JUST RELEASED
Commemorating 50 Years of Empowering Children & Families
Rainbows: 50 years of empowering children and families documents the history of the agency from the very beginning. Linda Weir Enegren shares her memories alongside many board members, staff, families and volunteers. It’s a book you will want to read cover to cover.
50 Year Celebration
We’re celebrating Rainbows’
50th Birthday
There’s something special about a birthday, especially for children. The party, the candles, the cake, and getting to share all of that with those who are special to you: that’s why we’re celebrating Rainbows’ 50th Birthday all year long in 2022. It’s our chance to celebrate with our employees, the children and families we serve, our Board of Directors and the communities we provide services to each and every day.
Celebrating 50 years has been so much fun!
#50YEARs50days
Social Media Campaign
In honor of Rainbows’ 50th Birthday, we’re sharing past photos, family stories, memories, and more over 50 days on our social media channels. You might even see someone you know!
Highlight: Day 1
Highlight: Day 4
Highlight: Day 13
Highlight: Day 17
Download your FREE copy of the “I DIDN’T WANT TO BE A BOTHER, The Incredible Story of Proctor Ritchie”
Want to read a hard copy? Visit Wichita Public Library and check out a copy.
50 year seal
We were honored to partner with local design agency Gardner Design and have a fun new 50th Birthday seal to use along with our logo this year. You’ll find this milestone mark already in use on our website, our stationery and many of our materials. If you look closely you’ll also note that our tagline for the year reads “50 years of empowering children and families.” We believe this tagline embodies the last 50 years and provides inspiration for the next 50 years.
Commemorative book
Our Board of Directors initiated the creation of a commemorative book documenting Rainbows’ history. A local writer is interviewed donors, staff, and friends of Rainbows, both past and present, to craft a beautifully written and designed keepsake in honor of Rainbows’ humble beginnings and continued dedication to children with special needs and their families. We are excited to have the book the beginning of November. You can order you copy here.
Community celebration
The community, families, employees, and Board members celebrated Friday, June 24 at one of Wichita’s newest gathering spaces: Wind Surge Stadium. This event provided fun for everyone touched by Rainbows throughout the years. Families had opportunities to share success stories of their children throughout the years, employees reconnected and most of all thank you to donors and the community for their support.
Limited edition apparel
Our online store features new apparel items sporting the milestone logo and tagline, now available through our website. We’re excited to offer a unique range of items to commemorate this birthday milestone year. You’ll find everything from polos to onesies and bags to hats available for purchase here.
Visual historical timeline
With so many milestones, we wanted to highlight them in a visual format. Here’s a look at our historical timeline. It’s wonderful to look back and see how Rainbows has grown through serving 5 children with multiple disabilities in the basement of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church to 98% of services delivered in the community or family homes to more than 4,230 children birth through age 21 annually. That means nearly 62,000 children received services in the last 50 years.
On this visual timeline, you’ll see when services were added, how numbers of staff and children served grew, as well as several locations Rainbows has been in over the years. It’s a trip down memory lane for many and an historical account of an amazing evolution for others. A solid, strong foundation for what is to come.
Share your Rainbows’ story
Do you have a Rainbows’ story to tell? We’d love to hear how Rainbows’ services impacted your child’s life and your family, or funny stories you tell over and over again about your time working at Rainbows or serving as a volunteer. We want to hear them all. Reach out to us on social media, by email Meastman@rui.org or phone 316.258.9014 to Michelle Eastman, Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
You can read Megan’s story here.
You can read Sophia’s story here.
You can read Zane’s story here.
You can read Laura and Leo’s story here.
You can read Peter’s story here.
You can read Sam’s story here.
You can read Brayden’s story here.
You can read Brandon’s story here.
You can read Billy’s story here.
You can read Alex’s story here.
Ways to give
Honor Rainbows 50th birthday by donating here. No amount is too small to help make a difference in a child’s life!
We’ll be sharing photos from the past on Facebook and Instagram all year long with stories of children who have received services throughout the years. It’s quite a celebration and we’re so happy you can join us!
