Community Partner Awards

How We Will Identify Our Award Recipients

Sunflower Bank employees and other community members in qualified counties of Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Washington submit nominations for award consideration between July 28 - August 22, 2025:

• Organizations receiving the most nominations will be placed on an employee ballot
• Nominees receiving the greatest number of employee votes in each market will receive a corresponding award.

$15,000 Creating Possibility Award Recipient:

Upward Bound of Barton County – Great Bend, KS

Upward Bound of Barton County provides support to 60 high school students across Sunflower Bank communities to help them succeed before college, be prepared for college entrance, and excel in their higher education pursuits. Serving low-income students and those whose parents do not hold a bachelor's degree, the program provides instruction in math, science, composition, literature, and foreign languages. Upward Bound students have access to tutoring, mentoring, financial literacy education, and assistance with accessing Federal Student Financial Aid, as well as support for facing unique challenges such as homelessness or being in foster care. 

$10,000 Creating Possibility Award Recipient: 

Stout Street Foundation – Commerce City, CO

Stout Street Foundation is a non-profit organization serving the Denver Metro Area that provides long-term addiction recovery support in a safe, structured environment. SSF offers residential treatment using evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Relapse Prevention. Residents receive food, lodging, and treatment without reliance on municipal or federal funding. Emphasizing life skills, personal accountability, and workforce development, SSF helps residents transition back into the community with stable employment and a healthy lifestyle.