Cooper Foundation Awards Fourth Quarter Grants at December Meeting
Monday, December 21, 2020
Lincoln, Neb. — The Cooper Foundation Board of Trustees awarded a grant of $30,000 to the Asian Community and Cultural Center for general operating support. The Center’s mission is to increase the stability of all immigrant and refugee families through culturally sensitive services and programs, including health and wellness, advocacy, translation and interpretation services, programs for women, seniors, and youth, and cultural and community events. The Center has a team of trained advocates who speak Vietnamese, Chinese, Karen, and Arabic which enables them to serve many families throughout Lincoln.
The Foundation approved 10 grants in December totaling $179,293, awarding grants to a diverse group of arts, civic and community engagement, education, and human services programs.
Approved for Funding by the Cooper Foundation, December 2020
Arts
Lincoln Orchestra Association – $15,000
Toward general operating support for the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra.
LUX Center for the Arts – $20,000
For general operating support.
Metropolitan Opera/Nebraska Auditions – $1,000
In support of the annual Nebraska auditions of the Metropolitan Opera.
Civic and Community Engagement
OutNebraska – $20,000
Toward general operating support.
Community CROPS – $14,700
To support a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training for staff and board members for Community CROPS, NeighborWorks Lincoln, and South of Downtown Community Development Organization.
Education
Educare Lincoln – $25,000
Toward a new staff position.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues – $21,093
Support for the 2021-2022 series from the Thompson Family Fund, established at the Cooper Foundation in 1999 by E.N. “Jack” and Katie Thompson to support the Thompson Forum.
Human Services
Nebraska Wesleyan University – $17,500
To support a project-based community collaboration between Nebraska Wesleyan University, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties, and the Asian Community and Cultural Center.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln – $15,000
General operating support.
Asian Community and Cultural Center – $30,000
Toward general operating support.
The Cooper Foundation, established by Joseph H. Cooper in 1934, has granted over $25 million to benefit the people of Nebraska. The Foundation makes quarterly grants supporting arts, civic and community engagement, 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.