Foundation Welcomes Executive Director

South Brown County Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Ivy Stone has been named the Executive Director.

Ivy was born and raised in Horton, KS. She is the daughter of Pastor Tom and Viki Stone and is a Horton High School alumnus (Class of 1998). Ivy attended college both in Illinois and Kansas. She returned to Horton in 2018 and is happy to be raising her daughters (Victoria Jelks, 16, Avaylia Jelks, 10, and Laylah Jelks, 7) among family and friends. Ivy is currently completing a Bachelor’s in Education degree from Kansas State University and holds an Associates of Arts degree from Highland Community College. Over the past four years, Ivy worked for USD 430 and most recently was the Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Coordinator for the district. She is the music director at the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and leads a women’s fellowship there.

Ivy says of her community, “South Brown County is a very special place that gives small communities a good name. Since my daughters and I have moved here, there has been nothing but kindness, generosity and opportunity extended to us. We appreciate the ways we have been able to serve as well. I am thrilled to take on the role of Executive Director for SBCCF. Acknowledging the good that is already alive and well in our community and working to enhance that good is something I’m excited to be taking on.”

The South Brown County Community Foundation was established in 2019 with a mission to improve the quality of life in South Brown County by increasing charitable giving, educating, and connecting donors to community needs in Horton, Everest, Willis, Powhattan, and the Kickapoo Nation Reservation. The foundation received a significant capacity building grant from The Patterson Family Foundation, enabling SBCCF to hire Stone as Executive Director. This exciting development marks a pivotal moment in the foundation’s history, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing community leadership, growing assets, and becoming an even more impactful resource for the communities it serves.

The Patterson Family Foundation, a foundation that strives to help uplift rural communities through health care, education, and economic opportunity, has recognized the valuable work and potential of SBCCF resulting in the awarding of the capacity building grant. This grant plays a crucial role in advancing SBCCF’s strategic goals and expanding its capacity to address the evolving needs of the community.

“We are immensely grateful to the Patterson Family Foundation for their belief in rural Kansas communities and our mission and their generous support through this capacity building grant,” said SBCCF President, Steve Chartier. “This funding will allow us to take a significant step forward in our growth, by enabling us to hire our first executive director. This milestone is not just about expanding our internal capacity; it’s about strengthening our ability to serve and support the communities that depend on us.”

For more information about South Brown County Community Foundation, please visit southbrowncountycf.org and check for weekly updates on Facebook.