Xcel Energy Foundation announces $746,000 in grants

Environmental and educational programs will benefit

MINNEAPOLIS – The Xcel Energy Foundation has awarded $746,000 in grants to non-profit environmental and educational organizations in Minnesota. This support will benefit dozens of nonprofit projects in both urban and rural communities.

Xcel Energy Foundation's grant-making and corporate giving are focused in four areas: economic sustainability, education, access to arts and culture, and the environment.

In the area of education, Xcel Energy supports math, science and economic education for students from kindergarten through college. Funds will be used to improve student performance and provide practical business/technical skills to ensure students can compete effectively in the job market. Current grants to education total $568,500.

The Xcel Energy Foundation also supports nonprofit projects that focus on the connection between the environment and energy including environmental education, habitat restoration and preservation. Current environmental grants total $177,500.

These foundation grants represent the first in a series of three cycles for 2009. More than $4.25 million will be awarded this year in the four areas throughout Xcel Energy’s eight -state service territories. For more information visit Xcel Energy Foundation.

First CYCLE EDUCATION GRANTS

Achieve Minneapolis (Minneapolis) - $10,000 - Funding supports the Career and College Initiative, a system that ensures all Minneapolis public school students have a plan and skills for moving from high school to further education or training and work.

Admission Possible (St. Paul) - $10,000 - Admission Possible helps promising, low-income high school students earn admission to college by providing them with ACT/SAT test preparation, college admissions assistance and financial aid consulting.
BestPrep (Brooklyn Park) - $15,000 – Funding supports three experiential and educational programs for Minnesota students (Classroom Plus, Minnesota Business Venture and The Stock Market Game).

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities - $15,000 - Grant supports the clubs’ Education & Career Development programs

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota (St. Cloud) - $10,000 - Funding supports an after-school homework assistance program at 15 sites throughout central Minnesota.

Centro Cultural Chicano Inc. (Minneapolis) - $5,000 - Funding supports the Palabra Youth program, providing educational training to help100 high-risk Latino teens stay in school, graduate, and enroll in a post-secondary program.

The Community Design Center of Minnesota (St. Paul) - $10,000 – Funding supports Youth Conservation Corps, environmental education programs and the Garden Corps program.

Dakota County Technical College Foundation (Rosemount) - Funding supports scholarships for the Electrical Lineworker program.

DARTS (West St. Paul) - $7,500 – Funding supports Learning Buddies, a program that pairs older adult volunteers with Dakota County elementary students to enhance academic performance in the areas of math, science and reading.

Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis) - $5,000 - Funding supports scholarships for minority students.

Emerge Community Development (Minneapolis) - $5,000 – Funding for Homeless Youth Educational Support program.

Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys (St. Paul) - $30,000 – Funding supports science, technology and engineering program for 4,500 Twin Cities girls.

Innovations in Science and Technology Education (Minneapolis) - $5,000 - Funding supports team-based competition programs for High Tech Kids.

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest (Maplewood) - $30,000 – Funding provides operating support.

James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History (Minneapolis) - $7,500 – Funding supports science education and outreach programs that serve urban K-12 students and families.

La Familia Guidance Center Inc. (St. Paul) - $5,000 - Funding supports several youth programs providing services to Chicano/Latino youth.
Learning Disabilities Association (St. Louis Park) - $7,500 – Funding supports program that provides intensive math instruction to struggling low-income students of color in the inner city Twin Cities.

Library Foundation of Hennepin County (Minneapolis) - $10,000 - Funding supports Homework Hub, a free after-school program that serves students at community libraries in Hennepin County’s most economically disadvantaged and culturally diverse neighborhoods.

MIGIZI Communications Inc. (Minneapolis) - $5,000 – Funding supports Native Academy programs to help American Indian students achieve academic success.

Minneapolis Community and Technical College Foundation Inc. (Minneapolis) - $30,000 - Funding supports Power of YOU program, an initiative to increase the postsecondary participation and graduation rates from urban core high schools in the Twin Cities.

Minnesota Independent School Forum (St. Paul) - $12,500 – Program supports professional development training, supplies, curriculum, and teaching aids for math and science.

Minnesota Private College Fund (St. Paul) - $80,000 – Funding supports scholarships at 17 member institutions for students studying in the STEM disciplines (mathematics, science, engineering or environmental).

Minnesota Professional Engineers Association (West St. Paul) - $5,000 - Funding supports the MATHCOUNTS program for middle school and junior high students.

Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical Foundation (Winona) - $5,000 – Funding supports scholarship program.

Minnesota State University, Mankato Foundation (Mankato) - $10,000 – Support for scholarships for the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

Mississippi River Fund (Saint Paul) - $10,000 – Funding supports Big River Journey, an educational program providing school children with opportunities to learn about and engage with the Mississippi River.

Neighborhood Involvement Program (Minneapolis) - $10,000 – Funding supports program providing after school tutoring and mentoring programs for low-income youth in Minneapolis.

