NW Kansas Cares for Kids

NW Kansas Cares for Kids is sponsored by Dane G Hansen Foundation. An initiative to support licensed childcare centers in attracting and retaining quality staff, and providing educational tools to prepare children for school.

NW KANSAS CARES FOR KIDS - Dane G. Hansen Foundation An Early Childhood Education Initiative Access to quality early childhood education is important to the quality of life and economic health of every community.

NW Kansas CARES for Kids includes multiple grants designed to assist childcare centers and qualified family childcare homes (formerly group homes) in attracting and retaining staff, providing educational materials, and also helping to sustain existing slots and to provide more slots for Northwest Kansas children.

The initiative is limited to licensed nonprofit childcare centers or qualifying nonprofit family childcare homes (formerly group homes) located in the 26-county area served by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Qualifying childcare centers must: be licensed by the state of Kansas for at least 13 children accept children ages 2-weeks to 6-years of age be open at least 3 and less than 24 hours a day Qualifying childcare homes must: be located in a community without a licensed daycare center be licensed by the state of Kansas for up to 12 children accept children ages 2-weeks to 6-years of age employ at least 2 staff members childcare facility is not located in the provider’s residence Preschools or family childcare homes that do not meet the above criteria, are not eligible for these grants.

Grants from the Hansen Foundation are available only to nonprofit organizations. For-profit centers that meet the above criteria can apply for similar assistance through the Innovation Center. Gennifer was born and raised in Goodland.

She is a 1987 graduate of Goodland High School. In 1992 she received her BS from the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. Gennifer returned to Topside of Kansas in 1994.

She spent 23 years with First National Bank starting in Marketing and ending as Vice President of Electronic Banking. She transitioned to the nonprofit sector in 2019 and spent 5 years with Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation as Director of Donor Services.

In 2025 Gennifer joined the Hansen Foundation to continue to carry on the goal of encouraging NW Kansans to leave a gift to their local community foundation through estate planning. Mike was born in Stafford, Kansas, where he spent his early childhood working on his grandfather’s farm. His family later moved to St.

John. Following graduation from St. John High School, he attended Emporia State University earning a BS in biology and chemistry.

His first job out of college was as an agronomy manager for a co-op. Thus began his career of managing companies. After managing co-ops and independent ag companies for 15 years, he went to work for Archer Daniels Midland.

Following this he was given opportunities to build and serve as the CEO of two ethanol plants, one in Oakley and one in Phillipsburg. In 2016 he started his own consulting business. DK Developments specializes in the financial and operational performances of various companies and organizations.

Mike and his wife Donna make their home in Phillipsburg and have three children between them: Sean and Justin Cravens, and Erin Erhart. Mike Joined the Hansen Board of Trustees in November of 2024. Betty is a Kansas girl who grew up in Smith Center.

A 1980 graduate of Fort Hays State University, she has always worked in and with the nonprofit sector. Her volunteering started before kindergarten, assisting her mother in her efforts and has never stopped. She has worked for a regional nonprofit, a state university, and a national health organization, and has had her consulting business for over 20 years.

Working as a team with her staff and volunteers have been keys to her success in making ideas/plans reality. She is the proud mom of 3 sons – Nate, Nick, and Greg. Brien was born in Abilene, Texas, but raised in Kirwin, Kansas.

He graduated from Eastern Heights High School in Agra, Kansas, in 1979. He attended the University of Oklahoma on a Marine Corps ROTC Scholarship, and graduated in 1983 with a B. S.

in Aviation Education. As part of his degree program, Brien earned his commercial pilot certificate, with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and certified flight instructor certificate. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He served as an artillery officer, and then as an intelligence officer until 1987. He then enrolled at Wake Forest University Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1990. He became a partner at the law firm of Dean and Gibson in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he practiced in the areas of insurance defense, coverage litigation, aviation accident cases, and insurance fraud cases.

He later served as Vice President and General Counsel for Spitfire Aviation, Inc., until returning to Logan, Kansas, in 2003 to open a solo practice law firm. Brien is married to Lynette Stockman, and they make their home in Logan. Between them, they have four children, Cole Archer, Lane Archer, Erin Archer and Riley Stockman.

Brien joined the Hansen Board of Trustees in 2016. Cy was born on the family farm near Severance, Kansas, but spent his career as a banker and part-time farmer in Northwest Kansas. He is a graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in Animal Husbandry with a rural banking option, and the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking as well as the National Trust School at Northwestern University.

