November 26, 2025 • 12 mins
We share how the Sunflower Children’s Collective supports kids facing trauma, instability, and court involvement across Riley, Geary, and Pottawatomie counties, and why healing requires steady relationships and time. With grant dollars shrinking, we introduce Champions of Hope, a two-week, captain-led fundraising push that turns creative micro-events into counseling and advocacy.
• mission and role of the Sunflower Children’s Collective
• scale of need across the region serving 500+ children
• impacts of instability on learning, trust and development
• trauma-informed counseling for PTSD, anxiety and attachment
• partnership with Andrews and Associates for on-site care
• funding gaps from lost grants and planning ahead
• Champions of Hope two-week fundraising window
• examples of easy-to-host, high-impact events
• how neighbors can spot concerns and call for guidance
• misconceptions about quick fixes and timelines for healing
Champions Of Hope: Become A Captain Or Start A Team Between February 14–28. Call 785-205-2970. Celebration On March 12 At The K-State Alumni Center. More Info At Sunflower Children’s Collective.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Philanthropy today is brought to you by the Greater
(00:02):
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on News Radio KMAN.
We return on the GMCF CommunityHour here on News Radio KMAN.
John Poulson is our next guest.
He is the development directorfor the Sunflower Children's
(00:24):
Collective.
And John, welcome to your firsttime on the show.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'm glad to be here.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (00:30):
Tell me about your role there.
My role is to help share withthe public, make them aware of
what's going on at the SunflowerChildren's Collective, and also
to help with raising funds tomeet some of the needs that we
have with this group.
How did you get started in this?
Basically, um through some folksthere that work, some employees,
(00:53):
I was um offered the opportunityto help them.
Um I have done some developmentwork before and from different
organizations.
And um, so I had the opportunityto work with uh Sunflower and to
share the mission of the um theprogram uh to the public and to
donors and to thank Stuart, do alot of stewardship things, but
(01:14):
also looking at newopportunities to um share the
program and to raise funds.
I think everybody's looking forsomething new, aren't they?
Absolutely.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (01:23):
Before we got started, we talked about, you
know, how difficult it is tofind a something unique and be
something that's effective andrewarding.
Right.
Rewarding from several differentperspectives.
Obviously, you know, when you'rein the fundraising world, you
want it to be financiallyrewarding.
Right.
Um, there's just so many things,you know.
Everybody has fundraisers.
(01:44):
We're blessed in this town.
We've got so many people wholove to give, that love to
participate, that love tovolunteer.
Right.
You know, and I feel like we'reunique in that way.
Maybe that's just myperspective.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But when you have anorganization that deals
specifically with kids and kidswho are in a troubled situation,
correct.
That really tends to pull someheartstrings.
(02:06):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (02:06):
Exactly.
Exactly.
And that's what we do.
We work with children who are uhwho are in very difficult
situations in their lives.
And uh especially they facethings uh with trauma and family
issues and problems.
Um, and and that's where we comein to try to help these kids.
Um and in fact, last year, Dave,we saw over 500 children, uh,
(02:30):
not just in the Manhattan area,but all over um the Riley
County, um, Geary County, um,Pottawatomie County.
We meet a lot of families andkids trying to help them uh to
get their lives back in order.
So that's what we try to do.
SPEAKER_01 (02:45):
You know, you got a great story to tell because
you're making an impact on kids.
Right.
A positive impact on kids andfamilies because the work is not
just about the kids, but it'salso making sure that the
families have thatparticipation.
Right.
Because, you know, I think mostof us are, you know, when I
think primarily about SunflowerChildren's Collective, and it's
(03:08):
more than what CASA was.
Correct.
And so now you become more of agroup effort.
Correct.
And you're attacking the wholeas opposed to just trying to
help the child in in a difficultsituation.
And it's you know, of all thevolunteer things that are
available out there for peopleto do, it's got to be one of the
(03:29):
most challenging to be a CASAvolunteer.
