Garnett Kansas steps forward to support The Kansas Sampler Foundation

ONE DAY LEFT TO BID...and the short story behind the bid

BID FOR A FUN TIME AND TO SUPPORT  

The chance to bid for a two-night getaway in Garnett, Kansas will end July 23 at 2:15 p.m.  The auction bid button can be found at www.kansassampler.org.

The Garnett Getaway auction item is being housed on E-bay and is the first auction item being used to fundraise for the Kansas Sampler Foundation.

Six months ago, the Foundation put out a call for creative day trip packages.  Foundation director Marci Penner said, "We wanted to come up with a fundraising method that would support our mission to preserve and sustain rural culture.  The idea was that communities or attractions would come up with out-of-the-box, mind-boggling ideas and we would promote the offering to the global online community through the E-bay auction format.  In the end, someone would receive a great Kansas package, the Foundation would receive much-need funds, and Garnett would gain great exposure."

The Garnett Getaway package includes two nights for four people at a George Washburn-designed bed-and-breakfast, an aerial tour of Anderson County, meals at local restaurants, shopping certificates, and tickets to a local dinner theater.  The highlight is a backyard personal concert for 24 friends plus hors d-oeuvres and other amenities.  The package value is $5,000.

The Kansas Sampler Foundation was founded in 1993.  It is funded primarily by memberships, income earned from Foundation projects, speaking engagements, and private donations.  In 2009 the Foundation also received a $50,000 grant from the Kansas Travel & Tourism Division to develop a rural tourism program.  The two employees are Penner and WenDee LaPlant.  Verna Lee Penner volunteers every morning to handle the bookkeeping and membership.

Some projects of the Inman-based non-profit include the 8 Wonders of Kansas series, the Kansas Sampler Festival, the Kansas Explorers Club, the Kansas Guidebook for Explorers, Rural Kansas: Come and Get It, the We Kan! Conference, and ongoing networking and communication on behalf of rural communities.  Director Marci Penner's statewide journey in the early 2000s led to the focus on the small town grocery store issue.  New projects in the works include a focus on recognizing and empowering 21-39 years olds who are rural by choice and an 8 Wonders of Kansas book. 

Click here, to bid.