Cy put his education to work at the First National Bank of Phillipsburg where he served in a variety of positions, including chairman of the board. Cy and his wife, Gladys, are involved in multiple organizations in the community. Cy joined the Hansen Board of Trustees in 1994.

Originally from Norton, Robert has spent much of his life in Northwest Kansas. Following graduation from Norton High School he attended the University of Kansas, where he received a BS in Business Administration and Accounting. He passed the CPA exam in 1985 and the Certified Financial Planning exam in 1993.

He retired as the Executive Vice President of Baird Oil in Logan, where he worked for more than 25 years. In 2015, he moved from Logan to Hays. He has been a member of the Hansen Board of Trustees since 2004.

Robert has two daughters, Anne and Kathryn. Warren was born in Oakley, and spent his early childhood on a farm near Winona. He later moved to Russell, where he attended school and graduated from Russell High School.

He earned his accounting degree at Kansas State University. He worked for four years for Arthur Young & Company in Wichita, specializing in oil & gas accounting and taxation.

In 1978, he became the CFO of a small publicly-held oil and gas exploration and production company in Dallas, and then held a similar position at Ferrell Companies, Inc., a Kansas City based company involved in oil and gas, real estate, banking, manufacturing, financial services and propane distribution. He became President and CEO of Ferrellgas, Inc. in 1985.

In 1991, Warren worked in the investment field and also served on a number of boards including many public, private and foundation boards across several different industries. Warren never lost his attachment to Northwest Kansas. In 1992, he purchased a ranch northwest of Russell and in 2013, he and his wife, Angela moved to the ranch permanently.

They have 2 sons, David and Gunner. Carol is a sixth-generation Logan resident. She was born on the family farm just south of Logan and graduated from Logan High School.

She spent more than 20 years in the Denver area where she raised her family, worked as a decorator for a Christmas store (she loves Christmas!) and ran a successful doll business. In 1993, she returned home to Logan, and in 1996 married Dane G.

(“D”) Bales, Jr. “D” was the great-nephew of Dane G. Hansen and a Trustee for the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Following a battle with Leukemia, “D” passed away in 1998. In 2000, Carol was appointed to take his place as a Trustee. In addition to her service to the Foundation and many other organizations, Carol spends time visiting her three daughters, Teresa, Stephanie and Christina and their families.

Doug grew up in Quinter, but spent his summers on the family farm in rural Gove County. Following high school graduation, he attended McPherson College where he received his BS in Accounting. He became a CPA and worked briefly for the Internal Revenue Service before joining the former Kennedy and Coe, and later Poore, Dameron and Associates.

In 1990, Doug returned to operate the family farm, settling in WaKeeney with his wife, Laurie, and their children, Lauren, Julia and Jackie. In 2013, Doug became a member of the Hansen Board of Trustees. In addition to his family life, farming and his work as a Trustee, Doug also enjoys being a mentor to area business owners.

Born and raised in Colby, Kansas, Erin joined the Foundation in April 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kansas State University. She started her reporting career with the Parsons Sun and was part of the reporting staff for the Salina Journal for 10 years.

Erin and her husband, Randy, live in Salina. They are proud parents of sons Brady, Graham and Reece. Betsy joined the Foundation in November 2015.

Previously, Betsy spent 15 years as the President of the Greater Salina Community Foundation and 15 years as the Director of Marketing for Salina Regional Health Center. She has a BA in Theatre and Secondary Education with a Journalism minor from the former Marymount College in Salina and an MA in Communications from the Wichita State University. Betsy and her husband, Ben, live in Salina.

They have three terrific sons: James, Bob and Chris. A native of Logan, Kansas, and a graduate of Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a degree in Accounting, Jesse has worked for the Hansen Foundation since 2014. Raised in Palco, Kansas, Mickie has been with the Hansen Foundation since 1976.

He is a graduate of Fort Hays State University where he earned his degree in Accounting. Mickie and his spouse Glenda, live in Logan and have four sons and two daughters. Theresa has been with the Foundation since 2014.

A native of Logan, Kansas, she graduated from North Central Kansas Technical College with a degree in Executive Secretary. A native of Hoisington, Kansas, she has lived in Logan since 2014. Kyra received a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from Fort Hays State University.

She has worked for the Hansen Foundation since 2014. Born and raised in Washington, Kansas, Courtney attended Kansas State University and received a degree in Ag Business. Courtney moved to Logan in 2007 and has been with the Hansen Foundation since 2012.