Our Grants

The Columbia Area Career Center (CACC) received grant funds to purchase t-shirt printers and heat presses for the digital media department. Digital media students currently design t-shirts as part of their curriculum, and the process of printing their creations will give them relevant industry experience with potential for cross-collaboration with the CACC marketing department. Part of the Columbia Public Schools community, CACC also serves the community through a variety of Career and Technical Education programs and courses for all ages.

$12,215

The Columbia Public Schools (CPS) Planetarium received a grant to upgrade the facility’s sound and lighting. The Planetarium features a full-dome projection system presenting an ever-growing library of entertaining and educational shows while treating visitors to a unique view of the universe in which we live. Since its opening in 1974, the Planetarium has hosted school children in kindergarten through 12th grade from all over mid-Missouri, as well as regular events for the whole community.

$3,361

Show-Me Careers Educator Experience, a program of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, provided CPS educators with firsthand experience to learn about the workforce skills needed to be successful in today’s workplace. The program’s goal is to expose students to career opportunities by bringing teachers, counselors and administrators into advanced manufacturing, technology, healthcare and other targeted job sites where employers have identified a need to develop a career pipeline for area youth.

$12,500

CPSF funded $100,00 for the Boone County Nature School, the largest single donation in its 25-year history. The Foundation’s funds will be used for furniture and equipment for the classrooms and lab space at the new nature school. A native Missouri dogwood tree was also dedicated as part of the Foundation’s 25^th anniversary celebration. The Boone County Nature School is a partnership between CPS and the Missouri Department of Conservation.  The school’s goal is to give students from all Boone County schools the opportunity to engage in place-based learning.

Grant Funds Requested: $100,000

CPSF donated $14,000 to support the purchase of child-sized disposable masks for students at Columbia Public Schools (CPS). The donation allowed the district to purchase 100,000 child-size masks for students. The masks were distributed to CPS buildings by the district.

Grant Funds Requested: $14,000

CPSF worked to keep our students and community healthy by providing a $14,250 grant to the Columbia Public Schools to provide free flu shot vaccines to CPS students. During October, flu vaccines were available free of charge to all students in grades pre-k through 12. Students and families were notified by their home school when the vaccination clinics would take place.

Grant Funds Requested: $14,250

CPSF donated $70,000 as part of its Kits for Kids campaign to provide school supplies for elementary students at CPS. In 2020, because of the pandemic, each elementary family was responsible for purchasing a pre-packaged school supply kit for their students. For some families, this price was out of reach. The Foundation pledged $25,000 and asked donors to raise an additional $25,000 to offset the cost. In total, the Foundation raised $45,000 from donors and sponsors.

Grant Funds Requested: $25,000 (*$61,675 donated)

CPSF donated $25,000 to Columbia Public Schools (CPS) to support the district’s efforts to continue to provide meals to students throughout the summer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation provided funding for breakfast and lunch in daily meal kits, and helped with the bus transportation for meal delivery and also offset any unreimbursed food costs. The Foundation’s donation was part of a partnership with the CoMoHELPS COVID-19 Fund, which is a collaborative effort of Boone County, the Community Foundation of Central Missouri, the City of Columbia, the Heart of Missouri United Way, and the Veterans United Foundation. In total, $120,000 was donated to CPS for the summer meal program, which included $25,000 from CPSF, $75,000 from the Heart of Missouri United Way, $15,000 from the other organizations in the CoMoHELPS fund, and $5,000 from the Anderson Family Charitable Foundation.

Grant Funds Requested: $25,000

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Foundation, an additional 325 CPS high school students participated in online summer school courses beginning in May 2020, which was an extra session a month earlier than usual. The donation allowed the district to provide the online courses while the school year was still considered in session by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Students could take courses in personal finance, health and physical education. The Foundation provided the funds to CPS to help during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Grant Funds Requested: $25,000