Banking on KC – Dionne Pleasant of Love Fund for Children
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Kelly Scanlon:
Welcome to Banking on KC. I'm your host, Kelly Scanlon. Thank you for joining us. With us on this episode is Dionne Pleasant, the executive director of Love Fund for Children in Kansas City. Welcome, Dionne.
Dionne Pleasant:
Thank you.
Kelly Scanlon:
Well, I'm so glad to have you here. I imagine that most Kansas Citians have heard of the Love Fund. I mean, it gets a lot of airtime there on Channel 4, but some people might or they might not know how it got started. So why don't you take us down that road? Tell us about the mission and the history of the Love Fund for Children and really how it's evolved since it was founded in 1981.
Dionne Pleasant:
Absolutely. It is such an amazing story that really highlights the generosity of Kansas City. So the Love Fund was founded in 1981 when a former anchor at the station, Cynthia Smith, was doing a segment on foster children and really learned about their needs and started sharing their needs with the Kansas City community.
It went over so well that became an ongoing series called Thursday's Child, which she featured a child every week. And what would happen is Kansas City would respond with gifts in excess of that child's needs. And so after about a year, the station was like, "Hold on."
Kelly Scanlon:
"We're onto something here."
Dionne Pleasant:
Yes. "We're onto something here, but this is also not our business." And so that is when, in 1982, all of the official paperwork was submitted with the IRS to get 501(c)(3) status and officially become a nonprofit organization that works to meet the needs of children in the area and those unmet needs. We really follow what was that path that was laid out back in 1981 by learning about very, very specific needs that children have and then working to fulfill those needs.
Kelly Scanlon:
Let's talk about some of those. When you talk about unmet needs in particular, what are you talking about?
Dionne Pleasant:
Absolutely. So we have a couple of different programs, and so what is coming up is actually our Back To School Supply Drive. And so that is just making sure that they are prepared for a successful academic year. We also have a very popular program called Sack it for Santa. And so these are holiday gifts, but specifically, when we looked around Kansas City, we realized that the unmet need was actually gifts for teenagers.
Kelly Scanlon:
Oh, now that doesn't surprise me.
Dionne Pleasant:
Well, I'm glad to hear you say that because I think that means people are really more open and kind of understanding to the trials and the hardships that are going on because there are so many teens who, if their household is having financial challenges, maybe they forego Christmas so younger siblings can have it, or they're at that age where they're old enough to understand that Santa is mom, dad, guardian and that they just don't have it.
And also, I think even folks who have just a really generous heart, maybe they go and pick something off that angel tree, but they really just want to enjoy chance in the toy department, which isn't really what those older teens want. So that's an unmet need. But really our longest-running program throughout the year is called Life Essentials. And so that's where we have folks throughout the community who will submit an application on behalf of a child for some basic things. This is clothes, beds, hygiene equipment, medical equipment and supplies, safety, baby items, things like that, that...
Kelly Scanlon:
Just everyday things most of us take for granted.
Dionne Pleasant:
Exactly, yes.
Kelly Scanlon:
How do you work with youth advocates and others throughout the community to identify the people who need these, the youth who need these, and then go about fulfilling those needs?
Dionne Pleasant:
Oh, absolutely. It is a true partnership. So we have what we call youth advocates, and these are folks in the community whose professional position allows them to really learn about a child's needs and be their advocate. They are the ones that come to us on behalf of a child. So we don't necessarily work directly with parents or guardians but with those youth advocates to fulfill that need.
But that also helps make sure there are some needs that we just can't fulfill. I mean, the need is huge in town. We do limit to things that directly impact the child. So knowing that they have that youth advocate in their corner helps to make sure that there's someone there making sure all their needs holistically are met, both the ones that the Love Fund can contribute to and some of the other things.
Kelly Scanlon:
So when you talk about youth advocates, are you talking about representatives of other not-for-profits or school or school professionals?
