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Kansas City, Mo. - May 19, 2025 – Evergy has selected the recipients of the 2025 Hometown Grants. These grants will help seven non-profit agencies across our service area by providing up to $10,000 for community improvement projects.

This year’s theme is Energize Our Environment. Evergy divided its service area into seven regions with a winning organization from each. Organizations selected will receive their grant for an environmentally focused project.   The recipients, regions, and their projects are:

• The Mid-West Educational Center’s Wonder Workshop Children’s Museum in Manhattan, was the winner from north-central Kansas. The grant will support Growing Into Greatness, a project designed to transform the existing play space into an Interactive Renewable Energy Learning Zone featuring solar-powered play centers, wind-harnessing models, kinetic energy stations, and other features to foster environmental leadership among children through outdoor play.
• Future STEAM for the The SunPowered Student Challenge in Pittsburg, was selected from southeast Kansas entries. The project will support the statewide solar energy competition for Kansas high school students. Funding will provide curriculum materials, solar kits, instructional guides, and event-related costs.
• Atchison County Multipurpose Center (Tarkio Nutrition Center) in Tarkio, was the winner from northwest Missouri. The grant will support a sensory garden for older adults living with dementia, encourage local food production, support pollinator-friendly practices, and provide an educational space that highlights the importance of green, healthy environments.
• ICT Food Rescue, Inc in Wichita, was selected from south-central Kansas entries. The grant will support the Food Rescue Program, where volunteers pick up food surplus from restaurants, caterers, and food producers to distribute to nearly two dozen community partners serving food to insecure residents.
• My Region Wins in Kansas City, MO was the winner from the metro area. The grant will support Noble’s BOON AREA 1, a nature-based art installation currently located on a once blighted/vacant lot owned by the Land Bank in a disinvested business zone.
• Flourish Furnishings in Grandview, MO was selected from southwest and central Missouri projects. The grant will support expanded recycling efforts to save more than 600 tons of waste from local landfills.
• The Topeka Community Foundation was selected as the recipient from northeast Kansas. The grant will support the Rossville Community Trail Phase 2 to build sustainable trails to foster community and safety and improve mental and physical health.

More than 80 non-profit organizations across the service area applied for the 2025 Hometown Grants. Evergy selected the recipients after thoroughly reviewing each project proposal and confirming that the projects met the criteria set forth in the application process.

Evergy will offer an opportunity for three additional non-profit partners and community agencies to receive a People’s Choice Grant of up to $10,000. A list of 10 finalists, selected by Evergy’s grant committee, will be publicized for public voting on Evergy’s Facebook page May 21 through May 30, 2025. People’s Choice Winners will be announced June 4.

Evergy’s Hometown Grant Program is designed to expand awareness of the Company’s community support and help establish new relationships with agencies not familiar with the Company’s program. The Hometown Grant Program is in addition to Evergy’s annual contribution program providing millions in community investments to agencies aligning with its community strategy. More about Evergy’s annual program can be found at Community Involvement.