35+ Years of Impact. One Connected Path Forward.
Explore Pando's annual report, including student outcomes, The Pando Way, Reality U impact, graduate success, community awards, events, funders, and the partners helping students and families across Sedgwick County.
Support Pando
A message from our president & CEO
Showing up for kids has always been our focus. How we show up is evolving.
What began as a commitment to meeting students’ unmet needs has grown into a presence across 30 school sites, where our Student Support Advocates work every day to create safer, more supportive learning environments.
As we look to the future, our focus remains the same as it has always been: showing up for kids. But how we show up is evolving.
I am proud to lead an organization that is committed to gold-standard programming, activities that don’t just meet the moment, but anticipate what’s next. Through “The Pando Way”, our five service pillars, guide everything we do, ensuring that whether a child is just starting school through Pando Kids or preparing for life after graduation through Pando Next Gen, they have the support, resources, and relationships they need to succeed.
We are also intentionally investing in innovation, including emerging AI strategies and tools to make sure our programming stays relevant, responsive, and ready for the next generation of students. The challenges young people face today look different than they did Pre-COVID, and Pando is committed to evolving alongside them, without ever losing sight of our core values: community, innovation, integrity, and impact.
This work is only possible because of the partnerships we share with schools, families, donors, and our community. Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us build a future where every student has someone in their corner.
35 years of supporting students and families
For 35 years, The Pando Initiative, formerly known as Communities In Schools of Wichita/Sedgwick County, has been a trusted partner in improving outcomes for students and families across Sedgwick County.
While our name has evolved, our commitment has remained steady: ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed in school, at home, and in life. Today, Pando reaches more than 50,000 students annually through school-based programs and experiential learning initiatives, preparing young people for success in school, careers, and life.
The Pando Way in action
Five pillars guide how Pando supports students, families, schools, and community.
The Pando Way is the framework behind Pando's connected support model. It brings programs, partnerships, and student services into one clear approach so students and families have a partner at every step.
This annual report shows how the five pillars came to life during the 2025–2026 school year through school-based support, real-world readiness, post-graduation connection, community events, and trusted partnerships.
Financial literacy
Helping students build confidence with money, budgeting, saving, and real-world financial decisions.
Academic Support
Supporting learning success through tutoring, skill development, and academic guidance.
Individualized Student Support
Connecting students with personalized support based on their goals, challenges, and circumstances.
Social-emotional learning
Strengthening self-awareness, relationships, resilience, and healthy decision-making.
Fulfillment of Basic Needs
Removing barriers to success by helping students and families access essential resources.
Pando by the numbers
A snapshot of student support during the 2025–2026 school year.
The annual report gives a measurable view of how Pando served students, families, schools, and community partners throughout the year. These numbers show the scale of the work, the reach of each program, and the outcomes made possible through continued support.
35+ Years of Impact
Supporting students and families across Sedgwick County.
32 School Sites
Serving students through Wichita, Derby, and Haysville Public Schools.
50,000+ Students Reached Annually
Through school-based programs and experiential learning initiatives.
95% High School Graduation Rate
Reported for Pando high school students.
88% of K–3 Pando Kids Received Literacy Support
Helping younger students build stronger academic foundations.
92% of Students Received SEL
(or Mental Health Support) Supporting emotional regulation, self-management, and student well-being.
Reality U impact
Helping students connect today's choices to real-world futures.
Reality U is a core part of Pando’s Financial Literacy pillar, helping school districts meet National Standards for Financial Literacy while giving students a hands-on way to understand financial decisions, life responsibilities, and the choices that shape their future.
32,879
students participated in Reality U
266
Schools hosted Reality U
78
Partner Sponsors
5,760
Volunteers At Reality U
Countless
Lessons Learned!
Celebrating our 2025 high school graduates
Explore Student StoriesStudents from four high schools reached a major milestone, and Pando was proud to be part of the path.
Graduation is more than a finish line. It is a milestone that reflects persistence, support, relationships, and preparation for what comes next. Through Pando Next Gen, students receive mentorship, academic support, financial literacy, resource connection, and college and career readiness support as they move toward life after high school.
This year, Pando celebrates the 2025 high school graduates from our four partner high schools and the continued support that helps students move toward life after graduation.
95% graduation rate
For Pando kids graduation high school.
Wichita Public Schools
Derby Public Schools
Haysville Public Schools
Maize Public Schools
Recognized by the community we serve
Pando’s work is made possible through trust: trust from schools, families, funders, and community partners. Our awards and recognitions reflect the role Pando continues to play in supporting students and families across Sedgwick County, guided by the values of community, innovation, integrity, and impact.
A year of connection, support, and community
Throughout the 2025–2026 year, Pando brought students, families, schools, volunteers, funders, and community partners together through events that strengthened connection and expanded support.
These moments show the community side of The Pando Way: people showing up, giving back, and helping students move forward.
Reality U student experience
Students explored real-world decisions through hands-on financial literacy and life simulations.
Pando Incentive Drive
Donors helped provide small prizes, gift cards, and rewards that Student Support Advocates use to celebrate student effort, progress, and goal achievement.
STAR Awards
Pando celebrated 60 outstanding students from 30 schools during a red carpet awards event honoring achievement, resilience, and dedication.
Cooking for a Cause
Community members, sponsors, chefs, and volunteers came together for an evening of food, fun, and support for Pando’s mission.
Powered by partners who believe in the work
School district leaders and community funders help make connected student support possible.
Pando’s impact is strengthened by funders, school districts, and community partners who believe students deserve support that stays connected. Their investment helps Pando remain present across 30 school sites in Wichita, Derby, and Haysville Public Schools, expand real-world readiness, support graduates, and respond to student and family needs throughout the year.
United Way of the Plains is proud to partner with the Pando Initiative to ensure students have the support they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Pando's holistic approach to addressing academic, social-emotional, and basic needs aligns closely with our commitment to creating opportunities for every child to thrive. Together, we're helping remove barriers to learning, strengthening families, and building a brighter future for students across Sedgwick County.
Logan Bradshaw Schoech
Director of Community Impact,
United Way of the Plains
Our partnership with The Pando Initiative exemplifies the power of community collaboration to support the whole child. Through innovative academic success services, mentoring, social-emotional learning, basic needs support, and family engagement, Pando helps Wichita Public Schools create meaningful opportunities for students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. We are proud to partner with an organization whose work aligns so closely with Wichita Public Schools' commitment to student success, belonging, and equitable access to future ready opportunities.
Corinthian Kelly
Director of Partnerships and Belonging,
Wichita Public Schools (USD 259)
Credit Union of America is proud to partner with The Pando Initiative through our shared commitment to supporting schools and strengthening our communities. Through sponsorships and active program engagement, we are honored to support their mission and invest in opportunities that help young people thrive. We value this partnership and the meaningful impact we create together for students, schools, and our community.
Gina Evans
Vice President of Employee Experience,
Credit Union of America
Help write the next year of impact
Your support helps students and families across Sedgwick County stay connected to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need.
This annual report shows what is possible when schools, families, funders, and community partners work together. After 35 years of impact, Pando's next chapter depends on people and organizations willing to keep showing up for students.
If you believe support should stay connected from childhood through what comes next, you can help make the next year of impact possible.