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Simple acts of kindness and generosity happen daily. Sometimes they are small, such as holding a door open for a stranger; other times, they’re as monumental as gifting a vehicle to someone in need.
A friend recently shared an act of generosity that was multifaceted and so touching I thought it was important to share the story with our community.
The key players in this heartwarming story are Elly Claussen, board treasurer for the Ballard Center; Kyle Roggenkamp, CEO of the Ballard Center; Chris Charay and Steve Noller, general manager and owner of Noller Ford of Lawrence; and Jesus Renteria, CEO of Noller Auto Group.
Claussen shared with me that at a recent Ballard Center board meeting, there was consensus to give Roggenkamp a raise for his leadership since he accepted the position in August 2023.
“Kyle is performing at an amazing level; he deserves a raise but refused, stating he wanted us to use the monies to have all staff earn a living wage,” Claussen said.
Roggenkamp was grateful for the board’s intent but politely declined.
“The board was insistent on trying to give me a raise,” he said. “I said ‘Do whatever you want to do, but it shouldn’t cost the Ballard Center a dime.’ I really thought that would be the end of it.”
Roggenkamp said the Ballard Center has actively been working on a plan former CEO Becky Price started to have all employees receive a living wage. Currently in Douglas County, that’s almost $20 per hour.
“We are making progress towards this goal,” Roggenkamp said.
Claussen, board member extraordinaire, took the challenge to heart and started thinking about how to help solve the problem and turn it into an opportunity. She had witnessed Kyle experience numerous mechanical problems with his 2014 Toyota Rav 4, which has about 250,000 miles on it. Last week, it broke down, and Roggenkamp was without transportation.
Claussen, now a lender at Mid-America Bank, used to be in the automotive industry in town. She started calling contacts at dealerships hoping they would donate a used car so Roggenkamp would have reliable transportation.
She struck gold with a call to Charay at Noller Ford of Lawrence (formerly Laird Noller Ford), 935 W. 23rd St. Claussen shared Roggenkamp’s story and need for a reliable vehicle. Charay thought they could help. He reached out to Noller, and then to Renteria.
“Steve (Noller) loves Lawrence,” Charay said. “He wants to be involved in the community. It was an opportunity for us to step up and make an impact — it’s huge.”
Remarkably, the dealership gifted the Ballard Center a 2024 Ford Edge ST. The suggested retail price of the vehicle is more than $47,000.
Claussen said the vehicle was donated to the Ballard Center — but bottom line, “It’s our CEO’s car.”
In exchange for the gift, Noller Ford of Lawrence will be the lead sponsor for the next 5 years for the annual Ballard Center Changing Lives Gala dinner and auction. The next gala is scheduled for June 6, 2025.
“This is definitely a Thanksgiving miracle,” Roggenkamp said. “Twenty-one years ago, we were homeless. It’s hard not to feel guilty about this when there are so many others who have greater needs.”
If you would like to learn more about the Ballard Center and consider donating to keep them on the trajectory of providing staff a living wage and continue supporting their mission to provide comprehensive early childhood services, check out their website at ballardcenter.org.
About the writer
Tom Harper is a Realtor at Stephens Real Estate helping people in Lawrence and Douglas County buy and sell real estate. He is the founder of Lawrence Modern, a group whose mission is to raise awareness of midcentury and modern architecture. You will find him posting frequently on Instagram under @lawrencemodern, sharing his daily observations of his favorite place on earth: Lawrence, Kansas. Read more of Tom’s writing for The Lawrence Times here.
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Tom Harper: A ‘Thanksgiving miracle’ in Lawrence (Column)
