Example: Youth-serving agencies merge to better serve children in need
Two longtime Lawrence, Kansas-based organizations that provide housing and other services to children in need decided to become one entity.
Board members of the two agencies mulled over the decision for a year, and decided to merge in order to make both organizations’ efforts stronger and more sustainable over time. “Both organizations are great in and of themselves in terms of what they offer to families. We are excited about making a difference and really being able to do that in a bigger way,” said the current executive director of the O’Connell Youth Ranch. The merged organizations have long had similar missions, and will now be able to better serve youth with use of the joint resources, and will no longer be competing for grants.
“The staff of both agencies will each combine their unique skill sets to provide the services necessary to serve the needs of the young men and women we seek to serve,” said O’Connell Youth Ranch Board President John Rathbun. “The Lawrence community is blessed to have these two agencies join forces to combine their energy and resources.”