The Jim B. and Lillian F. Cooper Foundation and Midwest Bank proudly announce the 2024 grant recipients. These grants were awarded to organizations dedicated to making a difference in the communities that Midwest Bank serves. Midwest Bank has branches in Creighton, Deshler, Lincoln, Norfolk, Pierce, Pilger, Plainview, Wisner, and York. The grants help to provide funding to organizations that support health, education, and recreation in their communities.
Grants awarded in 2024 include:
The Creighton Community Schools received $1,500 towards the Heart Safe Schools with Project Adam for AED initiatives in Creighton. Also, in Creighton, St. Ludger Elementary School was awarded $1,500 for its playground upgrades.
In Deshler, Deshler Lutheran School received $700 to support playground upgrades and rubber mulch, Deshler Fire and Rescue was awarded $800 for wildland firefighting boots, and Deshler Public Schools received $1,500 for a student-run t-shirt screen printing business start-up.
Lincoln Children’s Museum received a $500 donation for their First-Time Parent Program, also in Lincoln, The Hub Garden Project received $1,000, Lincoln Children’s Zoo received $500 for Admission Tickets, and the Food Fort, Food and Tutoring for Underprivileged Kids received $1,000.
In Norfolk, The Zone Afterschool Program received $1,000 for its new Food Program, Norfolk Middle School was awarded $1,000 for its Birthday Books Program, and Grant Elementary received $1,000 for playground upgrades.
Pierce Pacers Softball Backers were awarded $400 to help support new fencing at the complex, Pierce High School Journalism program received $1,000 for a new camera, Zion Lutheran School in Pierce was awarded $500 to help purchase new music risers, and Pierce High School Special Education department received $1,000 to purchase standing desks.
In Pilger, the Village of Pilger received $1,000 for a new Sports Court, and in Wisner, the Wisner-Pilger Gator Band Program was awarded $1,000 for their Student Instrument Program, and Wisner Rescue received $1,000 to help purchase a Powerload Stair Chair.
Plainview Public Schools was awarded $1,800 for the Clay Program in the Art Department, also in Plainview, the Plainview Manor received $500 to help purchase an Alternating Air Mattress, and Plainview Public Schools also received $700 to support the Junior Pirate Running Club.
In York, the Kilgore Memorial Library was awarded $500 for new afterschool programming, York Youth Football received $1,000 to update helmets, CASA for York County was awarded $1,000 to help support the volunteer program, and the City of York Parks & Recreation received $500 for lifejackets.
The Jim B. and Lillian F. Cooper Foundation was established in 1997 to support the Cooper family’s spirit of giving and strong tradition of supporting local communities. The Cooper family has always believed in the responsibility of corporate citizens to give back to the communities they serve. Over the years, the Jim B. and Lillian F. Cooper Foundation has given more than $1 million to local organizations. For more information about the foundation visit the website.
2024 Grant Recipients
