TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Grantmakers in Health, a collaborative network of the state’s six health care foundations, including the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, awarded a $10,000 grant to Stafford County Economic Development to address food insecurity.
The grant was part of $25,000 in grants in memory of former Kansas Health Foundation CEO Steve Coen.
The grants will be made through the KGIH Opportunity Fund, which was established by the funders at the Topeka Community Foundation.
Stafford County Economic Development, a nonprofit organization, was instrumental in building a new grocery store in Coen’s hometown of St. John. The public-private partnership has helped the community maintain a local grocery store and improve the resiliency of the local food system.
During his years at the Kansas Health Foundation, Coen championed programs, initiatives and public education aimed at securing state and local policy change on child health and well-being, public health infrastructure, access to healthy foods and other critical health issues. He was a longtime member of KGIH, which collaborates on public policies, grants and projects with statewide reach and shared concerns.
Also receiving a grant in honor of Coen was Common Ground Producers and Growers in Wichita. They received $15,000.