SPEAKER_00 (03:32):
Oh, exactly.
Exactly.
Because you have so much goingon that's changing with these
kids a lot and the families.
Um you've got kids who um uh II've seen it several times
because I'm a substitute teacherum in the middle school, and
I've seen kids moving uh notjust out of the city, but they
move from one home to another,or they're moving from different
(03:54):
areas, and that put I can seethe stress on the kids because
now moving again to anotherplace, or they're moving from
father to mother, or they orthey have uh our new foster
home.
And so it puts so much stress onthem that it it hurts them
developmentally.
Um it certainly withrelationships with other adults
or even with their own peers, itputs a stress on them.
SPEAKER_01 (04:16):
I think a lot of people don't realize the
transient nature of many ofthese young people's lives and
how oh my goodness, that's justgotta be challenging.
It is.
And you know, and obviously, youknow, you have scenarios where
things aren't good.
Right, right.
Wherever they may be.
(04:37):
It may be with a parent, it maybe with any number of things
that uh a kid is troubled.
Right.
Goodness gracious.
Well, let's talk a bit about um,you know, the the collective in
its entirety and in 2026 whatthe future what the future
holds.
And there's obviously, you know,we talked with Carla about this
in the previous segment about uhsome financial uncertainty and
(05:00):
grant monies, whether they areavailable to you or not, and you
don't know what that future is.
So how do you plan for that?
SPEAKER_00 (05:07):
Well, one of the things that we're trying to do,
Dave, is to is to look at otherways to be able to raise money.
Um, because obviously we'rewe're another organization that
is is losing some grant moneythat we have been using for the
past several years.
And so uh we're looking at anopportunity to raise funds by
having the public join us in aspecial project that we have.
(05:30):
And this project was really notnovel, it's nothing new.
This was started by anorganization in Topeka called
Lighthouse.
And Lighthouse had this idea toraise funds through getting the
public to help form teams.
And they have captains and haveteams to raise support for
Lighthouse.
(05:51):
And they did it in such a uniqueway that this is their fourth
year into it now.
And they do it by um a team ofpeople, maybe two guys, two uh
two women, uh, men and women,maybe a married couple, will
want to host or do somethingspecial to raise funds.
For example, uh there was a manum in Topeka that had a monthly
(06:14):
poker party, and he got all hisbuddies together and said, for
one month, the the money thatwe'd play in for our poker is
going to go to lighthouse.
Another guy um held a bourbontasting party with his buddies,
and they they bought the bourbonand everything, and that all
that went to the um thelighthouse.
(06:35):
And then two women had a movietrivia night, and it was during
the Academy Awards, you know, orsomething like that, where they
were having fun with that aswell, but they were raising
funds through it.
And then one man had a dunktank, and he charged people to,
and then he got his buddies tosit on the chair, and they raise
money for.
So this is called this is whatLighthouse uses is.
(06:56):
So we've borrowed their idea andwe've called it champions of
hope.
And so we're looking forcaptains, people who are willing
to help come up with an ideathat they would like to do to
help raise money.
Now, here's the kicker with itit's only for two weeks, it's
only a two-week time frame, atwo week time frame frame to do
all of these events, yep.
You know, in that time period.
(07:17):
Or they could they can do it ifthey want to do it in early
February, they could, but it wereally would like them to do it
between February 14th and the28th, and then it's over.
That's all it is.
And then we're gonna have acelebration on March 12th over
at the K-State Alumni Center tocelebrate the the you know the
captains and the teams and whatthey've done.
(07:37):
And Topeka said they've grownevery year with this, you know,
for more.
They've raised more money,they've had to raise more teams
to it.
So that's what we're gonna dothis year.
It's called Champions of Hope.
And if your listeners areinterested and would like to
consider wanting to be a captainand joining us, um, it's very
simple.
(07:57):
All they can have to do is callum Sunflower at 785-205-2970,
and we'll get them theinformation they need.
