Big Lakes Developmental Center on the GMCF Community Hour Show Episode - 261

We sit down with new CEO Liz Holle to map how Big Lakes supports 175 adults with disabilities across four counties, where Medicaid ends, and community giving begins, and how smart tech expands independence without losing human touch. From vans to accessible bathrooms to a gingerbread-themed client party, we share how donors turn essentials into everyday dignity and joy.

• New leadership continuity and mission focus 
• Medicaid funding limits and budget realities 
• Annual giving campaign Big Improvement priorities 
• Statewide and internal waitlists and staffing constraints 
• Grow Green Match Day impact on vehicles and access 
• Community life through trips, errands, and events 
• Remote supports and safety technology adoption 
• Raise The Roof results and next facility upgrades

GMCF

CFAs

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Philanthropy today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on News Radio KMAN.
We are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour here on News
Radio KMAN.
This is the first time I thinkyou have you been on the show

(00:20):
before.

SPEAKER_01 (00:21):
One time with Lori.
This is my first time solo.

SPEAKER_00 (00:24):
But solo, and now you have the title with it.
Yeah.
She is Liz Hawley.
She is the president and CEO ofan organization that's near and
dear to my heart, Big LakesDevelopmental Center.
We've had a lot of fun togetherdoing a lot of things in the
past and continue to want to seea lot of great individuals

(00:44):
thrive with the assistance thatyou provide to Big Lakes.
And officially, I guess it'sstill, I mean, you've been in
the job for what, six months?

SPEAKER_01 (00:51):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (00:52):
Still congratulations on the new gig.

SPEAKER_01 (00:55):
Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (00:56):
There's like a window of a year.

SPEAKER_01 (00:58):
Yeah, I'm hoping that there's a went year of
grace.

SPEAKER_00 (01:01):
A year where people can say congratulations.

SPEAKER_01 (01:04):
Yeah, well, just uh of learning all the things, you
know, what I don't know yet.

SPEAKER_00 (01:07):
There's got to be a lot to do with that.
But you've been there for a longtime.

SPEAKER_01 (01:11):
I have.
And and Lori's still workingwith me and contracting with me
to help me, you know, learn allthe ropes, then thank goodness
for that.

SPEAKER_00 (01:17):
Well, there's a lot, especially on the financial
side.
Yeah, when you talk federal andstate dollars, not to mention
local things, that are there'sall kinds of grants, there's all
kinds of things that are outthere that that uh that's quite
a puzzle to put together.

SPEAKER_01 (01:32):
There's a lot of uh big changes happening as well on
the state level that will changehow we function.
So I'm really grateful to haveher to consult with.

SPEAKER_00 (01:40):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, she's done a remarkablejob.
And she's she's quite a galleyand she is.
Yeah, she's always got a smileand and a love for for the
mission of Big Lakes.
Well, let's talk a bit about uhthe giving aspect on the local
side.
You have an annual givingcampaign.
We do.
And because that's a very vitalpart of your financial makeup.

SPEAKER_01 (02:02):
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 (02:03):
So what are you doing here for this in 2025,
year number one, Liz Hawley?

SPEAKER_01 (02:10):
Uh so we have our annual giving campaign called
Big Improvement.
So it's kind of a play on thehome improvement show that yeah.
Um, so uh we have 17 grouphomes.
And uh, you know, if you're ahomeowner, you understand that
maintenance and and upkeep andthings can be uh challenging for
anybody that owns a home, and wehave 17.
So um our annual giving campaignis raising money for needed

(02:33):
updates and things to remodelhomes like flooring and
remodeling bathrooms to makethem more accessible, because we
support clients um from 18 allthe way through the rest of
their life.
So as our clients get um or arestarting to age, there's more
challenging things that happenwith supports and need for
accessibility as they age.
So uh we're raising money tohelp us um make all of those um

(02:55):
remodel projects.

SPEAKER_00 (02:56):
And you have what, six counties?

SPEAKER_01 (02:58):
Four.

SPEAKER_00 (02:59):
Four counties that you uh do this work in.
Do you have an idea of how manyindividuals you have that you
support?

SPEAKER_01 (03:06):
Yeah, so I think we're about 175 is uh how many
people we're supporting rightnow.

SPEAKER_00 (03:12):
There's always a waiting list.

SPEAKER_01 (03:14):
We there's there's a statewide waiting list, uh,
which is at uh I think around4,700 people in the state of
Kansas.
Um I think there's approximately125 or so in our four county
area that are waiting for forfunding for services.
We also have an internal waitlist um because staffing
challenges are are hard.
Um so we we're kind of maxed outon what we can who we can

(03:37):
support for staff with the staffthat we have.
So um we have a a wait list forpeople um once we have enough
staff, we'll open moreadmissions for more clients to
come in.

