The Skidmore Foundation presents money annually to local organizations. In years past, multiple local clubs, schools, and organizations have benefited from funds realized from the Skidmore Foundation trust. The Skidmore Foundation history is as follows (the short version): Lindon Q. Skidmore was in the oil business and a “mover and shaker” in his time. Contemporaries and friends included most of the leadership of Kansas City for decades beginning in the 1920s. Those friends included folks like President Harry S. Truman and Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle. Bill Sisney (Kyle Sisney’s father), Clinton, was Mr. Skidmore’s executive assistant for many years in Kansas City. The U.S. Navy Veteran had the unusual experience of accompanying Mr. Skidmore to business, governmental and social occasions where the “movers and shakers” gathered and made decisions on the future of the Kansas City region.
Mr. Skidmore set up a foundation trust where he directed that, after his death, Mr. Sisney was to determine how the interest realized from the trust was to be allocated; he asked that it be allocated to deserving organizations and groups of which Mr. Skidmore would have approved.
For years, Mr. Sisney carried out the wishes of the late Mr. Skidmore and after Mr. Sisney’s passing, the legacy is continued by his son Kyle Sisney and his wife Cari.
As with years past, the recipients were recognized collectively. This year’s recipients were: Clinton Friends of the Park, $20,000 (represented by Paula Huffman and Brad Combs); the Golden Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation, $8,000 – earmarked for the GVM Radiation Oncology Center (represented by Sarah Duncan); Seeds of Faith Preschool, $25,000 (represented by Amber Hansen); Big Brothers and Big Sisters, $15,000 (represented by Bret Miller); Clinton Main Street, $15,000 – earmarked for the Clinton Police Department (represented by Detective Paul Abbott and Officer Cody Hodges); and the Clinton Christian Academy, $30,000 (represented by Robin Ritchie.