Dionne Pleasant:
They could be anywhere. So we have a lot of youth advocates who are educators. There are a lot of social workers who are placed within schools that are youth advocates, case managers. But it could also be a healthcare worker who really notices a hardship or clergy because their professional position allows them to hear about the troubles of their congregation or parishioners and be that advocate. So it can really be anybody in the community, from the afterschool care worker who might not have that master's degree in clinical social work but can still advocate for the child.
Kelly Scanlon:
And so you dispense, or you disperse the gifts or the items through those youth advocates and their organization, or they themselves make sure it gets to the children and the families.
Dionne Pleasant:
Absolutely, and that's a huge part of what we do because we realize that for many of these families, there are a lot of barriers, and we want to make sure that, within our process, we remove those barriers. So we try to make it as simple and easy application process.
We work through the youth advocates, as you said, to deliver because, for many, transportation is a problem, and we don't want that to be a hindrance to the child getting what they need. And so it's really helpful to work through those youth advocates for things like that and to really make sure we're making the biggest, most immediate impact in the child's life.
Kelly Scanlon:
And speaking of impact, I believe I saw a number around a quarter of a million children that you have served since this got off the ground. So what are some of the best strategies you've found to assisting those in need?
Dionne Pleasant:
Absolutely. You are correct. We have served 220,000 children since inception, and just last year, in 2023, we served 8,768 children. And so, really, some of those strategies is number one, as mentioned, partnering with those youth advocates and listening to the youth advocates because they are the ones that tell us about what that need is in the community because they're hands-on with it.
So that's how we learned about things like making sure to target those holiday gifts for teens, for example, or to say, "Okay, that gift back, it includes a fun gift, but it also needs to include some essentials." So it includes things like winter warmth items, so blankets, hats, gloves, scarfs. And so they're the ones telling us, "Hey, here's what children in our community are missing, and here's how the Love Fund can help."
We also do not have any income requirements or limits for our families. All the children that we serve are in families that meet one of three criteria. Number one, they're in a household facing a financial challenge. Well over 85% are below 100% of the federal poverty line, but not all. And that's by design.
Kelly Scanlon:
They might have a very acute need.
Dionne Pleasant:
Exactly.
Kelly Scanlon:
And so you still want to serve those folks. You've found that that works really well.
Dionne Pleasant:
Yes, and especially with a second audience for us, and that is children with disabilities. We know that that medical care and even some of the things you need that are not covered by insurance are really expensive and can be a hardship to families, and especially those families who are just hovering and barely getting by and might not qualify for other services can use the Love Fund.
And then our third group is those in a life transition. So that might be immigrants, that might be those fleeing domestic violence, looking to reset up a house and had to leave behind their bed, their clothes, needing to replenish hygiene items, or dealing with a fire. So those are really the three categories of children we serve.
Kelly Scanlon:
Do you get unsolicited items? And if so, what do you do with those?
Dionne Pleasant:
Absolutely. What we try to do is try to see, number one, if it's something that we could use because we don't want to take things we can't use. We'd much rather make sure it goes directly to an organization that can put it to immediate use. But some of the greatest items that we get are hygiene supplies are huge, bedding is big.
Kelly Scanlon:
Yes. Mm-hmm.
Dionne Pleasant:
Is very big. We have a partnership with Furniture Mall of Kansas that allows us to give a limited number of mattresses, frames, but we also still do provide mattress pads and even things that might be water resistant because we're working with children who may still wet the bed, for example. And so looking at those mattress patch sheets, comforters, blankets, pillows, things like that are great items to donate. Underwear, socks are also wonderful. We do have a requirement that makes us a little bit different from other organizations.
We exclusively provide new items, which is huge. We know that there are many places, different thrift stores, community closets, things like that where folks can go get some gently used items. But we really believe it's important to provide some new items because it gives a sense of pride and confidence. And there are some areas where we do even allow the families and the children to pick those items. So that's why for the clothing, for example, I was saying, "Well, we'll take socks and underwear, but we're going to allow them to pick the T-shirt that really shows their personality" because when you're working with kids all the way up to 18, that's important.
Kelly Scanlon:
Yeah, exactly. That self-expression.
