The Gilchrist Foundation Awards for 2018
Each year the Gilchrist Foundation invites Siouxland nonprofits with ties to the arts and public broadcasting, wildlife and conservation and disaster relief to submit applications for its endowment and capital campaign grants and project grants. The annual grant cycle begins in April and ends in mid-July.
Here are some of the deserving recipients of 2018.
American Red Cross was awarded funding to provide disaster relief for areas across Northwest Iowa impacted by flooding, areas in Iowa hit by tornados and Hurricane Florence relief. Disaster relief is a core part of the foundation’s mission.
Art Center Association of Sioux City received its final challenge match for the new Gilchrist Learning Center, which opened in September 2018. The center contains a classroom, four studios, a ceramics area and pin-up spaces for artwork.
Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools received a project grant for musical performance equipment for the vocal and instrumental music department. The department offers students several different choirs for every level of performer.
Flux Dance Company received a project grant to help buy a building lot to house the future headquarters of the dance company. The dance company was founded in 2016 to expand the reach of dance as a performing art for youth and individuals with special needs in Siouxland.
Iowa Public Television Foundation received a project grant for IPTV's 50th Anniversary: The Best of Living in Iowa, Iowa State Fair Highlights, Iowa Outdoors and the High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase. Public broadcasting is one of the special interests of Founder Jocelyn Gilchrist and her family.
Orpheum Theatre received a project grant to improve the theatre security by adding additional entrance/exits to the theater. The theater, originally constructed in 1927, was renovated and reopened to the public in 2001. It has hosted numerous performers including BB King, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Jerry Seinfeld plus Broadway shows and is the home of the Sioux City Symphony.
Plymouth County Conservation Board received a project grant to acquire 306 acres of land adjacent to the Hillview Recreation Area. The group currently manages more than 2,200 acres of recreational and natural lands including native and restored prairies, upland forests and river bottom woodlands.
Saturday in the Park received a project grant for the 29th annual festival. The festival started in 1991 and attracts around 25,000 people from around the Midwest. It is free and held on the Saturday closest to the Fourth of July.
Sioux City Symphony Orchestra Association received a project grant for its production of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. For 100 years the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra has been a dominant force in the cultural life of Sioux City.
Unity Point Health – St. Luke’s Foundation received a project grant for beautification and safety on Pierce Street. The project moved part of Pierce Street away from the hospital and created a parking lot next to the building for the purpose of slowing down traffic to make the entrance to the hospital safer.
These are just some of the many grants the Gilchrist Foundation awarded in 2018. You can see the full list of awards recipients here.
The Gilchrist Foundation was established by Jocelyn Gilchrist in December 1998 to honor her family and further their interests. After Jocelyn’s death, the Foundation continued in her memory and is proud to support the philanthropic interests of the Gilchrist family. Organizations designed to aid in disaster recovery are encouraged to apply for funding through the Gilchrist Foundation. Learn more about our grant applications.