The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation in partnership with the Knight Foundation recently made grants to the Boys & Girls Club of Aberdeen Area and 1 Million Cups. The grants were made from an AACF sub-fund focusing on the impact of the COVID pandemic.
The $10,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club supports the Club’s increased need for providing meals to members during the summer as well as addressing adjustments to how it offered services while following social distancing guidelines and other impacts of the pandemic. Needs have increased, and thousands of additional meals have been served during the summer. A $5,000 grant to 1 Million Cups assists it in making the transition from in-person meetings to all online presentations. The Aberdeen licensee of the nationwide program for entrepreneurs moved its weekly businessperson presentations from the Capitol Theatre to Facebook Live, which has caused technical and other expenses that will be covered by the grant.
In March, the Knight Foundation committed $225,000 in partnership with the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation and the South Dakota Community Foundation to provide short-term and long-term relief in response to the pandemic. These funds were a portion of the over $10 million the Knight Foundation committed to its 26 Knight communities around the country. The funds are meant to address immediate needs within the community while also focusing on priority areas the Knight Foundation has identified in Aberdeen.
“We’re proud to have the opportunity to partner with the Knight Foundation to help meet needs throughout Aberdeen,” said Heath Johnson, chair of the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation. “The pandemic is having significant impact here, and we know the United Way has its finger on the pulse of the nonprofit response and where the needs are. We were pleased to support their efforts.”
More information on the Knight Foundation’s commitment and the Aberdeen Area Community Foundation’s role, visit https://aberdeencommunityfoundation.com/.
The Aberdeen Area Community Foundation was established in 1984 as a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation but also enjoys a relationship with the South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) as a Community Savings Account. Their goal was to create a long-term funding source for charitable causes in the local area. With careful investment, the fund will continue to grow and enhance quality of life in the local area forever. This fund is one of 80 community savings accounts in partnership with SDCF.
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987 and has helped people reach their philanthropic goals and strengthened communities across the state ever since. Today, SDCF manages assets of over $350 million. With offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen, SDCF administers over 980 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $18 million in grants in 2019 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/for-donors/ to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.