The Pando Initiative

Each year The Pando Initiative partners with the Wichita State University School of Social Work to provide a practicum placement for WSU students to gain real world experience. This field education program offers a unique opportunity to work in a Pando program alongside a Student Support Advocate. We are proud that many Pando former practicum students go on to hold meaningful and impactful positions in social work, including school districts and even as Pando Student Support Advocates. Welcome 2024-25 Pando Practicums!

For the third year in a row, our staff are competing for the best decorated PandoKids space. Check out the 8 schools competing this year!
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BY liking, sharing, or commenting on your favorite! We will count the votes on Tuesday, Sept 3 and announce the winner on Sept 4th!

Stanley Elementary School
Vermillion Elementary School - Maize, KS
Hamilton Middle School
Pray-Woodman Elementary
Maize Central Elementary School
Franklin Elementary
Wichita High School North USD 259
Lawrence Elementary

Here we go! Bringing real life skills to students across Kansas, the Pando way!

Shoutout to two very special Pando people in this photo who received recognition from Planeta Venus at the 2024 Latino Award Dinner!
Congratulations to Sandra Sanchez, Pando's Student Support Advocate at Wichita High School North USD 259 for being honored with the Difference in Education Award!
And congrats to Alex Ibarra, Pando Board Member, honored with the Business Development Award!

Pando's annual Board Retreat was today, graciously hosted and fed lunch by Wichita State Sport Management! 💚 So many great community minds coming together to ensure that students are thriving, the Pando way!


Left to right: Matt Gardner-Cargill, Patrick Sehl-Reality U, Alex Ibarra-JP Weigand & Sons, Inc., Karen Blucher-Pando, Sarah Nienke-Capitol Federal, Alexandra Urbina-Wichita Public Schools, Sherri Hamilton-Grant Thornton US, Rosemary Lesser-Airbus, Karl Hesse-Foulston Siefkin LLP, Shelley Gillen, INTRUST Bank, Tim Link-Link Resource Group, Lisa Elliott-INTRUST Bank, Brandon Brungardt-Hutton, Gina Evans-Credit Union of America, Niki Childers-Pando, Kenya McConico-Pando. Not pictured: Taylor Robertson-McCownGordon Construction, Ryan Potter-Koch Engineered Solutions, John Regier- Loyd Group LLC, Jacob Bentley-Reality U

Thanks to the Apartment Association of Greater Wichita for these great back to school supplies! And LOOK at those f***y packs; the kids are going to be stylin' this year! 😎 They collected school supplies AND essential items, to ensure that our PandoKids have what they need both at home and in the classroom to make this a successful year! 💚

They say “do good and people will stay”. But here at Pando we do good BECAUSE our people stay! 💚
Celebrating some stellar staff that have helped make Pando what it is today, and have ensured that countless students are thriving!
Janelle Durham, Prairie Elementary - USD 261- 10 years
Sandra Sanchez, Wichita High School North USD 259- 5 years
Jane Gaulding, Derby North Middle School- 10 years
(Not pictured)
Karen Blucher, Senior Director of Programs and Operations- 15 years
Shannon Shields, Controller- 5 years

We’re so grateful for the Kiwanis Club of Derby, KS!👏🏻Thanks to their generous donation, The Pando Initiative can keep helping students succeed the Pando way. Community support like this makes all the difference! 💚

Pando is hiring a Student Support Advocate for Maize South Elementary in the Maize USD 266 district.
Apply HERE! 👉https://www.indeed.com/job/student-support-advocate-pando-initiative-0f8f87107a50e767

Pando is hiring a Reality U Coordinator!
Work alongside Patrick and Jacob as they travel throughout the state of Kansas, bringing our financial literacy program to over 17,000 students this school year!

Check out the position here:
https://www.indeed.com/job/reality-u-coordinator-d9322bd5e562d1af

Woodlawn United Methodist Church is back at it again this year, providing supplies for Derby Public Schools to head back to school! A few of Pando's Student Support Advocates from Derby schools picked up their supplies earlier this week. This is just a fraction of the items that were provided!
Thank you Woodlawn UMC for helping Derby students thrive!

AFTER PARTY! 🎉

This year Cooking for a Cause at the Kansas Star Casino will host an after party featuring Dueling Pianos Road Show, an award winning act from Denver! All sponsorship and ticket sales include entry to the after party, so get your tastebuds and dancing shoes ready for November 9th!
To purchase a ticket or sponsorship, visit bit.ly/Cooking24

A very sweet announcement coming tomorrow! Let's just say that we've been DUELING with ourselves for teasing you so much.

2 days until a very GRAND announcement! We are so excited we want to give you a hint:

Even though we will be at the Casino, the KEYS to this surprise are all talent, no luck.

Do you like to eat? 🍽️
Silly question, everyone does! You won’t want to miss this exciting announcement about something NEW at Cooking for a Cause 2024.
Stay TUNED!

