Heartland Community Foundation
The Heartland Community Foundation is honored to announce a $25,000 donation from Emprise Bank in Hays to the Pete Felten Legacy Fund, established to preserve and honor the life, work, and lasting artistic impact of renowned sculptor Pete Felten.
The Pete Felten Legacy Fund was created by a group of Pete’s friends, fellow artists, and community members to support the preservation of his studio, the care and documentation of his artwork, and long-term planning for a future museum, gallery, and sculpture garden that will share his work with the public. Pete was aware of and supportive of this effort prior to his passing in February. The fund is not endowed, allowing contributions to be used immediately as next steps take shape.
The group’s first priority is addressing critical repairs to the studio, beginning with replacing the roof to secure the space and protect Pete’s artwork and materials. In addition to financial contributions, the project has received pledges of in-kind support and other charitable gifts as momentum continues to build.
“We are so grateful to everyone who has donated so far,” said Mick Jilg, a friend of Pete’s and a volunteer supporting the effort. “We plan to use this gift and the money raised so far toward roof repairs. If we don’t protect the building, we risk losing what’s inside.”
Emprise Bank’s leadership gift provides early momentum and signals strong community support for the long-term vision. The group said they are deeply grateful to all donors and Emprise Bank for this generous investment in preserving Pete’s legacy and hope it will inspire other donations.
Donate to the fund here:
https://gscf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=11726&sorg_id=1039.
Charitable contributions to the Pete Felten Legacy Fund are welcome at any time, including cash gifts, IRA charitable distributions, appreciated stock, and gifts of artwork. The fund is administered by Heartland Community Foundation, providing professional charitable oversight and support. It is also easy to set up recurring donations.
Additional updates about the project will be shared as planning continues.
For further inquiries, please reach out to Sarah Meitner, HCF executive director, at 785-621-4090 or heartland@gscf.org. To learn more about the Heartland Community Foundation, make a donation to one of our managed funds, or apply for a grant, please visit www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org. Stay updated on our latest news, grantee stories, and featured funds by following us on Facebook at @HeartlandCF.