MAY 12, 2020
Thanks to an anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, Nebraska’s homework gap is getting a little smaller.
Thirty-one Greater Nebraska schools are receiving grants totaling more than $263,000 through affiliated funds of Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF). The opportunity for funding was made available exclusively to affiliated funds in the NCF network and required a 1:1 local funding match.
“The homework gap has long existed, but COVID-19 has exacerbated the divide between Nebraska students,” said Jeff Yost, president & CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation. “These grants support a wide range of methods to bridge the homework gap including computer equipment and software, internet access, staffing for summer school and individualized instruction for at-risk and special education students, transportation and professional development for trauma informed practice.”
Of the 23 applications received, all were granted full funding by a volunteer Fund Advisory Committee whose members have vast experience in education and represent communities of all sizes across the state. Nebraska Community Foundation affiliated funds to receive funding for local schools include:
Auburn Public Schools Foundation Fund to purchase laptops ($5,000)
Bennet Area Community Foundation Fund to purchase Chromebooks and accessories ($5,000)
Boone County Foundation Fund to improve internet access, provide wages for personal instruction and Chromebooks for local students ($20,000)
Brown County Community Foundation Fund to finance a summer program to help both elementary and high school students with unfinished learning ($5,000)
Butler County Area Foundation Fund to purchase Chromebooks and software ($2,750)
Columbus Area Future Fund to assist with summer school transportation, trauma-informed practice for staff and purchasing devices ($20,000)
Dorchester Community Foundation Fund to purchase Chromebooks and MacBook Pros ($20,000)
Friend Area Fund to purchase Chromebooks for students and laptops for teachers ($20,000)
Humboldt Area Community Foundation Fund to expand summer learning support ($5,250)
Keith County Foundation Fund to purchase Chromebooks and other devices ($10,000)
Legacy Fund for Seward County to purchase the Pathblazer educational program ($19,500)
McCook Community Foundation Fund to purchase Chromebooks and internet hotspots ($20,000)
Nebraska City Community Foundation Fund to purchase Chromebooks, iPads, reading software and improve broadband access ($17,785)
Newman Grove Community Foundation Fund to provide technical assistance to students and teachers ($10,000)
Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund to purchase internet hotspots and access lines ($11,780)
Rudolph Elis Donor-Advised Fund to purchase internet hotspots and access lines ($11,780)
O’Neill Community Foundation Fund to provide support for at risk students ($6,000)
Overton Area Community Fund to purchase iPads and Chromebooks ($5,000)
Perkins County Community Foundation Fund to purchase hard drives, laptops and internet hotspots ($5,000)
Ralston Community Foundation Fund to improve broadband access and technology for summer school virtual learning ($10,000)
Shickley Community Foundation Fund to purchase Chromebooks ($8,200)
Thedford Area Community Foundation Fund to purchase iPads ($5,000)
Verdigre Community Foundation Fund to purchase iPads and keyboards ($20,000)
“We are so grateful to the anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund for their generosity and vision,” said Yost. “This is going to make a tremendous difference in the lives of many, many Greater Nebraskans.”
Posted on: Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Last modified on: Wednesday, May 27, 2020