SPEAKER_00 (03:47):
You know, and one of the things is that you know,
every entity, and it doesn'tmatter if it's a nonprofit
organization like you, peoplethat are in the healthcare
world, retail, construction,every entity is having a
challenge in finding staff.
Right.
And you have to have someonewith a special heart to come to

(04:08):
work for it's not easy to be.

SPEAKER_01 (04:10):
It's pretty it can be pretty challenging and r s
absolutely rewarding.
Um, but it's it's not theeasiest job.
Um and and we um our fund ourMedicaid funding, um, 85% of our
funding is is Medicaid, and thatis what our our uh personnel
costs are, is about 85% of ourbudget.

SPEAKER_00 (04:28):
And with a lot of the things that are happening on
a federal level, has thatimpacted you?

SPEAKER_01 (04:33):
We don't know yet what that's gonna look like.
Um it kind of we have to there'sa lot of decisions that need to
be made at the state level tosee how that will impact us.

SPEAKER_00 (04:41):
So anything specific uh coming up with your annual
giving campaign?

SPEAKER_01 (04:47):
Uh just just really the the flooring is the first
project and then then um someand some bathroom remodels.
Then we're gonna be working onsome fencing.
So um you call you'll see somesocial media campaigns and
things out there that are justgonna be pretty fun with the
home improvement, you know, bigimprovement is the name of it.
But um, so it's it's a it's afun way to help us pay for
things that Medicaid um and ourour funding from the state and

(05:08):
federal levels don't don't payfor.

SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
I also know the Grow Green Match Day is a big day for
big lakes as well as you know ahundred other organizations.
And and there are a lot of folksthat say, hey, hold on, you
know, I'll write you a biggercheck here coming up on uh April
22, and and you know what thatbenefits you even more so.

SPEAKER_01 (05:30):
Absolutely.
And that's that's a great waybecause there's match dollars
with that with those donations.
So it's a way to maximize yourdonation.
And the success of last Aprilallowed us to uh purchase two
vans, a 15-passenger van and anadditional minivan.
So yeah, it was very successfulfor us.
And our our fleet is aging, soum helping with keeping our
vehicles running and havingoperating in reliable vehicles

(05:52):
is really important and helpful.
So uh only a handful of ourclients uh drive.
So being able to transport themis really important to how we do
services.

SPEAKER_00 (06:01):
And that and that's one of the things a lot of
people don't think about all thedifferent logistical things that
that are important for thesekids to come out and is it okay
to call them kids?
Do you call them kids?

SPEAKER_01 (06:12):
Uh I don't.
We call them clients.
Clients, okay, yes.

SPEAKER_00 (06:15):
Okay.
So a lot of these clients, youknow, they they have to
obviously be able to get there,but not just there, but you take
them to the grocery store,you'll take them shopping,
you'll take them to events, youknow, to a game or something
like that.
So those buses are busy.

SPEAKER_01 (06:30):
Absolutely.
Um I kind of think of our ourour day center as like a hub of
just constant coming and going,which is is pretty awesome to
see.
And then even in residential,um, that you know, we're going
to the Omaha Zoo, we're going toRoyals Games, we're going to the
grocery store, we're going tocommunity events, we're we're
trying to be in the community asmuch as possible.
So um, as well as the neededfunctions of going to the you
know, grocery store, going tothe pharmacy, going to any of

(06:52):
the places that you need to goto keep your life going.

SPEAKER_00 (06:55):
When you go to the zoo in Omaha, is that an
overnight stay or you go andvisit for three hours and then
come back?

SPEAKER_01 (07:01):
Yeah, they did, they made it in a day trip.
So it was pretty it was a reallyfun trip.
There's some pretty awesome uhpictures you can see of that on
social media.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (07:08):
Well, and that's one of the things it's fun to see
because I've gotten to know alot of these clients of yours.
And uh, you know, to see howthey are enjoying, you know,
they in a lot of ways, they livethe best life.

SPEAKER_01 (07:20):
Yes, right.

SPEAKER_00 (07:21):
And and it's because of, you know, you know, and and
I don't know what you know aboutthis, but my late wife's sister
was Downs.
Yeah.
And so that was really my firstclose-up contact with someone
who had a disability or, youknow, that would have qualified
for something like that.
And seeing the organization ofMcPherson that did things for

(07:42):
for them and how important thatis, and how these these
individuals live for thoseopportunities and that family
you create.
You I mean it's it's it's it'salmost like you're building an
entire world for them.

