Community Partner Awards
We are recognizing outstanding organizations and individuals in our communities through our Community Partner Awards program! The program aims to support ongoing projects and inspire others in these same areas to take active roles in the betterment of their communities.
Congratulations to our 2023 Award Winners
Sunflower Bank donated a total of $80,000 through seventeen Community Partner Awards grants of $3,000 to $15,000 each.
$15,000 Creating Possibility Award Recipient:
Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas – Salina, KS
Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas has touched the lives of 2,656 families and 5,741 individuals throughout Sunflower Bank communities in 2023. “Providing Compassionate Care across 31 Counties” in north central and northwest Kansas, Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas provides support across various service areas including: Financial and Housing Assistance, Counseling Services, Legal Support, Pregnancy Services, Food Distribution, Hygiene Support, and Diaper and Wipe distribution.
$10,000 Creating Possibility Award Recipient:
Credit Coalition – Houston, TX
The Credit Coalition, a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency, member of the Greater Houston Housing Coalition, and Texas Foreclosure Prevention Task Force, provides free counseling and education to empower its clients to be able to make informed, reasonable, and responsible decisions in regard to their financial and housing-specific goals. By the end of 2023, the Credit Coalition will have served over 600 clients throughout the Houston, TX area, most of which have low to moderate income designations. Resources that are provided by the Credit Coalition include: Free Foreclosure Intervention Counseling, Financial and Homebuyer Counseling and Education, Financial Coaching, Reverse Mortgage Counseling, and Outreach Services among additional resources as well.
In The Lives We Touch Award Recipients:
Five State Awards of $5,000 Each
Local First Arizona – Phoenix, AZ
Gateway Domestic Violence Services – Aurora, CO
Family Crisis Center – Great Bend, KS
Family Strengths Network – Los Alamos, NM
Black Women in Business – Austin, TX
Bringing Out the Best Award Recipients:
Five State Awards of $3,000 Each
St. Vincent de Paul – Phoenix, AZ
Longmont Meals on Wheels – Longmont, CO
United Way of Central Kansas – Great Bend, KS
Communities In Schools of New Mexico – Santa Fe, NM
Chef to the Shelters – Dallas, TX
Empowerment Award Recipients:
(Community-Nominated)
Five State Awards of $3,000 Each
New Freedom Ops – Phoenix, AZ
Raise the Future – Denver, CO
Boys & Girls Club of South Central Kansas – Wichita, KS
Santa Fe Community Foundation – Santa Fe, NM
El Pasoans Fighting Hunger – El Paso, TX
How Recipients Were Identified
Sunflower Bank employees and other community members in qualified counties of Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, and New Mexico submitted nominations for award consideration between October 11 - November 15, 2023:
- Nominees who received the greatest number of employee votes in each market will receive a corresponding award.
- Additionally, five winners were named as a result of the community submission process.
Type of Community Partners
Affordable Housing
Community Services
Economic Development
Financial Education
Inclusivity