Making Your Passion Your Purpose

THE STORY OF SCOTT & MARY JANE CHAPMAN

All throughout our rural communities, amidst the constant rush of life's demands, reside leaders who strive to pass along thier traditions and values, while leaving thier communities a little better than they found them. Parents, teachers, business owners, and nonprofit volunteers, all have sotries that serve as a shining testament to the power of giving back.

Meet Scott & Mary Jane Chapman, a couple whose belief is that you don't have to have a ton of money, a specific talent, or loads of time to make a contribution to your community. You just have to have the desire to make a difference and the dedication to make it happen.

Scott and Mary Jane both grew up in North Central Kansas, Scott in Beloit and Mary Jane in Glasco. Their foundational desire to serve others is represented not only in their current and past philanthropic contributions but in their career choices as well. Scott, a retired post-secondary teacher and extension agent, and Mary Jane, a retired nurse, have spent the majority of their lives teaching and serving others.

Scott, who worked with Parks & Recreation to create the Beloit Community Garden, and whose passion for agriculture has led him to serve on multiple community and state-wide boards and committees, is a living testament to his belief that anybody can make a difference simply by finding out what their passion is and making it thier purpose. When asked what advice he would give to others in the community Scott responded by stating, "What you do in a way of support or volunteering doesn't have to be grandiose. Little thing you are able to do can build and create great impact." One such example can be found in his desire to establish a community garden that has created a ripple effect extending far beyond seeds and soil. It has served as an opportunity for collaboration and provided an outlet for his passion and horticultural expertise.

A zinnia plot provides fresh flowers for community and church members and a backdrop for wedding and engagement photo shoots. Likewise, a potato plot he helps to plant every year, provides children from the nearby Early Learning Center with an exciting field trip and a chance to dig up produce and learn where food comes from.

Mary Jane herself is no stranger to philanthropic work. Her experience as a nurse and seeing the widespread effect of cancer firsthand led her to initially become involved with MCHHS and Mitchell County Relay for Life. From there she attended Leadership Mitchell County, eventually going on to serve as an Advisory Board member, Curriculum committee member, and Alumni Committee Chair. However, arguably her most notable and longstanding accomplishment could be her role in, and vision for creating a summer kids program where children not only receive nutritious meals but also build friendships, life skills, and a sense of community.

Summer Kids Cafe recently celebrated 10 yeas, and Mary Jane, a founding board member, remains an integral part of the program. When asked if she could recall a specific memory or story that deepened her connection to what Summer Kids Cafe represented she responded by saying, "I absolutely know what that memory is , I will never forget it," she went on to explain, "when we first created SKC it was solely based around providing meals to hungry children. The first year we had estimated we would serve on average 75 kids, however, we were only seeing at most 20 show up. When I asked one of the kids where everyone was I was told there were a lot of children who would come but didn't have a way to get there because they didn't own working bikes and did not have the means to repair or replace them. It broke my heart, no child should grow up in a community such as Beloit, KS, and not have the ability to ride thier bike around town.

The very next year, Summer Kids Cafe started offering free bike repair. Volunteers would salvage parts from the local dump, and community members started dropping off donated bikes that could replace those that were unrepairable. It was at the point the committee realized Summer Kids Cafe is so much more than food! It's an opportunity for kids to be kids, to feel loved and accepted, and to provide other community members a chance to get involved.

Not only do the Chapmans continuously give of their times and their talents, but of their resources as well. Scott and Mary Jane are annual Solomon Valley Community Foundation Match Month donors as well as Legacy Society Members. Two endowed organizational funds, one benefiting Leadership Mitchell County and the other benefiting Summer Kids Cafe, were initially established by Scott and Mary Jane. When asked Mary Jane explained, "Both Scoot and I felt it was a worthwhile commitment to organizations that we are passionate about. It was a plan for thier future in hopes that one day those organizations would be self-sustaining."

The Chapmans recognized that establishing an organizational fund within the community foundation provided multiple benefits to each organization including long-term sustainability, professional fund management, tax benefits, legacy building, and most importantly community impact. Another selling point that Mary Jane referenced, was the ability to build both endowed and non-endowed pools of money so that the organizations could stay flexible in unexpected situations.

When asked to reflect on thier philanthropic contributions and what they hoped their legacy would be, both Scott and Mary Jane expressed a feeling of gratitude and a desire for others to be inspired and to feel the satisfaction that comes with giving of yourself. Mary Jane explained, "What you give, you get. The satisfaction we receive far outweighs what we give in time or money and that's a reality we hope others will be inspired to pursue."

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