emotional learning in order to teach children how to regulate emotions.

The WSW Foundation

The WSW Foundation partners with Children’s Mercy to fund upgrades to labor and delivery rooms within the hospital. The foundation was founded by a family who lost their son just five days after birth to a congenital heart defect. They have made it a mission to help other families by helping fund needed basic improvements to delivery rooms.

Salvation Army – Pittsburg, KS

Each year the Salvation Army in Pittsburg host the annual Christmas Distribution where families in need can apply to receive food and toys for their families in the days leading up to Christmas.  Last year the distribution was able to help 1,869 individuals, 542 families, and 1,177 children have a little brighter Christmas.    

Shatterproof

Shatterproof is a nationwide organization that seeks to transform addiction treatment, end addiction stigma, and educate/empower communities.

2021 Grant recipient!

We here at the BLF are proud to announce that our 3rd annual Bicknell Legacy Grant has been awarded to Reconciliation Services here in Kansas City!

RS is an established, place-based provider of essential social and mental health services and and communitybuilding programs for vulnerable community members in the heart of Kansas City’s TroostCorridor.  RS practices an innovative approach to individual and community healing one heart at a time and aims to expand the vital work towards racial and economic reconciliation forneighbors East and West of Troost Avenue in Kansas City. https://www.rs3101.org/

August 2021

We hosted our first Family Engagement Drive and provided over 500 items for Fostering Connections out of Pittsburg, Kansas. Thank you to everyone that was able to participate in the donation drive for the VIP kid’s boxes. It was great seeing everyone and we look forward to doing it again.

Fostering Connections is a local, 501c3, non-profit organization designed to make a positive difference for foster/adoptive families and children in our community. http://fosteringconnectionsks.org/

MAY 2021

This month we celebrated the staff at The Children's Place. @tcpkc. We wanted to say ‘Thanks’, sincerely, for the amazing work they do in helping children heal from some of life’s greatest hurts. Congratulations to the staff for surviving and thriving through a very tough year and bringing light to the need for mental health services! Seeking treatment should be celebrated!

#mentalhealthawarenessmonth

KC Scholars Scholarship 2021

We at the BLF are proud to have made a Scholarship this year with KC Scholars. They are absolutely wonderful. The things that they accomplish are fantastic. Please visit them HERE In their words: “KC Scholars is creating life-changing opportunities for thousands of individuals and is positively transforming the region’s workforce and economy.”

Grant Recipient for 2020!

Every year we give out a grant to a non-profit organization and we are proud to have the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas as our choice for 2020. Please read about them below and check their website.

Community Health Center of SEKS

On July 14, 2020 a pilot project was launched by the Sheriff’s Department and CHC/SEK with five prisoners with a history of alcohol and/or drug abuse who voluntarily agreed to participate in treatment at no cost to themselves or the county. Almost overnight the number of participants jumped to 25 out of the 40 being held with all new prisoners being screened for participation with the majority signing up. Equally important, of the four recently released, all have followed up with the CHC/SEK to continue their treatment. This “Breaking the Cycle” program – funded through a combination of the city’s alcohol taxes, federal grant for opioid treatment and income from their clinical pharmacy - promises to have a major impact on the lives of all who struggle with addiction and have turned to crime to help support their disease. Key to the success of this program is a Recovery Support Specialist, a trusted individual who works to meet the unmet needs following release including housing, education, food and health access to help the inmates avoid returning to a life controlled by addiction. This program will be one of the first of its kind and we will be the first foundation in the state of Kansas to support a venture like this. https://chcsek.org/

Happy Holidays 2020!

As the year comes to an end, and we look back on 2020, we want to share some amazing charities and groups that we supported and would love for everyone to know about. This year has been hard to do things in person, but making a difference can be done.

Salvation Army Pittsburg Corps

• Each year the Salvation Army in Pittsburg host the annual Christmas Distribution where families in need can apply to receive food and toys for their families in the days leading up to Christmas. Some of these children wouldn’t have any presents under the tree if it wasn’t for this program. centralusa.salvationarmy.org/pittsburg/
  

Fore the Kids Foundation – Nick’s Voice Fund

• The Nick's Voice Fund is dedicated to educating the Kansas City community about the signs, treatment, and therapy related to depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders effecting the mental health of children. Their mission is to create a dramatic effect on the suicide rates in the Kansas City Area by passionately and compassionately providing resources to insure healthy and fulfilling lives for our future generations. https://www.forthekids.org/

Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Crawford County

• Big Brothers Big Sisters is an incredible mentor-ship program that matches bigs and littles through a one-to-one mentoring opportunity in hopes that all youth will achieve their full potential. As a foundation we believe that in order to break cycles you have to give an individual the opportunity to see their potential and give them the tools to make that change. Big Brothers Big Sisters sets the stage for that change. https://www.kansasbigs.org

