Midlands Community Foundation Awards Grants Totaling $96,340

Midlands Community Foundation (MCF; midlandscommunity.org) has awarded grants totaling $96,340 to 18 non-profit organizations serving Sarpy and Cass counties including: Assistance League of Omaha – $6,000; At Ease USA – $6,200; Autism Action Partnership – $2,500; Boy Scouts of America – Cornhusker Council – $3,000; Boy Scouts of America – Mid America Council – $3,000; Fontenelle Forest – $5,000; Food Bank for the Heartland – $15,000; Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska – $4,400; Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County – $5,000; Kids Can Community Center – $5,000; Lift Up Sarpy County – $2,240; Lofte Community Theatre – $2,500; Ollie Webb Center, Inc. – $5,000; Omaha Performing Arts – $5,000; OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc. – $10,000; Project Lifesaver – $2,000; Papillion Area Lions Club – $7,000; Sarpy County Historical Society – $7,500.

Of the $96,340 that was awarded, $20,500 was awarded from MCF’s Education Fund and $6,200 from MCF’s Military Fund which were established with proceeds from the Foundation’s Reflection Ballevents in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The remaining $69,640 was awarded from MCF’s General Fund.

Representatives of the non-profit organizations receiving grants are as pictured:

Front Row (L to R): Karla Rupiper (Midlands Community Foundation Board President); Wendy Hamilton (Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska); Georgie Scurfield (Lift Up Sarpy); Shelby Rust (Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County); Julie Bear (Midlands Community Foundation Grants Committee Chair); Ben Justman (Sarpy County Historical Society); Jan Jackson (Assistance League of Omaha); Andrea Skolkin (OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc.); Elizabeth Chalen (Fontenelle Forest); Tonee Gay (Midlands Community Foundation Executive Director).

Back Row (L to R): Beth Kramer (At Ease USA); William Cover (Boy Scouts of America Cornhusker Council); Kevin Griger (Project Lifesaver); Anne Pope (Lofte Community Theatre); Dave Pantos (Autism Action Partnership); Alyssa Kohler (Omaha Performing Arts); John Willoz (Papillion Area Lions Club); Laurie Ackermann (Ollie Webb Center, Inc.); Ericka Smrcka (Food Bank for the Heartland); Michelle Hurt (Boy Scouts of America Mid-America Council); Lisa Bradley (Kids Can Community Center).

This is the first of two grant distributions for Midlands Community Foundation’s fiscal year. The next grant deadline will be February 1, 2017, with funds distributed in April.

Through its grants program, Midlands Community Foundation places an emphasis on prevention and education. The Foundation has a strong commitment toward programs benefiting health, art, culture, community, economic development, education, and human services. For more information, contact Diane Knicky at (402) 991-8027.