PACER Center Inc. (Minneapolis) - $10,000 – Funding supports EX.I.T.E. (EXploring Interests in Technology and Engineering) camp for middle-school girls.

Phyllis Wheatley Community Center Inc. (Minneapolis) - $8,000 – Funding supports a student-centered accelerated learning program.

St Paul Area Council of Churches (St. Paul) - $7,000 - Funding supports Project SPIRIT/Freedom School, which provides after-school and summer academic, social, and cultural enrichment for African American youth (grades K-9).

South Central College Faribault Campus Foundation (Faribault) - $4,000 – Funding will provide scholarships.

South Central College, Mankato Campus Foundation (North Mankato) - $5,000 - Funding will provide scholarships.

St. Cloud State University - Ethnic Studies (Saint Cloud) - $5,000 – Funding supports program that provides minority and female elementary and junior high students with intensive positive mathematics, computers, and science experiences through a summer camp.

St. Cloud State University Foundation (St. Cloud) - $10,000 – Funding supports Project: Lead The Way, a middle and high school pre-engineering program.

St. Cloud Technical College Foundation (St. Cloud) - $10,000 – Funding supports student scholarships in manufacturing technology programs with an emphasis on math and science.

Summit Academy OIC (Minneapolis) - $17,000 - Funding supports an after-school, year-round youth enrichment program for at-risk, under-performing students.

The Bakken (Minneapolis) - $10,000 – Funding supports scholarships to Summer Science Day Camps for students and families who are typically underrepresented or underserved in science.

The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library (St. Paul) - $10,000 – Funding supports Homework Help, a program providing academic and community support for students in a safe, learning environment, and online help for students who cannot physically visit the library.

The Works (Edina) - $10,000 – Funding supports Engineering the Future, a program to inspire young learners and raise their proficiency in science, math, and engineering.

Twin Cities Housing Development Corp. (St. Paul) - $7,500 – Funding supports educational academic enrichment programming for children at two resource centers in housing developments whose residents are primarily immigrant, minority, or other underserved persons.

Twin Cities Jesuit High School (Minneapolis) - $10,000 – Funding supports program to assist disadvantaged students through college preparatory academics and work experience.

University of St. Thomas (St. Paul) - $7,500 - Funding supports STEPS, a residential science and engineering camp for girls.

Young Men's Christian Association of Metropolitan Minneapolis (Minneapolis) - $10,000 – Funding supports YMCA School Success Center, providing youth in the high needs first-ring suburban community of Brooklyn Center with academic support in the areas of engineering, math, and science.
YouthCARE (Minneapolis) - $50,000 - Funding supports Camp Sunrise, YouthLEAD and the Young Women's Mentoring Program. All three are multicultural programs providing youth from diverse backgrounds and cultures with an economic education and practical skills.

YWCA of Minneapolis (Minneapolis) - $12,500 – Funding supports after-school academic and youth development program in North Minneapolis.

First CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS

Carleton College (Northfield) - $10,000 – Funding supports preservation and restoration efforts in the College’s Cowling Arboretum, a complex ecosystem with critical educational, recreational, and natural uses.

College St. Catherine University (St. Paul) - $10,000 – Funding supports EcoSTARS II, an environmental education project in which education majors and current elementary school teachers receive extensive training and support in using science in and out of the classroom.

Friends of the Mississippi River (St. Paul) - $10,000 – Funding supports continuing work at the Crosby Farm Regional Park, as well as expand stewardship work throughout the Mississippi River Corridor in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Great River Greening (St. Paul) - $25,000 - Funding supports Million Acorn Campaign an effort to restore oak savannas and forests throughout the Twin Cities region.

Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (Bloomington) - $2,500 – Funding supports conference to train teachers to provide environmental education in the classrooms.

The Minnesota Environmental Initiative (Minneapolis) - $20,000 - Sponsorship of the Business and Environment Series, providing informative, half-day presentations on specific environmental issues for businesses.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska) - $15,000 – Funding supports programs that provide learning experiences for students through science field trips, urban outreach and hands-on activities.

Prior Lake Waterski Association (Prior Lake) - $5,000 – Funding supports the Quarry Lake Project, an effort to create a multiple-use recreation and conservation park in Shakopee.

Seward Redesign Inc (Minneapolis) - $10,000 – Funding supports project to develop a rain garden system to directly impact water quality through storm water management.

Science Museum of Minnesota (St. Paul) - $30,000 -Funding supports the museum's Annual Fund.

Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center (West St. Paul) - $15,000 - Grant supports a scholarship fund program that allows children from low income families to attend Dodge's quality environmental programs, and also allows schools with limited budgets to afford program and bus fees.

Tree Trust (St Paul) - $15,000 – Funding supports the planting of 100 trees along the Hennepin County Regional Rail Trail System.

Trustees of Hamline University (St. Paul) - $10,000 - Funding will help over 100 teachers from the Twin Cities participate in the 2009 Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers Institutes, for professional development in science and environmental education.

News Source : Xcel Energy Foundation announces $746,000 in grants