Johnson County Christmas Bureau

• The Johnson County Christmas Bureau runs a 9-day Holiday Shop during the month of December. At the Holiday Shop pre-qualified clients shop by appointment. All clients are below 150% of the poverty level and reside in Johnson County, Kansas. The Holiday Shop is similar to a department store. Each client is assisted by a volunteer while shopping for groceries (enough for 2 to 3 days of fully balanced meals), personal care items, holiday gifts (a gift for each member of the household), books, clothing, hats/gloves, and coats. They typically serve between 10,000 and 12,000 individuals each year. https://jccb.org/

Watered Gardens – True Charity Initiative

• True Charity Initiative is a work of Watered Gardens Ministries and exists to champion a national movement of voluntarily sourced, effective charity at the most local level. While Watered Gardens Ministries predominantly strives to be a conduit for effective charity among those struggling with poverty and homelessness in the Joplin 4-state region, its True Charity Initiative strives to inform about root causes and solutions to poverty, influence systems that perpetuate poverty, and connect like-minded organizations for greater effectiveness in the fight against poverty. https://wateredgardens.org/

2020 Update

The BLF went into 2020 with many goals. Of course, things slowed down with the presence of Covid-19. However, with some amazing organizations and outreach to others, we were able to support some wonderful places and people. As of July, 2020, we are happy to have worked with the ones below and to let you read their mission. We recommend looking at them to see the difference they have made.

Double H Ranch- ‘The Double H Ranch, co-founded by Charles R. Wood and Paul Newman, provides specialized programs and year-round support for children and their families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. All programs are FREE of charge and capture the magic of the Adirondacks.’ The programs they offer are incredible. If you are interested, please look at their site. DoubleHRanch

Variety KC- ‘Variety KC believes all kids should Be Active, Be Social and Belong. We remove mobility and communication barriers by providing the necessary equipment and devices, and provide inclusive opportunities for all children right here in our community.’ VarietyKC

Communities In Schools- ‘Surrounding students with a community of support and empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.’ This organization is fantastic. Look at them here. CIS

January 2020

In January of 2020, The BLF made a donation to the ‘Boys Hope Girls Hope’ of Kansas City. This wonderful organization has helped so many young people achieve a prosperous life. Their mission statement is:

To nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women for others.

Also, in January, board member Whitney Reagan, along with her husband Beech, surprised the boys with a special dinner. It was a great time to be had. Please go see their website www.bhghkc.org

Christmas 2019

In December of 2019, The BLF once again supported the Wesley House and The Salvation Army in donating for Christmas gifts. The gifts were acquired through Walmart, which has been amazing to this great cause. We were very happy to make a Merry Christmas.

The Children’s Place September 2019

In September of 2019, the BLF headed to a wonderful place. The Children’s Place. Located in Kansas City, the work they do is amazing and we are so happy to be able to help in any way. Here are some pictures from the event for the kids. We brought them books on animals and a petting zoo as well. It really was a great day for us and for them. Below is a link to their site and their mission. Please check them out.

The Children’s Place

The Children’s Place is Kansas City’s leading trauma-informed early childhood education program and counseling center. With dedication, love, and the highest level of research-based care, we walk hand-in-hand with the youngest children in our community and their families as they heal from life’s deepest hurts. Here, families overcome trauma. Healing is tirelessly pursued, found, and celebrated together. Childhood is restored. Welcome to The Children’s Place: where hurts find hope.

Youth Ambassador’s ‘Blue Jean Bash’ 2019

In April of 2019, the BLF sponsored part of a celebration and auction for the Youth Ambassadors Foundation. We saw many kids speak about the hardships they have gone through and how Youth Ambassadors made a positive impact. The results for the auction were overwhelming. The amazing contributions, the people, and the foundation were amazing. Please check out their site at www.youthambassadorskc.com

2018 Christmas Donation

In December of 2018, we joined with The Salvation Army and Wesley House to donate to help make Christmas brighter for families in Kansas. With the help of Wal-Mart, we were able to do a shopping spree and get many gifts for all different ages. It was a wonderful experience for everyone. Our crew was amazing, and our results were fantastic.

Youth Ambassadors 2018

Youth Ambassadors is an educational, not-for-profit employment program designed to empower unprivileged youth with the knowledge that they, as teenagers, have a vital voice. They have the power to be active participants in their communities, not just passive observers. We at the BLF sponsored a teen, and we encourage more to do so. Please check them out at www.youthambassadorskc.org

Fostering Connections 2018

Fostering Connections is a non-profit program, local to Pittsburg, KS. It was developed to help provide support and assistance for foster families. Here is their mission:

‘Fostering Connections is a local, non-profit organization designed to make a positive difference for foster/adoptive families and children in our community. Centered around the verse in ‘James’, calling Christians to look after orphans. Fostering Connections was created to walk alongside foster families as they open their hearts and homes to children in need. Our organization offers faith-based support through training and events, that benefit both the child and his/her foster family.’

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Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc 2018

This amazing center’s mission is: To aid in the reduction of the incidence of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It is a wonderful and much needed establishment. The BLF donated over the holiday season, and hope to work much more with them. You can find them on their website. www.safehousecrisiscenter.org