Improving lives ... one act of kindness at a time. That is the motto of the Frances Claussen Charitable Foundation.

The foundation, which provides assistance to residents in need in Ellsworth County and surrounding communities, plans its second annual benefit dinner and auction from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Ellsworth American Legion.

“We established the Frances Claussen Charitable Foundation in 2023,” said Dawn Dolezal, Frances’ daughter. “My mother passed away in 2020. Just because she passed, we didn’t feel like that should be the end of her giving spirit.”

Dolezal said her mother was a simple person, yet faced so many difficulties of her own.

“I don’t think she ever realized the impact that she had by the every day acts of kindness that she did,” Dolezal said.

The foundation’s first benefit dinner and auction was in 2023 and raised more than $30,000.

“It was highly-successful,” Dolezal said. “We had tremendous community support.”

Because of that, the foundation’s board of directors decided to conduct a second benefit dinner and auction.

“We had folks who attended last year who asked us throughout the year if we were going to do it again,” said Kelvi Place, Frances’ granddaughter. “With the overall turnout and attitude of the night, we felt like we couldn’t not have one this year because it was just so greatly received.”

The Aug. 24 benefit dinner and auction will feature a roast hog dinner with sides and dessert for a freewill donation. The roast hog is being prepared by Michael Homeier. The sides are being prepared by the Family Career and Community Leaders of America group from Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School. They are also donating their time to serve the meal.

Live music will be provided by the band Third Degree Bern. The night will also feature a gun raffle and silent auction, plus various raffle prizes.

A few of the items up for bid during the silent auction include a four-day, three-night stay at the Lake of the Ozarks on the lake with a boat dock, a Patrick Mahomes autographed Kansas City Chiefs football jersey, tickets to a Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers football game, an autographed KU basketball, a picture autographed by KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self, an autographed K-State football, four tickets to a Kansas City Royals baseball game, beef bundles and homemade quilts.

Raffle items include chances to win restaurant gift certificates and gift baskets.

“We have something for all ages and probably all price ranges,” Dolezal said.

All proceeds from the event will benefit families and residents in need in Ellsworth County and surrounding communities.

Dolezal said the foundation couldn’t do what it does without the support of the community.

“Our goal is to provide assistance and improve lives to those in Ellsworth County and surrounding communities,” Dolezal said. “That sounds very broad, doesn’t it? However, there are so many people that fall between the cracks. Some folks may be facing financial problems, other may be facing health struggles. Some may be dealing with emotional or mental struggles. Others may be facing a completely different type of struggle. Therefore, the foundation does not stipulate that assistance must be for this type of issue or that type of issue.”

In 2023, the foundation assisted area residents in several ways, including providing assistance to an individual needing a mobility device that was not covered under any insurance or disability plan, providing utility payments for individuals who were facing health struggles and unable to work, helping with funeral expenses in an unforeseen death circumstance, providing monetary assistance to individuals with a major illness and sponsorship at the Rebecca Morrison House in Salina to allow family members to stay expense-free near Salina Regional Health Center.

“We really did cover a wide range of assistance,” Place said. “It wasn’t just focused in one area.”

“We did reach out to the Ellsworth County Ministerial Alliance and to the schools to see what needs there were,” Dolezal said.

With the help of community members, the foundation also provided approximately 90 Thanksgiving meals to area residents and provided a pizza lunch to residents at the Good Samaritan Society in Ellsworth.

Pizza, as well as time spent listening and conversing, was also provided to some students at Kanopolis Middle School who were without one or more parental figure and who were facing struggles and needed a positive influence in their lives.

“That was greatly-received as well,” Place said.

Dolezal and Place said all of the community support shown to the foundation makes them feel both humbled and grateful.

“We’re glad we can do this for other people,” Dolezal said. “My hope and personal goal for the Frances Claussen Charitable Foundation is to become a household name in Ellsworth and surrounding counties, much like Dane G. Hansen. Will that take five years, 10 years, 20 years? I don’t know.

However, all things must have a beginning, and the foundation’s beginning has been well-supported by the community, and for that, we are extremely thankful.”

Dolezal said while she understands the pressure to donate to groups and individuals is constant, the foundation is committed to giving back to individuals in need in Ellsworth County and surrounding communities.

Those wishing to donate to the Frances Claussen Charitable Foundation can do so by reaching out to any board member directly. They are Dawn Dolezal (785) 658-7094, Curtis Dolezal (785) 658-5340, Colby Dolezal (785) 658-5741, Ryan Peschka (785) 531-1047 and Kelvi Place (785) 472-1029.