And then in early December,we're going to have a captain's
meeting.
So just kind of review and shareideas and thoughts like that.
SPEAKER_01 (08:16):
So I'm intrigued.
Yeah, it's kind of interesting.
My mind is rolling here becauseuh there's a lot of things I do,
you know.
SPEAKER_00 (08:22):
Yes, I know.
SPEAKER_01 (08:23):
So yeah.
Goodness gracious.
It's kind of fun.
We'll have to talk.
Yeah.
Okay, so let's talk a bit aboutuh, you know, the there's the
financial aspect, you know,we're all doing fundraising.
We're all, you know, and andthere's a constant need.
You know, Girl Green Match Dayis obviously a big day.
And uh, you know, everyorganization has events that
(08:44):
they're doing.
Right.
Um let's talk a bit about someof the hardships that some of
these kids are being faced with.
And you know, and you know, thefinancial aspect of what you do
as an organization, especiallyin light of losing some grant
dollars, which is frustrating.
Everybody's everybody's dealingwith that.
And so it's going to beincumbent upon us as members of
(09:06):
the community to to really kindof make sure that these efforts
can continue because it'simpactful.
Right.
You got kids that have beenabused, neglected.
unknown (09:19):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (09:19):
They're they're they're horror stories.
Yeah.
And we probably have all heardthe horror stories because
you're helping them.
Right.
How how can people help try toget them their lives back on
track?
SPEAKER_00 (09:33):
Well, I think I think one thing that they could
do um if if they sense thatthere are problems uh that they
see, whether it's across thestreet with a child or uh people
in school or things like that,is they can certainly call
Sunflower, okay, and ask.
Um, and and we can help them getwith advice and how to counsel
(09:54):
and to work with that.
Um, but most of it is we workwith with people, with kids who
have through the courts,oftentimes, um, and and help
them uh with counseling,providing opportunities to be
able to meet with other peopleto try to help these kids
through um the issues thatthey're going through.
(10:15):
A lot of our emotional or orpsychological traumas, anything
from anxiety to depression toPTSD, attachment disorders,
trust issues.
These are the things that welook at and work with, these
kind of things.
Uh there are developmentaldelays that disrupt uh trauma
that can disrupt uh braindevelopment, leading to learning
(10:36):
challenges.
These are all these kind ofissues that we face with kids.
And then because of it, there'sa lot of instability, which
we've already talked about.
Um but these are things thatthat we face and we work with
every day.
And um and I know that thepublic sees it oftentimes, um,
and um just knowing that we'reavailable to help if if they
(10:57):
would need it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:59):
Great.
We have limited amount of time.
Sure.
Misconceptions about SunflowerChildren's Collective that uh
you wanted to try to clear uptoday.
SPEAKER_00 (11:08):
Um I I think one of the misconceptions um that that
people think um that sometimesthe things that we do is very
quick to re to change.
You know, we have the themedicine that can handle this
real fast.
And it takes a long a lot oftimes it takes a long time.
It's not an easy fix.
(11:29):
It is not, and so we we we workwith that.
Second, we work, like I saidbefore, we work with many
different, not just Manhattan uhchildren, we work with children
throughout the area.
We're a regional area, not justuh in the city of Manhattan.
So we we see a lot of people,and obviously if you're seeing
(11:50):
over 500 kids, that's a lot ofkids.
500?
Over 500 kids last year.
Oh my goodness.
Yeah, over 500.
And you know, and and one of theone of the new things that by
the way that we've done is we'vebeen able to um use Andrews and
Associates.
Um, and we actually have in ouroffices here um three uh
(12:11):
counselors that come in from AntAndrew Andrews and Associates to
help um work with kidsindividually.
And so that's a new thing thatwe've done as well.
John, we're out of time.
Great.
This has been terrific.
Champions of Hope.
Right, Champions of Hope.
SPEAKER_01 (12:26):
Okay, and do you have some information about that
on the website?