Dionne Pleasant:
Exactly. And we want to foster that.
Kelly Scanlon:
Given the 220,000 children that you have served over the years, there have to be some stories that are really memorable. Can you talk with us about some of those?
Dionne Pleasant:
Oh, absolutely. There's stories that really just touch your heart. So, for example, in the past year, we've been able to help a single mother who was really proud, got into her own place but had five children and did not have beds for those children. And those children had never actually had their own bed because, sometimes, when you're with a large family, things happen. So we were able to get each of those kids their own bed, which is just huge and so exciting for the child. Another thing that was really exciting on kind of the opposite end of the spectrum for the older children is we heard from a school social worker who said, "We have these amazing children. They are ready to graduate, and they cannot afford their graduation fees."
And it was like when you have done all that work and planned and been so successful and are ready for that next phase of your journey. We were so excited to be able to help with those graduation fees and really propel them on into the future. Another example, and something that has become huge for us, is in the community all around you hear about the increase in children on the spectrum and the number of children being diagnosed with autism. We are seeing that in the requests that come to us for medical and sensory items. So things like weighted blankets, things like fidget toys, things that help with self-regulation are really huge. Even noise-canceling headphones, for example, are some of the requests that we get.
We also have a number of children who are prone to wandering. And so safety is one of the categories that we provide goods and services for. So this might be a GPS device, a wearable one, something that the child cannot easily take off that provides that safety and even that two-way communication if they were to get away. But it can also be things as gates and door locks for unreachable parts of the door, cabinet locks, and things like that that are those little fees that really add up when you need to proof your house so that the house child lives in is really designed to function for them wherever they are in life.
Kelly Scanlon:
So many things you've talked about here in just this short time together that we just wouldn't think about. I think some people would probably think about the socks and the underwear and maybe a toy at Christmas, but some of the things that you're talking about probably would never hit most people's radar.
Dionne Pleasant:
Yeah. Those are the expenses that many of our families, they are working, and they are budgeting, and they're using all that they can to keep the lights on, keep the food on the table, but it's those other expenses that it's for their babies, you know.
Kelly Scanlon:
Right. Right.
Dionne Pleasant:
And so it's a top priority, but it's still a struggle, and that's where we come in to help.
Kelly Scanlon:
I know you're fairly new to the Love Fund. You've been there since, I believe, September of this past year. So how did you wind up as the executive director?
Dionne Pleasant:
Well, it's an interesting story. I've actually spent my entire career working in nonprofit. I started actually in higher education. It was a passion for me to be able to help others achieve their educational goals, start off their career, but also do it in a way where they weren't stressed due to money and things like that.
And so, as much as I enjoyed that, I then took a pivot into healthcare, and so work for a local medical association and their foundation fundraising, which provided me amazing opportunities to still continue that work for medical students and residents, but also do some other things differently. So I got a chance to take a group of physicians on a medical delegation to Haiti, for example. So it was just a real great opportunity to really get out into the community, which is something I loved.
Just prior to joining the Love Fund, I was with the United Way of Greater Kansas City and just thoroughly enjoyed the experience and all that they are doing there to really help connect our community to our community resources. And so when this opportunity opened up to really work right in one of those resources that is just so pivotal for our city and for our children, I couldn't say no.
Kelly Scanlon:
So how can local businesses and community members get involved with the Love Fund to support your mission? I imagine you need donations.
Dionne Pleasant:
Absolutely. But there are a couple of ways that folks can donate. We are always looking for some of those in-kind donations, as some of the things that I mentioned earlier. But there are also ways for businesses, maybe if they want to have a drive for some of the employees to bring some of those items.
But businesses can also connect us with great people in the city that want to get involved. So many companies have their Emerging Leaders Program, or maybe even it's just that employee who's doing their annual review and says, "I want to get more involved in the community. I want to show my leadership in other ways." Well, we have a great emerging leaders group that might be the perfect spot for that.
Kelly Scanlon:
And tell us a little bit about that.
