Hastings Area Habitat For Humanity

An easy way to think about a donor-advised fund is like a charitable savings account: a donor contributes to the fund as frequently as they like and then recommends grants to their favorite charity when they are ready. HCF handles the rest!

“WOW! What a ‘hand up’ and not a ‘hand out’ Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity received from the Hastings Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund.  In 2017 Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity received a substantial donation from a Hastings area family through their Donor Advised Fund administered by the Hastings Community Foundation.  Using this donation, Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity will fund a additional house to be built in 2018.

“Through 2017 we have constructed 22 houses in Hastings and Kenesaw.  Each house gives a family a “hand up” and not a “hand out.” The house is built using volunteer labor wherever possible and we require the family to work 200 hours to put in their sweat equity.  We loan the family the cost of the home with a 30 year no interest mortgage.  Thanks goes to the Donor Advised Fund.”

– Neal Hoff, Volunteer Coordinator Hastings Area Habitat for Humanity

Good Samaritan Society

Sinking a putt was impossible!

Seniors at Good Samaritan Village had been staying active and having fun on the par-3 golf course at the Hastings Village since its beginning in 1957. Originally built with sand greens, artificial turf was first installed in 1999. By 2015, these same artificial turf green had turned hard as concrete.

Hastings Village began the campaign to renovate the greens and tee boxes by participating in Give Hastings Day on May 1, 2015. Through the generosity of donors and a $5,500 grant from the Hastings Community Foundation, work started in the spring of 2016. By the end of the season, all nine greens plus the tee boxes had been recovered in artificial turf. Sod was placed around the collars of each green that fall and the course was ready for play by spring of 2017.

In June, the Village invited Big Brothers/Big Sisters youth and their mentors out to learn some golf fundamentals. While putting and chipping were fun, the highlight of the morning was being able to ride in a golf cart!

“Thank you, Hastings Community Foundation for your continued support of GSS – Hastings Village. These grants have truly enhanced the lives of those who call the Village ‘home.’”

– Karen Doerr, Devlopment Director, Good Samaritan Society—Hastings Village

Hastings Community Theatre

“The Show Must Go On” … and it has for nearly 60 years at the Hastings Community Theatre. Over those years, HCT has made audiences laugh, cry, sing, smile, and think.

The theatre takes pride in being a valued part of the community. During the early years, performances were any place that had a stage or a space where a stage could be created. In 1979, arrangements were made with Good Samaritan Village for the theatre to have use of the old Spencer Park School. In February of 1981, HCT presented the first show in the new theatre and since then has presented hundreds of shows, providing local audiences with the best live theatre in the area.

“The Hastings Community Foundation has played a role in HCT’s success. Grant funding has assisted us with projects such as lighting and sound improvements, restroom renovations, printing projects, and children’s programming, including HCT Kids’ production of “The Little Mermaid”. HCT has also set up an endowment account through the Hastings Community Foundation. The endowment fund will become invaluable in years to come, assisting us with funds to perpetuate operation of the theatre.

“Thank you, Hastings Community Foundation for helping us insure that ‘The Show Will Go On’ for many years to come!”
– Donna Hastings

The Zone

The way young people spend their after-school hours can significantly impact their success in school and life. At the ZONE, the YWCA provides a safe place for middle school students to gather with friends, learn social skills, enjoy a free snack and/or dinner, participate in physical and art activities and receive help with homework.

“For multiple years, the Hastings Community Foundation has given us the funding to increase enrichment activities, learning opportunities, nutrition assistance and extended our community service outreach to over 200 plus middle school youth.  Thanks to the Community Foundation suppor,t our youth have  multiple opportunities after-school.  These opportunities have and continue to keep our community youth safe, engaged and active.  Without the Hastings Community Foundation support many of these opportunities would not exist.  The YWCA is very grateful for this partnership.”
– Jennifer Lewis, YWCA Director

Prairie Loft

Prairie Loft brings people together through ideas and experiences that they cannot find anywhere else. Farm-based experiential education means muddy hands and a-ha moments. It means chasing butterflies and calling cows, sharing stories and planting seeds.

Community encouragement for the work we do feeds our passion for Prairie Loft’s mission. We are grounded in history and heritage as we teach and inspire future generations in ways that are inclusive, active, and meaningful.

We are proud to work with the Hastings Community Foundation staff, board, and donors who help us plant the seeds for amazing programs for all ages. Since 2008, HCF has provided grants and donor advised gifts for our capital improvements and our growing education program. Encouragement from the Hastings Community Foundation has provided us with the means to expand popular education programs and try new ideas that are building a place to teach and inspire for generations to come.

“We love this place! It’s an amazing resource for kids to interact with agriculture in a hands-on way.”
-Parent of 3 young kids

“You can play in the mud! You can go on walks! I love Prairie Loft!! It is the best place ever.”
-Prairie Loft kid, age 6