Yep, we sure do.
Okay, that website is SunflowerChildren's Collective.com.
Correct.
Delight to have you in.
Thanks for the work that you'redoing on behalf of the
collective and and best wishesto you and happy holidays.
Yes, happy Thanksgiving to you.
Yes, thank you.
All right, the GMCF communityhour is continuing after the
(12:47):
break.
Jaina Yukurzenko is coming in totalk about things that are
happening in the community, andwe got a lot.
We got a lot here on News RadioKM again.
Philanthropy today is brought to you by the Greater
(00:02):
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on News Radio KMAN.
We return on the GMCF CommunityHour here on News Radio KMAN.
John Poulson is our next guest.
He is the development directorfor the Sunflower Children's
(00:24):
Collective.
And John, welcome to your firsttime on the show.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'm glad to be here.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (00:30):
Tell me about your role there.
My role is to help share withthe public, make them aware of
what's going on at the SunflowerChildren's Collective, and also
to help with raising funds tomeet some of the needs that we
have with this group.
How did you get started in this?
Basically, um through some folksthere that work, some employees,
(00:53):
I was um offered the opportunityto help them.
Um I have done some developmentwork before and from different
organizations.
And um, so I had the opportunityto work with uh Sunflower and to
share the mission of the um theprogram uh to the public and to
donors and to thank Stuart, do alot of stewardship things, but
(01:14):
also looking at newopportunities to um share the
program and to raise funds.
I think everybody's looking forsomething new, aren't they?
Absolutely.
Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (01:23):
Before we got started, we talked about, you
know, how difficult it is tofind a something unique and be
something that's effective andrewarding.
Right.
Rewarding from several differentperspectives.
Obviously, you know, when you'rein the fundraising world, you
want it to be financiallyrewarding.
Right.
Um, there's just so many things,you know.
Everybody has fundraisers.
(01:44):
We're blessed in this town.
We've got so many people wholove to give, that love to
participate, that love tovolunteer.
Right.
You know, and I feel like we'reunique in that way.
Maybe that's just myperspective.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But when you have anorganization that deals
specifically with kids and kidswho are in a troubled situation,
correct.
That really tends to pull someheartstrings.
(02:06):
Right.
SPEAKER_00 (02:06):
Exactly.
Exactly.
And that's what we do.
We work with children who are uhwho are in very difficult
situations in their lives.
And uh especially they facethings uh with trauma and family
issues and problems.
Um, and and that's where we comein to try to help these kids.
Um and in fact, last year, Dave,we saw over 500 children, uh,
(02:30):
not just in the Manhattan area,but all over um the Riley
County, um, Geary County, um,Pottawatomie County.
We meet a lot of families andkids trying to help them uh to
get their lives back in order.
So that's what we try to do.
SPEAKER_01 (02:45):
You know, you got a great story to tell because
you're making an impact on kids.
Right.
A positive impact on kids andfamilies because the work is not
just about the kids, but it'salso making sure that the
families have thatparticipation.
Right.
Because, you know, I think mostof us are, you know, when I
think primarily about SunflowerChildren's Collective, and it's
(03:08):
more than what CASA was.
Correct.
And so now you become more of agroup effort.
Correct.
And you're attacking the wholeas opposed to just trying to
help the child in in a difficultsituation.
And it's you know, of all thevolunteer things that are
available out there for peopleto do, it's got to be one of the
(03:29):
most challenging to be a CASAvolunteer.
SPEAKER_00 (03:32):
Oh, exactly.
Exactly.
Because you have so much goingon that's changing with these
kids a lot and the families.
Um you've got kids who um uh II've seen it several times
because I'm a substitute teacherum in the middle school, and
I've seen kids moving uh notjust out of the city, but they
move from one home to another,or they're moving from different
(03:54):
areas, and that put I can seethe stress on the kids because
now moving again to anotherplace, or they're moving from
father to mother, or they orthey have uh our new foster
home.
