George Family Foundation awards nearly $1.1 million in latest grant round

MINNEAPOLIS — (July 19, 2016) — The George Family Foundation is supporting access to integrative medicine among underserved populations, helping National Parks in the upper Midwest expand their reach, and continuing annual operating support to select organizations, in its latest grant round announced today.

Founded by Penny and Bill George in 1994, the $61 million private family foundation supports programs that promote integrative health and healing, authentic leadership, community, advancing women and girls, the environment, spirituality and youth development.

The Foundation awarded $1,038,000 in this grant round, out of an annual giving budget of more than $3.8 million.

Providing greater access to integrative medicine services is at the core of two grants awarded by the Foundation.Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US) was awarded $30,000 over two years to support general operations. IM4US is a collaborative, multidisciplinary group of people committed to affordable, accessible integrative health care for all. The Foundation also awarded $50,000 to Integrative Medicine Access to support the Building a Network for Access program, which will develop a diverse network of integrative medicine practitioners in four states (including Minnesota) that will see patients for very low cost.

The Foundation granted $50,000 to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) to support the Midwest Centennial Campaign and its plans to build greater awareness of and access to the National Parks located in the upper Midwest (especially Minnesota). “For nearly 100 years, the NPCA has been dedicated to preserving and expanding access to our National Parks,” noted Gayle Ober, president of the George Family Foundation. “We are pleased to help the NPCA develop educational programs to build greater awareness of the 11 National Parks in the upper Midwest.”

“The George Family Foundation recognizes the importance of providing general program and operating support over an extended period of time,” said Ober. “Our grantees tell us that our annual gift, while modest, is very important to their organization's ability to fulfill its mission.”
The complete list of grants includes:

$250,000 to The Carter Center to support the Center's Education Program.

$120,000 to Global Citizen Year to support the grantee's Fellowship Fund for unlocking the potential of underserved youth.

$100,000 to Breck School to provide funds for Breck families to host international students.

$100,000 to Breck School to support scholarships for the underserved students from the Next Generation Fund on behalf of Jeffrey George and Jonathan George. 

$60,000 to College Possible to support general operations.

$50,000 to Integrative Medicine Access to support the Building a Network for Access program.

$50,000 to National Parks Conservation Association to support the Midwest Centennial Campaign.

$50,000 to Sojourners to support general operations.

$30,000 to Alliance for Peacebuilding to support the general program cost for and the development of a domestic cast study for the ReWiring of the Brain for Peace project.

$30,000 to Integrative Medicine for the Underserved to support general operations.

$30,000 to Tergar International to support general operations.

$25,000 to the Center for Spirituality & Healing to support general operations.

$25,000 to Dallas Foundation to support Safe Conversations.

$25,000 to Faith in Public Life to support Faith Leads: Raising Civility in Public Discourse to Counter Racism, Hate and FearMongering.

$25,000 to the Guthrie Theater to support the Theater's 20162017 Annual Fund.

$20,000 to Free The Children to support WE Schools in Minnesota.

$20,000 to Voyageur Outward Bound School to support VOBS Twin Cities Center.

$15,000 to United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities to support the Public Leadership and Social Transformation convening hosted by the Kaleo Center.

In addition, the Foundation awarded $13,000 to organizations designated by its board members.

About the George Family Foundation

Founded by Penny and Bill George in 1994, the George Family Foundation supports programs, organizations and initiatives that transform lives. The $61 million private family foundation has an annual grantmaking budget of more than $3.8 million. Areas of foundation interest include integrative health and healing, authentic leadership, community, advancing women and girls, the environment, spirituality, and youth development. For more information visit the George Family Foundation website.