| Eugene C. Eppley Foundation | |
| Founder: | Eugene C. Eppley |
| Location: | unknown |
| Area Served: | Midwest |
| Focus: | Education, Healthcare, Civic improvement |
| Method: | Donations |
The Eugene C. Eppley Foundation was founded in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded by Omaha hotel magnate Eugene C. Eppley, the foundation was the leading benefactor for several charities and institutions in the Midwestern United States. (This is not to be confused with the Eppley Foundation for Research, which primarily supports advanced postdoctoral research in the physical and biological sciences. The latter was founded by Marion Eppley, and its offices are based in New York City.) [1]
Beginning in 1949, the Eppley Foundation contributed to a variety of educational, healthcare and civic endeavors. Eppley was a longtime friend of Dr. Milo Bail, the president of the Omaha University from 1948 until 1965. During that time the Eppley Foundation gave more than $1.2 million to the university. After Eppley's passing, the Eppley Foundation donated another $50,000 to recruit distinguished professors. The Eppley Library (now the Administration building) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha was named in recognition of the Foundation's giving.[2] [3]
In the 1950s, the foundation donated a substantial amount of the costs to build the Gene Eppley Boys Club located on North 24th Street in North Omaha.[4] In 1960 the foundation donated $1 million to the city to renovate Omaha Municipal Airport to accommodate jet aircraft in order to better connect Omaha to the rest of the nation. It was renamed Eppley Airfield in his honor.[5]
In the 1970s the foundation funded Eppley Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution for research in a variety of issues.[6] The Eugene C. Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases was dedicated in 1963 at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine with a $2,500,000 grant from the Eppley Foundation.[7] In 1967 the Eppley Foundation gave $2,250,000 to the City of Omaha and Douglas County to build a new city-county office building in downtown.
The Eppley Foundation led the way for giving to a number of educational institutions in the Midwest. Outside of the namesake family, it was the leading benefactor of the Culver Academies in Indiana, where Eppley had studied.[8] It was also the largest donor ever to the University of Nebraska at Omaha.[9]
Properties currently or formerly named after Eugene C. Eppley because of donations by his foundation include: