Cooper Approves Fourth Quarter Grants

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

COOPER FOUNDATION APPROVES SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
AT DECEMBER MEETING

The Cooper Foundation awarded a challenge grant of $10,000 to the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools in support of student scholarships for the Spark Summer Learning Program. Cooper funding will provide a match to encourage others to support scholarships for this high quality summer learning program for students in grades K-5. Spark provides hands-on learning experiences in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) projects using a variety of weekly themes. Students interact with community partners including UNL’s Innovation Studio, 4H, Dream It Do It, UNL’s Science Law program, UNL’s Nano Science department, BVH Architecture, Sheldon Museum of Art and local artists.The program is designed to serve working families, providing high quality care, activities, and meals, from 7 am to 6 pm daily.

Cooper Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved grants at the fourth quarter grant cycle totaling $149,651 to 14 nonprofit organizations. The foundation awarded grants to a diverse group of arts, education, environment and human services organizations. Grant recipients are located in Lincoln unless otherwise noted.

Approved for Funding by the Cooper Foundation, December 2017

Arts

Lincoln Orchestra Association – $12,000
General operating support for the 2017-2018 concert season.

Meadowlark Music Festival – $10,000
Support for the 2018 Festival.

Metropolitan Opera/Nebraska Auditions – $1,000
Support for the 2017-2018 Nebraska auditions.

School District 145 Foundation for Education, Waverly, Nebraska – $7,500
Toward the Strike Up the Band campaign to purchase new band instruments and equipment for the Waverly school district.

Education

Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools – $10,000
Challenge grant toward scholarships for the Spark Summer Learning Program.

Men with Dreams – $12,000
General operating support for youth mentoring programs.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc. – $15,000
Toward comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education programs in Lincoln.

Stand For Schools – $10,000
General operating support for this organization’s work to advance public education in Nebraska.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lied Center for Performing Arts – $10,000
Toward the Science of Sound Camp and Teacher Workshop.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Thompson Forum – $16,061
Toward the E.N. Thompson Forum 2018-2019 season.

Environment

Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, Wood River, Nebraska – $15,000
Toward the removal/burial of a power line along the border of the newly acquired parcel, Martin Meadows, a native area that provides an important foraging site for migrating whooping cranes and sandhill cranes.

Human Services

Human Services Federation – $4,090
Toward strategic planning.

Lincoln/Lancaster County Habitat for Humanity – $15,000
Support for the Volunteer Coordinator staff position.

Lincoln Medical Education Partnership – $12,000
Toward the Stepping Stones program that supports families by connecting them with resources, offering parent education, meeting basic food needs and offering support for those struggling with substance use.

The Cooper Foundation, established by Joseph H. Cooper in 1934, has granted over $23 million to benefit the people of Nebraska. The Foundation makes quarterly grants supporting arts, community improvement, education, environment, humanities and human services primarily in Lincoln and Lancaster County. For more information about grant guidelines and deadlines, call 402-476-7571, or visit the foundation’s web site, www.cooperfoundation.org