The Gilchrist Foundation Helps Rebuild Chief Standing Bear Park

Children in Ponca, Nebraska are once again able to enjoy their favorite outdoor park. Chief Standing Bear Park recently unveiled a new playground thanks in part to donations by the Gilchrist Foundation.

Chief Standing Bear Park was damaged by flooding both in June 2018 and again in March 2019 when the Aowa Creek spilled over its banks. The park, located off 4th Street in Ponca, was covered in mud and sand, along with several streets across the southeast corner of town. Due to the damage, Chief Standing Bear Park was decommissioned, forcing families to miss out on picnics, music in the park, t-ball games, reunions, and more. 

The Gilchrist Foundation awarded the City of Ponca a $40,000 project grant to rebuild the park. The money went towards building a new playground system that includes slides, swings, climbing areas, and ADA-compliant activity stations. The project is just one part of a larger park redevelopment plan which includes re-sodding the t-ball field and building a new shelter. Bids to rebuild the shelter will go out this fall.

The Gilchrist Foundation is proud to support community projects that provide play areas for children and families. The foundation has a history of supporting both parks and disaster relief, two philanthropic interests of the Gilchrist family. The foundation was established by Jocelyn Gilchrist in December 1998 to honor her family and further those interests, which also include wildlife and conservation, the arts and public broadcasting. 

Each spring charities whose missions and interests match those of the Gilchrist Foundation are invited to submit applications for one of three types of grants: capital campaign grants, endowment grants or special projects. The emphasis is on fostering the long-term viability of the charity and enabling special projects rather than supplying short-term operating funds. In 2019, the foundation awarded more than $1.9 million to support local organizations and their projects.

The grant selection for 2020 is now complete, but tax-exempt organizations that promote the arts, wildlife or conservation may submit a grant request for a micro-grant at any time.