And so it puts so much stress onthem that it it hurts them
developmentally.
Um it certainly withrelationships with other adults
or even with their own peers, itputs a stress on them.
SPEAKER_01 (04:16):
I think a lot of people don't realize the
transient nature of many ofthese young people's lives and
how oh my goodness, that's justgotta be challenging.
It is.
And you know, and obviously, youknow, you have scenarios where
things aren't good.
Right, right.
Wherever they may be.
(04:37):
It may be with a parent, it maybe with any number of things
that uh a kid is troubled.
Right.
Goodness gracious.
Well, let's talk a bit about um,you know, the the collective in
its entirety and in 2026 whatthe future what the future
holds.
And there's obviously, you know,we talked with Carla about this
in the previous segment about uhsome financial uncertainty and
(05:00):
grant monies, whether they areavailable to you or not, and you
don't know what that future is.
So how do you plan for that?
SPEAKER_00 (05:07):
Well, one of the things that we're trying to do,
Dave, is to is to look at otherways to be able to raise money.
Um, because obviously we'rewe're another organization that
is is losing some grant moneythat we have been using for the
past several years.
And so uh we're looking at anopportunity to raise funds by
having the public join us in aspecial project that we have.
(05:30):
And this project was really notnovel, it's nothing new.
This was started by anorganization in Topeka called
Lighthouse.
And Lighthouse had this idea toraise funds through getting the
public to help form teams.
And they have captains and haveteams to raise support for
Lighthouse.
(05:51):
And they did it in such a uniqueway that this is their fourth
year into it now.
And they do it by um a team ofpeople, maybe two guys, two uh
two women, uh, men and women,maybe a married couple, will
want to host or do somethingspecial to raise funds.
For example, uh there was a manum in Topeka that had a monthly
(06:14):
poker party, and he got all hisbuddies together and said, for
one month, the the money thatwe'd play in for our poker is
going to go to lighthouse.
Another guy um held a bourbontasting party with his buddies,
and they they bought the bourbonand everything, and that all
that went to the um thelighthouse.
(06:35):
And then two women had a movietrivia night, and it was during
the Academy Awards, you know, orsomething like that, where they
were having fun with that aswell, but they were raising
funds through it.
And then one man had a dunktank, and he charged people to,
and then he got his buddies tosit on the chair, and they raise
money for.
So this is called this is whatLighthouse uses is.
(06:56):
So we've borrowed their idea andwe've called it champions of
hope.
And so we're looking forcaptains, people who are willing
to help come up with an ideathat they would like to do to
help raise money.
Now, here's the kicker with itit's only for two weeks, it's
only a two-week time frame, atwo week time frame frame to do
all of these events, yep.
You know, in that time period.
(07:17):
Or they could they can do it ifthey want to do it in early
February, they could, but it wereally would like them to do it
between February 14th and the28th, and then it's over.
That's all it is.
And then we're gonna have acelebration on March 12th over
at the K-State Alumni Center tocelebrate the the you know the
captains and the teams and whatthey've done.
(07:37):
And Topeka said they've grownevery year with this, you know,
for more.
They've raised more money,they've had to raise more teams
to it.
So that's what we're gonna dothis year.
It's called Champions of Hope.
And if your listeners areinterested and would like to
consider wanting to be a captainand joining us, um, it's very
simple.
(07:57):
All they can have to do is callum Sunflower at 785-205-2970,
and we'll get them theinformation they need.
And then in early December,we're going to have a captain's
meeting.
So just kind of review and shareideas and thoughts like that.
SPEAKER_01 (08:16):
So I'm intrigued.
Yeah, it's kind of interesting.
My mind is rolling here becauseuh there's a lot of things I do,
you know.
SPEAKER_00 (08:22):
Yes, I know.
SPEAKER_01 (08:23):
So yeah.
Goodness gracious.
It's kind of fun.
We'll have to talk.
Yeah.
