To achieve the vision of making Lincoln the healthiest community in the nation, the Community Health Endowment (CHE) Board of Trustees recently approved grants totaling nearly $350,000 to fund new projects. All grants listed begin on January 1, 2025.  A total of $3.1 million will be distributed during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, including new funding and previously approved projects. This is the largest annual allocation to community grant making in the history of CHE.

NEW AWARDS

Healthy Food Access

• Purchase fresh produce associated with mobile neighborhood food distribution by Lincoln Fresh. (Food Bank of Lincoln, $75,000 over three years)

Youth Fitness

• Support a year-round soccer program for Yazidi youth ages 9-15 with four Yazidi coaches, evidence-based curriculum and nutrition education. (Nebraska Extension, $5,000 over one year)
• Support construction of an all-wheels skatepark in the proposed South Haymarket Park, including free skating clinics. (Lincoln Parks Foundation, $150,000 over three years)
• Expand an existing youth football complex to add additional fields, a practice area, and a warm-up area. (Lincoln Youth Football League, $10,000 over one year)
• Provide partial funding for renovation of a neighborhood swimming pool. (Meadowlane Park Association, $40,000 over one year)

Mental Wellness and Human Connection

• Provide Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training for 15 staff and 30 scout leaders, and certify a staff member to become a YMHFA instructor. (Cornhusker Council, Boy Scouts of America, $7,825 over one year)
• Provide YMHFA training to 100 adult volunteers and certify a Lincoln staff member to become a YMHFA instructor. (Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, $7,277 over one year)
• Train a staff member as a Peer Support Specialist to address social connection and mental wellness among New American women.  (ECHO Collective, $3,300 over one year)
• Co-create, in partnership with BraveBe, an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) wellness module for child care providers and parents/guardians in Lincoln. (Lincoln Littles, $10,000 over one year)
• Provide funding to support groups for kinship families i.e. relatives or non-relatives who have assumed parental responsibilities of children for biological parents. (Lutheran Family Services, $15,000 over three years)
• Fund staff training to respond to mental health concerns of new mothers and sustain current peer support groups. (MilkWorks, $23,583 over one year)

InformatIon about the next grant cycle will be made available before the end of the year at www.chelincoln.org.