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Kaylie McLaughlin
Kaylie McLaughlin
Olathe News
1 min. read

Olathe’s holiday fundraiser hits milestone: $2M collected

Money from the 2022 Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund was distributed to the partner charities at the beginning of 2023.
Money from the 2022 Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund was distributed to the partner charities at the beginning of 2023. Photo via Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund on Facebook.

The Olathe community surpassed a major fundraising threshold for its annual Mayor’s Children’s Fund philanthropic effort during the 2023 holiday season. 

At the final Olathe City Council meeting of 2023, Mayor John Bacon announced that the fundraiser has now raised more than $2 million combined over the past 17 years. 

It was a $8,250 donation from the Olathe Community Prayer Breakfast Committee that put the all-time raised amount over the milestone, Bacon added. 

The fundraiser is an Olathe holiday staple

Former Mayor Mike Copeland started the fundraiser officially in 2007, calling it the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund  — a nod to a fundraiser the Olathe Noon Optimists had previously organized for decades. In 2020, the name changed to the Olathe Mayor’s Children’s Fund, according to the website. 

Each year, the fundraiser aims to raise about $150,000 for charities focused on supporting children in Olathe with meeting their basic needs. 

“No child should wonder whether the power will be on tonight so they can get their homework done, and no parent should have to pick between providing their children critical medical care or paying rent,” Bacon wrote in a letter to the community.

“I know we have the heart and the resources to take better care of our children. … Because every child in Olathe deserves the right to reach their full potential,” his letter continues. 

Olathe Police Chief Mike Butaud at the annual Eggstravaganza fundraiser in November 2023. That fundraiser is one of the biggest charity events that helps support the Olathe Mayor's Children's Fund each year.
Olathe Police Chief Mike Butaud at the annual Eggstravaganza fundraiser in November 2023. That fundraiser is one of the biggest charity events that helps support the Olathe Mayor’s Children’s Fund each year. Photo via Facebook.

In 2023, 14 charities were beneficiaries. They are: 

  • The Olathe Public Schools Foundation
  • Angel Clothing Foundation
  • Kids TLC
  • Life Journey Foundation 
  • Mission Southside
  • KVC
  • The Boys and Girls Club of Greater KC
  • Health Partnership Clinic
  • El Centro
  • Johnson County Christmas Bureau
  • YMCA
  • The Center of Grace
  • Catholic Charities
  • Starfish Project

Looking ahead:

  • Bacon said during the December city council meeting that the city plans to host a celebration of the milestone. 
  • He said it would take place sometime in February. 
  • At that time, the fundraiser board will also distribute the raised funds to the charities selected as beneficiaries for 2023. 

Keep reading: Golden Scoop accepts $10K donation at Overland Park tree lighting

About the author

Kaylie McLaughlin
Kaylie McLaughlin

? Hi! I’m Kaylie McLaughlin, and I cover Overland Park and Olathe for the Johnson County Post.

I grew up in Shawnee and graduated from Mill Valley in 2017. I attended Kansas State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2021. While there, I worked for the K-State Collegian, serving as the editor-in-chief. As a student, I interned for the Wichita Eagle, the Shawnee Mission Post and KSNT in Topeka. I also contributed to the KLC Journal and the Kansas Reflector. Before joining the Post in 2023 as a full-time reporter, I worked for the Olathe Reporter.

Have a story idea or a comment about our coverage you’d like to share? Email me at kaylie@johnsoncountypost.com.

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