SPEAKER_01 (07:56):
Yeah, it's a it's a community.
It really is a community.
And and then the fellowshipbetween our clients is really
just awesome to see.
And even I've been there 18years, and so the things that
that they even care about me andchecking in about my kids and
and stuff just as much as I knowtheir families.
And um, it it really does feellike a family and just a
community of of good people thatit's it's pretty awesome to get

(08:17):
to work there every day.

SPEAKER_00 (08:18):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Well, let's talk about some somenew projects in the pipeline.
What you got cooking?

SPEAKER_01 (08:24):
So we are a part of a new uh project to uh start um
remote supports.
So it's a way to uh maximize ourstaffing resources to support as
many individuals as possible, aswell as um increase independence
and safety andself-determination.
So it's uh really doing someanalysis of what technology is
appropriate, what clients itcould really benefit.

(08:45):
Um, and then having staff thatcan kind of monitor these
sensors and different umdifferent types of technology to
help maximize how we're able tosupport them and help them to be
more independent without uhstaff having to be necessarily
there with them all the time.

SPEAKER_00 (08:59):
How's the technology in the last few years changed
the work you do at Big Lakes?

SPEAKER_01 (09:04):
Uh it's it's amazing.
You know, there's um, forexample, with our our some of
our staffing resources, um we wehave a home that we were trying
to see if we needed a somebodyto hire to stay awake all night,
which is a very challengingposition to fill.
And we were able to use uh ringcameras where we have a staff
working at another locationthat's working overnight that

(09:24):
can um kind of chime in, uh getin on the camera and talk with
the clients and then wake up thestaff that's there on premises
sleeping if they need to.
But it's able to kind of helpsupport all of the people that
that are needing support um in achallenging time, you know, and
as well as all the technologythat's come into um, you know,
uh uh sensors for your bed towake you up if you are hard of

(09:47):
hearing, for example, andthere's a fire or an alarm to
help wake you up, sensors forhot water, uh making sure that
it um it's not scalding hot.
There's all kinds of things likethat.
So it's it's pretty cool what wecan do.

SPEAKER_00 (09:58):
One of the cool things that you get to do is
your client parties.
Absolutely.
Do a couple of these every year,and I've been a part of those
for a really long time, and Iand just always so much fun.
One of my favorite things to beable to do, and you have your
annual client party coming uphere in a couple of weeks.

SPEAKER_01 (10:14):
Yes, yes.
So we have um a client steeringcommittee that help inform me on
on ways that to best serve themand everything we're doing.
And and so they make a lot ofchoices.
And this year they've picked thetheme for uh gingerbread house.
So the whole workshop will looklike a gingerbread house, and
that's pretty fun.
And we'll have a catered mealand a dance.
And if you ever get a chance tocome to a dance at Big Lakes,

(10:35):
our clients just dance with fulljoy, like no one's watching, and
it is the most fun experienceyou could have.

SPEAKER_00 (10:40):
Aaron Powell Almost makes me jealous that they could
they they could do that.
Well, everybody else is justlike, oh, I don't want them to
see me doing it.
We should all be more like that.
No, no kidding.
Yeah.
No kidding.
But that's just one of the greatfun things that you get to do
for those clients.
And it's a it is a blast,absolutely a blast.
Well, you got your raise theroof campaign.
Seems like that.
That's going to be like aneternal thing for you because

(11:01):
you know there is that need forfacilities.
So anything new there?

SPEAKER_01 (11:05):
Yeah.
So uh we we closed out ourfundraising part of that.
We were successful in raisingover$2 million, which was our
goal.
So that that was really amazing.
Um, and we just replaced an HVACunit, and we're getting ready um
in the next month to have one ofour main breakers replaced.
And uh we are in a planningprocess for figuring out all of
the remodeling that we need todo on our interior uh day center

(11:28):
and and uh main office.
So that's the the next phase ofthat campaign.
And we're really just gratefulto everyone that's contributed
to that to make that possible.

SPEAKER_00 (11:36):
Yeah.
Well, hey, thanks for coming in,visiting us and bringing us up
to date.
And I and you know, and I I wishour listeners could see the
smile on your face, you know,and and that's consistency that
carries over from Lori over toLiz, keeping the L thing going.
That's a little bit of laughterand lighthearted approach.
How about that?
Yeah.
We'll continue with a lot of L'sin in in the world here, but but

(11:59):
it it shows that you love whatyou do and it conveys to the
people that you work with, uh,not only staff, but also those
clients that uh need thatassistance.
So thanks to everybody and MerryChristmas, happy holidays to
everybody, and have fun with allthose gingerbread men.

SPEAKER_01 (12:16):
Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 (12:18):
Our next break, uh, or our next guest, Kent Foster
and Victor Steiner, will bejoining us on behalf of the
Manhattan Kiwanas Club.
This is the GMCF Community Hour.
We do this every Monday morningat 10 here on News Radio KMAN.