Happy Happy birthday to our very own Marketing and Community Relations Director, Daniel Morford!!!

We are so lucky to have you on our Leadership Team.

A big Pando hug from us to you!!! 🎉🎉

Pando is excited to introduce our new incoming Executive Director. Please help us give a warm Pando welcome to Nichole "Niki" Childers! 🎉

Niki has spent the last 20 years of her career in education and nonprofit work, most recently as Sr. Director of Strategic Growth & Corporate Initiatives with Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG). She also serves as an adjunct lecturer at Wichita State University in the Organizational Leadership and Learning Program.

Welcome, Niki, we are so glad to have you join the Pando family!

Check out this sweet note from a parent of a PandoKid! 💚 we can’t wait to see August when school starts back up again! This is why we do what we do, because we love seeing students thrive!

Congratulation to the class of 2024, especially the PandoKids from Derby High School, Wichita High School North USD 259, and Wichita West High!
Pando aims to help ensure students graduate high school and are ready for the next step in their lives. 94% of PandoKids graduate high school!
🎓

We closed the book on year two of ‘s Pando Literacy Initiative at and ! 24 volunteers from CUA met with students each month to practice reading, and this week they surprised every student in each school with a brand new book so the students can continue to work on their reading over the summer! 📗💚

We closed the book on year two of Credit Union of America’s Pando Literacy Initiative at Oaklawn Elementary and Cooper Elementary! 24 volunteers from CUA met with students each month to practice reading, and this week they surprised every student in each school with a brand new book so the students can continue to work on their reading over the summer! 📗💚

What better way to celebrate the end of the school year than with Pando office Olympics?! The competition was fierce, medals weren’t solid gold, and a surprise gift from our Board Members! Thanks to our Student Support Advocates for another great year!

While we wait for the rest of the film to develop, here are just a few of our STAR Students enjoying the STAR Awards! Photo dump coming soon! ⭐

We think tomorrow is the perfect time to honor Pando's shining STARS at Crown Uptown Theatre, don't you?!
48 PandoKids will join the exceptional list of students who have been honored for the past 28 years.
Thank you to all those who are helping our STARS shine:
Presenting Sponsors- INTRUST Bank & US Logo, Inc.
Red Carpet Sponsors- Cargill, Thrive Restaurant Group, & Walmart Derby - N Nelson Dr
District Sponsors- Credit Union of America, Hutton, Kansas Surgery and Recovery, & United Teachers of Wichita
Box Office Sponsors- IMA Financial Group, Inc., Quantum Credit Union, & Vision Care Direct
All of the generous School Sponsors!
Delicious lunch providerd by- Heart of Country Catering
Red Carpet coverage by- Julia Thatcher & Eddie Randle
Photography by PhotoMoto, provided by The Muscle Mechanic Wichita LLC
Special Guest Emcee- Tim Hamblin from Wichita Public Schools
And many, many others!

And last, but definitely not least, our STAR Students from Middle and High Schools in Wichita Public Schools! Thank you to our district sponsor, United Teachers of Wichita, and to our individual sponsors listed below!
Congrats to all of our amazing STARS!


Aniah & Precious - Curtis Middle School, sponsored by East Heights UMC Women in Faith
Jeasias - Hadley Middle School, sponsored by Quantum Credit Union
Tandalynne & Echo - Hamilton Middle School, sponsored by Quantum Credit Union
Sebastian & Tamara - Pleasant Valley Middle School - USD 259, sponsored by Bradley Dyer, Jr.
Calvin & G'Cora - Truesdell Middle School, sponsored by Hew & Judy Goodpasture
Danielle & Maria - Wichita High School North USD 259, sponsored by St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral - Wichita, KS
Heaven & Mahogany - Wichita West High, sponsored by Mel & Susan Hussey

Are you ready for our STAR Students from elementary schools in Public Schools?! Congrats to these STARS! And thank you to the District Sponsor, United Teachers of Wichita, and the individual School Sponsors listed below!

Adrian & Danna - Cloud Elementary School, sponsored by Barbara Coats
Aubrielle & Romina - Colvin Elementary Usd259, sponsored by Phil & Judy Frick
Hayley & Rayna - Franklin Elementary, sponsored by Josh & Sherri Hamilton
Esmeralda & Shirleah - Harry Street Elem WPS, sponsored by Sarah Nienke
Anthony & Treasure - Val Jackson Elementary, sponsored by St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral - Wichita, KS
Armoni & A'Veah - Jefferson Elementary School, sponsored by Karl Hesse
Amontez & Liberty - Lawrence Elementary, sponsored by Tim Link
Kyra & Suzy - Stanley Elementary School, sponsored by Rosemary Lesser
Dustin & Zavian - Rea Woodman Elementary School, sponsored by Rosemary Lesser

Congrats STARS!