A crowd of more than 200 people packed into the 11861 Club at the Kansas State Fairgrounds Thursday evening for the inaugural Spark Tank Live! event, hosted by United Way of Reno County. The night proved to be both inspiring and impactful, raising over $40,000 to support the organization’s annual campaign.
Funds raised will not only help sustain United Way’s ongoing nonprofit grant programs but also ensure the continuation of Spark Tank Live! next year, giving more local organizations the chance to compete for funding.
Four nonprofits took the stage to pitch their programs, vying for a share of $20,000 in prize money:
• 1st Place: Food Bank of Reno County ($10,000 grant)
• 2nd Place: Milestone Clubhouse ($7,500 grant)
• 3rd Place: Wisdom in Motion ($5,000 grant)
• 4th Place: Rise Up Reno Prevention Network ($2,500 grant)
The Food Bank of Reno County walked away with double honors, also winning the People’s Choice Award, and received an additional $1,500 grant to add to their total support for the evening.
United Way leaders said they were thrilled with the turnout and the generosity of the community. “What a night—we are still reeling over what an inspiring evening it was,” they shared in a statement.