Community Foundation of Dickinson County begins Fairy Godmother fund

Charles Rankin, Salina Journal
·2 min read

ABILENE — As a way to help other women in the community, the first "Fairy Godmother" in Abilene has donated to a fund at the Community Foundation of Dickinson County (CFODC).

Months ago, LaVetra Brown met with Elizabeth Weese, the executive director of the foundation, about needs in the community. Weese talked with Brown about how a group supported women as Fairy Godmothers in another community through its own community foundation.

From left, Therese Miller, Karen Roberts, LaVetra Brown and Elizabeth Weese join together at the Fairy Godmother tea at the Seelye Mansion in Abilene. Brown was pinned as the first Fairy Godmother in Abilene after she donated to help other women in the community.
From left, Therese Miller, Karen Roberts, LaVetra Brown and Elizabeth Weese join together at the Fairy Godmother tea at the Seelye Mansion in Abilene. Brown was pinned as the first Fairy Godmother in Abilene after she donated to help other women in the community.

Brown felt a desire to do the same and Dickinson County's local Fairy Godmother campaign was born.

On Sunday, Jan. 16, a group of women gathered at Abilene's Seelye Mansion for tea and treats to discuss this newly opened fund. Guest speakers at the tea included Karen Roberts, chair, and Therese Miller, events and H.U.G Grants chair of the Manhattan Community Foundation Fairy Godmothers board who shared their experiences about the program in Manhattan.

Weese also talked about the goals and hopes of the program in Abilene.

“The goal of the Fairy Godmother Fund is to have monies available for immediate needs when other funding machinations have been exhausted, and a rapid response is needed,” said Weese. “We know these situations arise from time to time; we want to be proactive and have emergency funding available. Think of it this way; if Cinderella had not had her Fairy Godmother, all hope lost, we don’t want people losing hope—sometimes you need a magic wand.”

The attendees at the tea also congratulated Brown as the first Fairy Godmother of Abilene. Weese pinned Brown with a colorful Fairy Godmother pin that was created for the community foundation.

According to Weese, anyone can become a Fairy Godmother by donating $100 to the Fairy Godmother Fund.

“Upon receiving your donation, you will receive your pin; we ask you to wear your pin and tell others about it; this is a grassroots program in which we hope to see everyone wearing a pin,” said Weese. “We look forward to this inspiring some men in the community to open a Fairy Godfather’s Fund as well.”

For more information about the Fairy Godmother Fund at the Community Foundation, call 785-263-1863, stop in and see us at 418 NW Third Street, or email info@communityfoundation.us To donate online, click on www.communityfoundation.us select Donate and choose the Fairy Godmother Fund

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Community Foundation of Dickinson Countyn begins Fairy Godmother fund