Red Cloud Community Fund working to bridge the local learning gap
Red Cloud Community Fund working to bridge the local learning gap
Red Cloud Community Fund working to bridge local learning gap
(August 17, 2020 |Red Cloud, Neb.) The Red Cloud Community Fund is part of a nearly $1.2 million statewide effort to bridge the learning gap in the face of Covid-19. Through a funding opportunity available exclusively to affiliated funds of Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF), Red Cloud Community Fund will receive $10,000 in funding to benefit Red Cloud Community Schools and The Valley Child Development Center (TVCDC) When combined with the required 1:1 local match, that’s a $20,000 investment in local students.
With the funding, the Red Cloud Community Schools will purchase an IXL program to be used by the school to augment learning or for remote learning if the pandemic requires the school to close. The IXL program is also for use at TVCDC. 8-10 I-Pads and equipment (i.e. I-pad cases, etc) will also be purchased.
At TVCDC, 8-12 I-Pads and equipment (i.e. keyboards, Apple pencils, apps, cases, etc.) will be purchased and the funding will also allow the facility to upgrade its internet connection and equipment needed for the upgrade.
Nebraska Community Foundation’s Bridging the Learning Gap initiative was capitalized by an anonymous donor and the Alice DeVoe Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, as well as several NCF donor-advised funds, and numerous local donors who have stepped up to help meet the 1:1 local funding match required of the opportunity. In Red Cloud, matching funds for Red Cloud Community Schools come from the Red Cloud Booster Club, the Red Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Red Cloud Community Fund. Matching funds for TVCDC were donated by Dennis & Sally Hansen.
TVCDC Board Chair Sally Hansen shared her excitement about the funding saying, “In the event that the Red Cloud Schools should need to go to virtual learning, teachers at the child development center will be able to help the children with their school work utilizing the IXL online learning program that the school system is able to purchase through this grant. This partnership between Red Cloud Community Schools and The Valley Child Development Center will greatly impact the schoolchildren’s academic success.”
Red Cloud Community Schools Elementary Principal Amy Dallman added, "We are so excited to receive the Bridging the Gap Grant. Our teachers have been experimenting with some software that will enhance learning both face to face and online. This Grant will help with any quick transitions to online learning should that become a reality for the upcoming school year. Thank you to all of our local donors for your continued support to the Red Cloud Community School."
Grants were approved and allocated by a committee of six volunteer NCF affiliated fund leaders who have educational expertise, including teachers, administrators and school board members. All applications received funding. Importantly, learning gap needs were identified locally by school leadership, as were proposed solutions.
“We are deeply proud of the way the NCF network of affiliated funds came together to meet this need,” said Jeff Yost, president and CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation. “We are so grateful to the visionary donors who are supporting this important work and to the local leaders and educators who are rolling up their sleeves to ensure our kids receive the educational experiences they deserve, even in the midst of a global crisis.”
About Red Cloud Community Fund
The mission of the Red Cloud Community Foundation Fund is to make a positive impact on peoples’ lives by growing its unrestricted endowment in order to promote the community’s rich heritage, support its sustainability, and ignite community participation.
About Nebraska Community Foundation
Nebraska Community Foundation unleashes abundant local assets, inspires charitable giving and connects ambitious people to build stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska.
Headquartered in Lincoln, the Foundation serves communities, donors and organizations by providing financial management, strategic development, education and training to a statewide network of 1,500 volunteers serving 265 communities.
In the last five years, 45,313 contributions have been made to Nebraska Community Foundation and its affiliated funds. Since 1994, Nebraska Community Foundation has reinvested $393.1 million in Nebraska’s people and places. For information, visit NebraskaHometown.org.