Okay, so let's talk a bit aboutuh, you know, the there's the
financial aspect, you know,we're all doing fundraising.
We're all, you know, and andthere's a constant need.
You know, Girl Green Match Dayis obviously a big day.
And uh, you know, everyorganization has events that
(08:44):
they're doing.
Right.
Um let's talk a bit about someof the hardships that some of
these kids are being faced with.
And you know, and you know, thefinancial aspect of what you do
as an organization, especiallyin light of losing some grant
dollars, which is frustrating.
Everybody's everybody's dealingwith that.
And so it's going to beincumbent upon us as members of
(09:06):
the community to to really kindof make sure that these efforts
can continue because it'simpactful.
Right.
You got kids that have beenabused, neglected.
unknown (09:19):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (09:19):
They're they're they're horror stories.
Yeah.
And we probably have all heardthe horror stories because
you're helping them.
Right.
How how can people help try toget them their lives back on
track?
SPEAKER_00 (09:33):
Well, I think I think one thing that they could
do um if if they sense thatthere are problems uh that they
see, whether it's across thestreet with a child or uh people
in school or things like that,is they can certainly call
Sunflower, okay, and ask.
Um, and and we can help them getwith advice and how to counsel
(09:54):
and to work with that.
Um, but most of it is we workwith with people, with kids who
have through the courts,oftentimes, um, and and help
them uh with counseling,providing opportunities to be
able to meet with other peopleto try to help these kids
through um the issues thatthey're going through.
(10:15):
A lot of our emotional or orpsychological traumas, anything
from anxiety to depression toPTSD, attachment disorders,
trust issues.
These are the things that welook at and work with, these
kind of things.
Uh there are developmentaldelays that disrupt uh trauma
that can disrupt uh braindevelopment, leading to learning
(10:36):
challenges.
These are all these kind ofissues that we face with kids.
And then because of it, there'sa lot of instability, which
we've already talked about.
Um but these are things thatthat we face and we work with
every day.
And um and I know that thepublic sees it oftentimes, um,
and um just knowing that we'reavailable to help if if they
(10:57):
would need it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:59):
Great.
We have limited amount of time.
Sure.
Misconceptions about SunflowerChildren's Collective that uh
you wanted to try to clear uptoday.
SPEAKER_00 (11:08):
Um I I think one of the misconceptions um that that
people think um that sometimesthe things that we do is very
quick to re to change.
You know, we have the themedicine that can handle this
real fast.
And it takes a long a lot oftimes it takes a long time.
It's not an easy fix.
(11:29):
It is not, and so we we we workwith that.
Second, we work, like I saidbefore, we work with many
different, not just Manhattan uhchildren, we work with children
throughout the area.
We're a regional area, not justuh in the city of Manhattan.
So we we see a lot of people,and obviously if you're seeing
(11:50):
over 500 kids, that's a lot ofkids.
500?
Over 500 kids last year.
Oh my goodness.
Yeah, over 500.
And you know, and and one of theone of the new things that by
the way that we've done is we'vebeen able to um use Andrews and
Associates.
Um, and we actually have in ouroffices here um three uh
(12:11):
counselors that come in from AntAndrew Andrews and Associates to
help um work with kidsindividually.
And so that's a new thing thatwe've done as well.
John, we're out of time.
Great.
This has been terrific.
Champions of Hope.
Right, Champions of Hope.
SPEAKER_01 (12:26):
Okay, and do you have some information about that
on the website?
Yep, we sure do.
Okay, that website is SunflowerChildren's Collective.com.
Correct.
Delight to have you in.
Thanks for the work that you'redoing on behalf of the
collective and and best wishesto you and happy holidays.
Yes, happy Thanksgiving to you.
Yes, thank you.
All right, the GMCF communityhour is continuing after the
(12:47):
break.
Jaina Yukurzenko is coming in totalk about things that are
happening in the community, andwe got a lot.
We got a lot here on News RadioKM again.
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Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.