Latest news with #PeteNajera
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wichita kids get free books for summer reading
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Nearly 2,800 elementary students across Wichita took home new books last week, thanks to a citywide effort to prevent summer learning loss and build literacy skills at an early age. A total of 5,572 books were distributed to 2,786 K–3 students across 13 Wichita Public Schools as part of the 2025 Champions for Literacy initiative — a national campaign that pairs sports with reading advocacy. Each student received two books and additional resources to support reading at home. The effort comes in response to sobering figures from the Kansas Department of Education showing that 77% of Wichita third graders were not reading proficiently in the 2023–2024 school year. To help reverse that trend, United Way of the Plains, Wichita State University, and Wichita Public Schools partnered to raise funds and awareness through the Champions for Literacy campaign. The initiative culminated in special WSU men's and women's basketball games in February, where fans contributed 151 donations. With support from a matching grant by International Paper, the effort raised $25,142. FDA moves to get rid of ingestible fluoride for kids 'Wichita State University is a powerful partner in our community's #ForceForGood,' Pete Najera, President and CEO of United Way of the Plains, said in a statement. 'This program provides help and hope for our local students and future Shockers.' The initiative drew widespread support from more than 25 community organizations, with volunteers helping sort, package, and distribute books. Books were delivered to students at the following elementary schools: Adams, Buckner, College Hill, Gordon Parks, Harry Street, Irving, Jackson, L'Ouverture, Mueller, Ortiz, Spaght, Washington, and Woodland. To learn more about the Champions for Literacy initiative, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coalition to End Homelessness gets biggest HUD grant yet
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Coalition to End Homelessness in Wichita and Sedgwick County is getting its biggest grant ever from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). At $3.2 million, it's $300,000 more than last year. This year, more funding is available to help keep up with inflation. The money is going toward maintaining Sedgwick County's Continuum of Care program, which is managed by the coalition. The program connects several organizations working to match people with homes to create a more streamlined process. Area nonprofits say maintaining those programs with adjustments to funding is essential. 'For everybody, the cost of living has increased,' said Deann Smith, executive director for United Methodist Open Door. 'It costs more to have food, it costs more to have rent.' The boost in funding this year is allowing existing programs to be maintained. The Salvation Army offers help with unpaid gas bills 'All of our ongoing projects were sustained, as opposed to we had to cut a program,' said Pete Najera, president and CEO of United Way of the Plains, which manages the continuum of care program. The money is divvied up among eight different entities. It helps pay for the United Way's management of the Continuum of Care program, including maintaining a database of information about people who need homes and coordinating services. 'You need those pieces first, and then you bring in the nonprofits that are doing the work,' Najera said. Those nonprofits are also pulling from HUD funding to pay for housing programs. Each nonprofit targets a different demographic. The network of housing services is necessary to connect unhoused people to housing through the planned Multi-Agency Center. 'These programs that are funded today will hopefully create good, affordable options for people to find housing,' said Steve Dixon, the Multi-Agency Center Board Chair. Having affordable housing options is especially important, as past efforts from the city to get money to build affordable housing as part of the multi-agency center have been unsuccessful. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