Dionne Pleasant:
Absolutely. It is a group of folks really kind of the mid to late 20s, early 30s, and they come, they help at events. They maybe help with some event committees and preparing. So understanding the strategy and the planning and helping keep it fun.
Kelly Scanlon:
Right. Right.
Dionne Pleasant:
Let's be honest. But they also have a good time doing it. So they might volunteer and then go out and have a drink afterwards together. So it's truly a network. And so it's opportunities like that that businesses can share with us some folks, and maybe we can be a little bit reciprocal and give them those leadership opportunities as well. I think there's also opportunities for individuals to get involved.
So, for example, for the month of July, we're partnering with Taco Naco, and they're doing a roundup, so it's a good opportunity to get friends, family girlfriends, go have a margarita, and do a donation back to support the Love Fund for Children. So, of course, we absolutely still need those financial gifts. We rely very heavily on those grants, those event sponsorships, tickets, and those outright donations as well. But we want folks to know that there are many different ways to get involved at all levels.
Kelly Scanlon:
You mentioned that a former anchor person, Cynthia Smith, got this started under another name and before it became a formalized program. So what is that relationship with the station like today?
Dionne Pleasant:
Oh my gosh. Fox 4 has just been wonderful and a blessing to the Love Fund. So we are still actually housed there today. And so for 40 years, they have provided us, in essence, a space rent-free there at the station. So we truly appreciate them, and this is in addition to all the marketing and publicity work that they do.
Kelly Scanlon:
Right.
Dionne Pleasant:
There is a station representative on the Love Fund for Children Board, but we are at a point where we are outgrowing that space there. So one of the things that we are looking for, and this is something in conjunction with the station, of course, is looking for a new space and a new home, a place that will allow us to bring in even more volunteer groups and give more of the community a chance to really connect and get hands-on with the work of the Love Fund.
Kelly Scanlon:
What are your future goals then for the Love Fund, and how do you envision expanding its impact, especially as you move to a new location and you're able to engage even further with the community?
Dionne Pleasant:
We really just want to be able to address those needs in the area. So we want to be able to kind of switch up our programs, switch up our offerings to be able to do that, and to really increase the support we have for the programs that we have today. They really are outstanding, and what we're noticing across the board last year, two of our programs, our Holiday Gift Program and the Life Essentials Program, we supported a record number of children, which sounds amazing until you realize that means had a record number of applications and really, really high need.
And so we are just looking to not only expand physically but expand financial gifts as well to really make sure that we can meet our vision, which is to make sure all the children in the area live a life without need. You asked a little bit about the relationship with the station, and one of the things that makes us really different is our service area. Our service area mirrors the broadcast area, which is over 30 counties. 37, I think, to be exact. So while we do a lot of work and the majority of our work, quite frankly, within our six-county metro area, we are a resource that can serve the more rural areas of our metropolitan areas. So that is something that that partnership with the station has allowed and that we can look at growing in the future as our organization grows.
Kelly Scanlon:
Dionne, thank you so much for all the work that you do and your staff and all of your volunteers do to make life a bit easier for the children of Kansas City. And thank you for coming on the show today. We appreciate that.
Dionne Pleasant:
Thank you so very much for having me. And if anyone is interested in getting involved, please visit our website, Fox, the number 4 lovefund.org, or you can email us at info at Fox, the number 4 lovefund.org. Thanks for having me.
Kelly Scanlon:
Thank you.
Joe Close:
This is Joe Close, president of Country Club Bank. Thank you to Dionne Pleasant for being our guest on this episode of Banking on KC. For decades, the Love Fund for Children has addressed the unmet needs of children in our community, from providing school supplies to holiday gifts and essential items for daily living. The Love Fund for Children significantly impacts the lives of many young people.
Their efforts ensure that children have basic resources during challenging times to help them thrive. At Country Club Bank, we believe in supporting organizations that make a tangible difference in the lives of Kansas City's youth. Organizations like The Love Fund for Children help ensure all children have the resources they need to thrive. Thanks for tuning in this week. We're banking on you, Kansas City. Country Club Bank member FDIC.