Flapjacks for Philanthropy to benefit Heartland Community Health Center

LAWRENCE — An area nonprofit organization that provides health care for about 10,000 underserved people in the Lawrence area is the beneficiary of an annual pancake-feed fundraiser at the University of Kansas School of Engineering.

Flapjacks for Philanthropy is set for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 29, at Eaton Hall. Money raised from the event will go to Heartland Community Health Center, which provides a safety net for those unable to afford health care. The Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program coordinates the event.

“The Fellows get so much from the SELF program and the community, so we know it is important to give something back,” said Hannah Kovarik, a sophomore in mechanical engineering and organizer of the Flapjacks event. “All the money we raise stays here in Lawrence, so it’s a good way to benefit the community.”

Tickets are available for $5 in advance and can be purchased from any SELF Fellow or in the School of Engineering Dean’s Office, or $6 at the door the day of the event. The pancakes are served by Chris Cakes. Sausage links, orange drink and coffee also are provided. Organizers hope to raise $4,000 this year.

This is the seventh Flapjacks for Philanthropy event. Previous beneficiaries include DCCCA, GaDuGi SafeCenter and Just Food. More than $12,000 has been raised for charity through the effort.

The SELF program is a leadership enrichment program for students in the engineering school. It strives to build skills in leadership, entrepreneurship and communication in an effort to help graduates become leaders in business and industry.