1 MIN READ
Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s Legacy of Support
The Epsilon Sigma Alpha Kansas State Council first started supporting Heartspring, formerly known as the Institute of Logopedics, in 1949.
Throughout the years, the projects may have changed, but their dedication has never wavered. These women donate their time, raise funds, and work tirelessly for the children of Heartspring.
Recently, the ESA KSC successfully raised their pledge of $30,000 to renovate our Treehouse — a state-of-the-art therapeutic, wheelchair-accessible playground on our campus.
At a celebration to congratulate the ESA KSC on their pledge achievement, Adam Berry, Vice Chair on the Heartspring Board of Directors, said, “I remember playing in treehouses at my grandparents' home growing up. Treehouses are a place you build a lot of independence as a kid.”
Jill Richards, former ESA KSC State President, shared her joy at seeing kids run around the treehouse as she arrived for the ceremony. The treehouse is an excellent reward and tool for our therapists to utilize in their sessions because the kids are so excited to play on it.
Explaining the treehouse’s origin, Richards said a few council members were on campus for a meeting and just thought the building exteriors weren’t particularly inviting. She suggested a treehouse, and after a few years and several thousand dollars raised to make it a reality, they accomplished their goal of making our campus more inviting and exciting for children.
When it came to why they continue to support Heartspring, Richards said, “You get to watch the kids grow up. It’s fun to see their gifts come out.”
At the beginning of our partnership, ESA KSC created the Emergency Service Action Fund which helped families send their children to Heartspring if they couldn’t afford it themselves. Mary Hill, an ESA KSC member present at the time of the fund’s creation, considers this to be the organization’s project with the greatest impact as it expanded the community’s access to our services.
Over the years, ESA KSC contributed to many initiatives on our campuses that allowed Heartspring to continue to innovate and expand. Their impact reaches across our history and the lives of the families their support helps us serve.
We’re so grateful for donors and organizations like Epsilon Sigma Alpha who support our mission to help children lead more independent lives.
