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Welcome to MICOCF’s August Edition 💙

Greetings!

Welcome to our August newsletter! We’ve got some exciting updates lined up for you this month, including two powerful events you won’t want to miss. Plus, we’ve got a special recipe from Marilyn Cook, which has quickly become a family favorite and will surely warm your kitchen.

It’s Tammy Booe here, your Executive Director at MICOCF.

If we haven’t met yet, I’d love for you to check out this article that shares a little more about me and my journey to MICOCF. I’m so excited to get to know you all better and continue making a difference together!

 
Before we move on, I’d love to invite you to join the MICOCF family online. Follow us to share your thoughts, ideas, and be part of our growing community.

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I can’t wait to connect with you!

Let’s spread the Love 💖

Since stepping into this role, I’ve been blown away by the kindness and generosity of Miami County.

Y’all are amazing. This community is built on people who truly care, and that’s something worth celebrating.

Whether it’s a fun event, a great cause, or just a moment to connect, I want to make sure you have every opportunity to be part of the magic happening right here in our hometowns.

Check out this month’s spotlight events!

Match Day Celebration on September 27th

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Patterson Family Foundation, we have a unique opportunity to double every donation received during the month of September, up to $100,000. That means we have the chance to bring $200,000 into Miami County to fund local philanthropic projects that benefit everyone.

The Patterson Family Foundation, based in Kansas City, Missouri, is a foundation carrying the legacy of Neal and Jeanne Patterson. Their mission to work with, and help, rural communities thrive, includes grants and collaborative initiatives that serve rural counties across Kansas and western Missouri.

Tables are going fast, make sure to reserve your spot before they are all filled up!

REGISTER HERE

Event Details

What to Expect

This event is more than just a night of fun; it’s a community celebration where every dollar you donate will be matched, doubling your impact. Don’t miss your chance to contribute and celebrate all that we can accomplish together.

Stomp Out Suicide Walk & Cornhole Tournament

Join us for this year’s edition of the Stomp Out Suicide Walk, and work with us to lower suicide rates in our community and raise awareness on mental health. This initiative, started by Debbie McQuay in memory of her son Joshua, lost to suicide in 2010, is a chance for us to come together and make a real impact.

The funds raised will go directly toward providing schools in Miami and Linn counties with vital resources for suicide prevention and mental health education.

SOS Walk 2024
WALK WITH US

Event Details

Special Activities: Silent Auction, Butterfly Release, Bead Ceremony, Raffle, and Cornhole Tournament at 1:00 PM at Osawatomie City Auditorium

A Chat with the MICOCF President: Peter Murphy Lewis on Strengthening Community

Peter Murphy Lewis

” When I moved back to the United States after living in Chile for 15 years, I knew I wanted to reconnect with my roots and be an active part of my hometown community in Miami County, Kansas. I grew up in Osawatomie, partially in Paola. So when former board member Chris Toman asked me to help build out the foundation, I felt honored, not only by his invitation but by the chance to give back to a place that shaped me into who I am today, at least the better parts.

That spirit of connection runs deep in the foundation’s work. In a world where headlines often focus on outrage and division, a community foundation functions as a cultural bridge; redirecting attention to advocacy, generosity, and the real needs of real people. It’s especially powerful in small towns, where folks understand the gap between what’s really happening and what gets pushed out for clicks.

That’s what makes me proudest about what we do. This foundation in a small eastern Kansas county has opened space for honest conversations around issues that many communities still tiptoe around. We’re not afraid to name what matters, fund what works, and back the people doing the hard, often invisible work.

When I joined the board, I prepared myself for the usual challenges, but what I found instead was a humble, hardworking team that puts potholes and playgrounds before praise. Tammy Boo, our executive director, exemplifies this every day. Her approach to leadership is shaped by a deep commitment to service.

This foundation exists because communities don’t run on autopilot. If we don’t choose where we’re going, someone else, usually the loudest or richest will. The Foundation is how everyday people like teachers, farmers, business owners, can shape the future instead of sitting on the sidelines. That’s why I give my time, and it’s why I hope others give what they can too. You don’t need a statue built in your name. Start small. Reach out to Tammy. She’ll show you the real impact of showing up.

My vision for Miami County ten years from now is simple: I want our kids to want to come back. Not out of obligation, but because they see opportunity, belonging, and pride here. The Foundation is the engine behind that kind of future. It funds the bold, backs the overlooked, and keeps the heart of this community beating strong.

Personally, I’ve lived on three continents, started companies, lost them, started again. But Miami County is where I chose to plant roots. It’s a place where people still hold doors open, show up to town halls, and bring casseroles when life goes sideways.

Kansas, it turns out, has left its mark on all of us. A few years ago, I asked my wife, she’s from Chile, if she ever wanted to move somewhere other than Wichita. She said, “No. I love Kansas people.” That says a lot. This place is where my son is growing up. It’s where my parents now live, just seven blocks away, because I finally convinced them to retire nearby.

Tell you a fun fact about me? I once ran and won an ultra-marathon with no headphones, just me and 50 miles of Kansas dirt. Trained in Kansas. Won it in Oklahoma. And every step of it, just like my work with this Foundation, reminded me why I came back home. “

Mexicana Chicken: A Heartwarming Local Recipe from Marilyn Cook

Our recipe of the month is Marylin Cook’s Mexicana Chicken, an indulgent Mexican-inspired baked tortilla wrap chicken that has gotten the seal of approval from all of her sons.

Today, I’m thrilled to share a special recipe from Marilyn Cook, a long-time member of our Osawatomie community. Marilyn and her husband, Bob, have been part of this town since 1978.

Bob, a principal at East Elementary, and Marilyn, a second-grade teacher at West Elementary, raised three wonderful sons who now continue to give back to our community in their own ways.

Marilyn is always surrounded by kindness and generosity, and it’s no surprise that she’s sharing one of her family’s favorite recipes with us. As Marilyn puts it:

“This Mexicana Chicken has become a staple in our home. My sons can’t get enough of it!”

Whether you’re cooking for a small gathering or a big crowd, this dish always brings people together. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Prep the Chicken: Start by pounding each chicken breast to about 1/4-inch thickness. This helps it cook evenly and makes it easier to roll.
  2. Mix the Filling: In a bowl, combine the diced green chilies, chopped black olives, shredded cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and chopped onion. Mix it all together until it’s well combined.
  3. Stuff the Chicken: Divide the mixture into 6 portions. Take each portion and spread it in the center of a chicken breast. Then, roll the chicken up tightly, folding in the ends, and secure with a toothpick.
  4. Coat the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, chili powder, and cumin. Roll each chicken bundle in the butter mixture, and then coat it with crushed tortilla chips, pressing gently to stick.
  5. Bake: Place the chicken rolls seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and cooked through.

Serve and Enjoy: This dish pairs perfectly with a simple side like rice or a fresh green salad. It’s the kind of meal that brings everyone together around the table.

Stay Connected with Me and the MICOCF Family💙

I love getting to know more of you and seeing all the ways we can work together to make Miami County even better. Keep following along, sharing our updates, and letting me know what you want to see in future newsletters! We’re in this together, and I’m so grateful to be on this journey with you. 💖

Drop us a message, and we might just feature you in our next newsletter or social media!

Sending you all the love,

Tammy Booe
Executive Director, MICOCF 💕

Contact Me:Email: tammy.booe@micocf.org
Phone: 913-404-7287
Address: 702 Baptiste Dr, Paola, KS 66071, USA

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