Merrick Foundation is proud to announce it recently awarded $148,470 in its first three grant cycles of the year. Since 1960, several generous donors have set up unrestricted or field of interest funds that allow the Merrick Foundation Board of Directors to direct charitable funds to organizations and projects in need. These community grants are in addition to the over $973,500 in donor designated grants and scholarships Merrick Foundation has issued this fiscal year. The following charitable causes have been approved for funding through the community grant process in 2023:

• Bison After School Program - $3,250 for program support
• BPO Elks Lodge 604 - $1,000 for food boxes for Merrick County Veterans
• Central City Boy Scouts Troop 102 - $795 for recharter fees
• Central City High School – $750 for Junior Science & Humanities Symposium in Stillwater, OK         (5 students)
• Central City High School – $200 for Microsoft Specialist US Championship in Orlando, FL              (1 student)
• Central City Legion Baseball Post 6 - $3,000 for baseball program support
• Central City Stampede Softball - $2,500 for program support and pitching machine
• Central City Track Club - $2,000 for program support and uniforms
• Clarks Public Library - $925 for summer reading program support
• Heartland United Way - $2,250 for Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program
• Maplewood Corners - $2,500 for apartment refurbish
• Merrick County 4-H Council – $500 for youth Expanded Learning Opportunities
• Merrick County Junior High Rodeo - $1,500 for Nebraska Junior High Rodeo event
• Midland Area Agency on Aging – $4,000 for medical monitoring assistance funding for Merrick County senior citizens
• Nebraska Christian Schools - $6,000 for senior capstone trip to Washington, D.C. (30 students)
• Opportune Acres - $5,000 for supplemental therapy program
• Palmer Community Foundation DBA Palmer Child Care - $70,000 for building and capacity expansion
• Palmer Public Schools - $5,600 for band trip to Nashville, TN (28 students)
• Palmer Wrestling Club - $1,500 for new singlets
• Palmer Youth Sports Association – $4,500 for new batting cage
• Silver Creek American Legion - $2,000 for flags for Memorial Day display
• Twin River Public Schools - $200 for FBLA National Leadership Conference (1 student)
• Village of Chapman - $3,500 for Veterans memorial wall
• Village of Clarks - $25,000 for Clarks housing improvement project

The mission of Merrick Foundation is to contribute to the growth of the quality of life in Merrick County by directing charitable funds to achieve the maximum benefits for the residents of Merrick County. To be considered for the final grant cycle of the year, nonprofit organizations or projects benefiting the public must complete a grant application on Merrick Foundation’s website, www.merrick-foundation.org, on or before October 2. All requests will be reviewed by a grant committee before going to the full board for approval. If you would like more information about the process as a donor or applicant, please reach out to Merrick Foundation at 308.946.3707.