Des Moines area nonprofits receive Viking Foundation funds

January 20, 2013

The Viking Foundation of Lincoln has funded 14 grant proposals, including two in Des Moines, totaling $63,500 in support of nonprofit organizations in three states, announced Roland, Iowa native Dr. Steven Eggland, president and founder. This year the Viking Foundation increased the total dollars awarded by more than 21 percent over last year’s total, Eggland, of Lincoln, Neb., added.

“The Viking Foundation board was delighted to see a tremendous increase in both the number of grants and dollars we awarded,” said Sally Johnson Eggland, Ankeny, member, Viking Foundation board of directors. “We wish we could have funded more proposals because every request we received would have filled a very meaningful and crucial need in Polk County." 

The following Des Moines-area grants totaling $10,000 were funded:

·         $5,000 to Holy Family School, Des Moines, Iowa—for books for this inner-city school with many students from low-income, non-English-speaking families.

·         $5,000 to Children and Families of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa—to support their child development center, which provides quality, affordable child care to low-income families.

Traci Rogo, librarian at Holy Family School, said their Viking Foundation grant would allow them to purchase books for their library, as well as for teachers’ classroom projects and curriculum connections. “We are blessed that the Viking Foundation has continued to help us create a quality library,” she said. “We will be able to purchase books from our students’ wish list to further their enthusiasm and excitement for reading.”

 “Over 80 percent of our students come to us speaking a language other than English. Because these children may not have access to books in the home, it is vital that the school have them available so they can become more proficient using English, which translates into higher student achievement,” said Martin Flaherty, principal at Holy Family School. “I am grateful that the Viking Foundation supports our efforts to improve our world, one child at a time.”

Children and Families of Iowa’s (CFI) Chief Executive Officer Gloria Gray said CFI’s funding from the Viking Foundation will support the organization’s Child Development Center. “The families we serve are low-income whose parents or guardians are working or attending school and need high quality child care,” she said. “This funding will help the program to continue providing a safe place for the children with age-appropriate activities and nutritious meals.”

In addition to those contributions, The Viking Foundation awarded $53,500 to these nonprofit organizations in Lincoln, Neb., and Denver, Colo.:

·         $8,000 to SAME Café, Denver

·         $7,000 to Lincoln Housing Charities, Lincoln

·         $5,000 to Bright Lights, Inc., Lincoln

·         $5,000 to Center for People in Need, Lincoln

·         $5,000 to Denver Family Institute, Denver

·         $5,000 to Lincoln Lancaster County Habitat for Humanity, Lincoln

·         $4,250 to Girls on the Run (GOTR), Lincoln

·         $4,000 to Sporting Women, Denver

·         $3,000 to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Lancaster County, Lincoln

·         $3,000 to Good Neighbor Community Center, Lincoln

·         $2,250 Food Bank of Lincoln.

·         $2,000 to ACTS Resource Center, Denver

The Viking Foundation was created in 2012 to help improve and enrich the lives of individuals – especially children – who are less fortunate. The foundation provides a minimum of $50,000 in charitable grants annually to 501(c) (3) organizations in three counties, including Polk. The grants are directed to those who are challenged with education, poverty, housing, gender, mental and physical health, and other issues.

The impetus for the conception and development of The Viking Foundation grew from a long Eggland family tradition of charitable acts and modest philanthropy. Family stories abound describing the provision of food, shelter and financial assistance to Great Depression-era victims, wayward hired hands and elderly care-givers.

Dr. Eggland is professor emeritus of Vocational and Adult Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and retired executive director of The Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges in Washington, D.C.

For the 2014 proposal submission deadline and more information, visit http://vikingfoundation.webs.com.