Eppley Foundation

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Eugene C. Eppley Foundation
Non-profit_
founded_date =
founder = Eugene C. Eppley
location = New York City
origins =
key_people =
area_served = Midwest
focus = Education, Healthcare, Civic improvement
method = Donations
revenue =
endowment =
num_employees =
owner =
Non-profit_slogan =
homepage = The Eugene C. Eppley Foundation was founded in Omaha, Nebraska. Its offices are now based in New York City. Founded by Omaha hotel magnate Eugene C. Eppley, the foundation was the leading benefactor for several charities and institutions in the Midwestern United States. Today it is known as the Eppley Foundation for Research and primarily supports advanced postdoctoral research in the physical and biological sciences. [ [http://listserv.aera.net/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind9509&L=aera-gs&P=11345 "Eppley Foundation"] , American Educational Research Association. Retrieved 2/3/08.]

About

Beginning in 1949, the Eppley Foundation contributed to a variety of educational, healthcare and civic endeavors. Eppley was a longtime friend of Dr. Milo Bail, the president of the Omaha University from 1948 until 1965. During that time the Eppley Foundation gave more than $1.2 million to the university. After Eppley's passing, the Eppley Foundation donated another $50,000 to recruit distinguished professors. The Eppley Library (now the Administration building) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha was named in recognition of the Foundation's giving. [ [http://media.www.unogateway.com/media/storage/paper968/news/2004/08/10/People/Theres.More.To.Uno.Buildings.Than.Just.A.Name-2548160.shtml "There's more to UNO buildings that just a name"] , "Gateway", July 10, 2004. Retrieved 2/3/08.] [ [http://media.www.unogateway.com/media/storage/paper968/news/2005/08/12/People/University.Buildings-2549234.shtml "University buildings"] , "UNO Gateway." Retrieved 2/4/08.]

In the 1950s, the foundation donated a substantial amount of the costs to build the Gene Eppley Boys Club located on North 24th Street in North Omaha. [Daly-Bednarek, J. "The Changing Image of the City: Planning for Downtown Omaha, 1945-1973". University of Nebraska Press. p 72.] In 1960 The foundation donated $1 million to the city to convert the Omaha Municipal Airport to a jet port to better connect to the rest of the nation. It was renamed Eppley Airfield in his honor. [Eppley Grant of $1 Million Gives Omaha Jet Field - "Lincoln Evening Journal", 1959-12-31]

In the 1970s the foundation funded Eppley Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution for research in a variety of issues. [ [http://siarchives.si.edu/findingaids/FARU0412.htm "Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution: Record Unit 412"] , Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2/3/08.] The Eugene C. Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases was dedicated in 1963 at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine with a $2,500,000 grant from the Eppley Foundation. [ [http://www.omahahistory.org/History%20at%20a%20Glance%209-2007.pdf "History at a Glance"] , Douglas County Historical Society. p 110. Retrieved 2/3/08.] In 1967 the Eppley Foundation gave $2,250,000 to the City of Omaha and Douglas County to build a new city-county office building in downtown.

Record donations

The Eppley Foundation led the way for giving to a number of educational institutions in the Midwest. Outside of the namesake family, it was the leading benefactor of the Culver Academies in Indiana, where Eppley had studied. [ [http://www.culver.plannedgifts.org/pdf/eppley_brochure.pdf Eugene C. Eppley Club] , Culver Academies. Retrieved 2/3/08.] It was also the largest donor ever to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. [ [http://www.omahahistory.org/History%20at%20a%20Glance%209-2007.pdf "History at a Glance"] , Douglas County Historical Society. p 105. Retrieved 2/3/08.]

Honorary naming

Properties currently or formerly named after Eugene C. Eppley because of donations by his foundation include:
* Eppley Airfield in Omaha
* Eugene C. Eppley Administration Building (formerly Library) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
* Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha [ [http://www.unmc.edu/Eppley/history.htm "About the Institute"] , University of Nebraska Medical Center. Retrieved 2/3/08.] [ [http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_072605/page9 "Cancer Center Profile: UNMC Eppley Cancer Center."] National Cancer Institute. Retrieved 2/3/08.]
* Eugene C. Eppley College of Business Administration at Creighton University [ [http://www.petersons.com/GradChannel/code/ProgramVC.asp?sn=Creighton-University&mu=Eugene-C.Eppley-College-of-Business-Administration&inunId=22608&typevc=programvc&sponsor=13 "General Information"] , Petersons. Retrieved 2/3/08.]
* Eugene C. Eppley Recreation Center at the Omaha School for Boys
* Gene Eppley Camp, a Salvation Army camp in Bellevue, Nebraska [ [http://www.geneeppleycamp.org "Gene Eppley Camp"] , Gene Eppley Camp]
* Eugene C. Eppley Pachyderm Hill at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha

* Eugene C. Eppley Auditorium and the Eppley Club at Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana [ [http://www.culver.plannedgifts.org/pdf/eppley_brochure.pdf Eugene C. Eppley Club] , Culver Academies. Retrieved 2/3/08.]
* Eugene C. Eppley Fine Arts Building at Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa [(2005) "Guide to Four Year Colleges." Peterson's. p 2033.]
* Eugene C. Eppley Center at Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business [ [http://www.bus.msu.edu/alumni/broadphoto/?action=showimage&photo_ID=2103123025/ "Eugene C. Eppley Center"] Michigan State University. Retrieved 2/3/08.]

Present

Today the Eppley Foundation is small and disburses between $100,000 and $130,000 annually. The Foundation funds the work of a dozen scientists in an average year, focusing on post-doctoral level research. [ [http://www.informika.ru/text/magaz/newpaper/messedu/cour9812/500.html "Grants: The Eppley Foundation for Research, Inc."] Retrieved 2/3/08.] [ [http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=grantexplorer&grantType=grant&ein=05-0258857&gotoNext=/reports/partners/grantexplorer/showGrants.jsp "Eppley Foundation for Research"] , Guidestar.org. Retrieved 2/3/08.]

ee also

* History of Omaha

References