About VJ Wilkins
VJ Wilkins
Our Mission is “to assist the Arkansas City and Cowley County, Kansas community in providing a quality cultural environment of Arts, Music, Language and other endeavors.”
VJ was born August 27, 1921, to Morris Wilkins and Nola (Beam) Wilkins. She moved to Arkansas City at the age of 9 from St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1939. VJ was a very active and involved member of numerous organizations and clubs in the community and at First Presbyterian Church of Arkansas City. She loved to travel, attend shows, sing in the church choir, and play golf. Her love for her hometown is evident in the legacy she left us with her Foundation.
Our Founders & Trustees
The V.J. Wilkins Foundation is a private foundation created by Ms. Wilkins with the assistance of local attorney Otis W. Morrow. Ms. Wilkins served as a member of its initial Board. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees, including Ms. Wilkins’ cousins, James and David Wilkins, both of Denver, CO, and local businesswomen Karen E. Zeller, Jennifer L. Munson, and Tasha Bucher. The foundation distributes grants annually, with applications due by August 1st and funding awarded around December 1st.