Eccles Foundation generous supporter of CEU
In the past decade, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation contributed $84,000 in addition to a $1 million-matching grant to the College of Eastern Utah, making the foundation a very generous supporter to assist the college in its growth.
According to the Second Decade Report 1992-2001, released by the Eccles Foundation in February 2003, the foundation contributed $20,000 for scholarships in 1993, $44,000 for the Sun Center 1999-2002, and a $1 million-matching pledge to renovate the Geary Theater.
This archived article was written by: R. Jensen
In the past decade, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation contributed $84,000 in addition to a $1 million-matching grant to the College of Eastern Utah, making the foundation a very generous supporter to assist the college in its growth.
According to the Second Decade Report 1992-2001, released by the Eccles Foundation in February 2003, the foundation contributed $20,000 for scholarships in 1993, $44,000 for the Sun Center 1999-2002, and a $1 million-matching pledge to renovate the Geary Theater.
CEU is working with the Eccles Foundation to ensure that the $1 million matching funding will still be in place when the state finally chooses to fund the Fine Arts Center. Dean of Institutional Advancement, Brad King, expects that to happen in the next 2-3 years.
Other Utah two-year colleges which received funding in the past decade from the Eccles Foundation include: Dixie State College, $500,000; Snow College, $3.33 million; and Salt Lake Community College; $100,000.
The decade report details the $193 million humanitarian contributions made by the Eccles Foundation; more than a 500 percent increase from the previous decade.
The foundation released the decade report in an effort to draw attention to the various existing needs in Utah.
There are five major areas of focus for the foundation’s grant making process: arts, community, education, health care and preservation/conservation.
The Eccles Foundation Vice President, Alonzo W. Watson Jr. stated, “We want to provide tangible help such as food, clothing, and shelter while also looking for ways to enrich our culture and environment, and raise the quality of education and health care to create a healthier, better educated citizenry to strengthen Utah’s future.”
In a 2003 press release, PH, foundation spokesman lists the most recent and notable contributions made by the Eccles Foundation: Rice-Eccles Stadium; 2002 Winter Olympics; Utah Symphony and Opera; major hospitals and health-care organizations; homeless shelters; capital facilities in Utah universities.
Hudson also wrote of the impacts the foundation has had in Utah communities such as Annabella, Scipio, Castle Dale and Gunnison in upgrading community parks.
Other grants have funded low-cost affordable housing, guide dogs, counselors to help abused or neglected children, food banks, artists, protection of natural habitat lands, college scholarships and restoration of landmarks.
The Eccles Foundation also assisted in funding the only health and dental clinic serving Native American families living in the Four Corners region.
“It is our hope that giving greater visibility to the needs of our community can foster a greater understanding and awareness by legislators and individual citizens of how we can all work together as partners to meet critical needs and improve life in Utah,” stated Hudson. In 1987, the Eccles Foundation earned its place as an elite CEU Gold Circle Member through its establishment of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Endowment, which annual creates scholarships for students.
“I know that if George and Dolores Eccles were alive today, they would be delighted with the scope and variety of ways in which their Foundation has made a meaningful difference in improving the quality of life for all the people of our state,” Hudson stated.
