OMAHA, Nebraska (May 13, 2024) – Education and health programs for women and children will expand after three nonprofit organizations received a newly created Community Impact Grant from the Scoular Foundation.
Scoular on Monday announced the recipients of the annual grants, totaling $50,000 from the foundation to support innovative organizations that solve challenges in communities where Scoular employees work and live. The recipients are:
Phillips Fundamental Learning Center, $25,000 grant: The Wichita, Kansas-based center empowers children, especially those with dyslexia, by teaching them to read, write and spell. The center provides research-based literacy programs and informs parents and the wider community about the educational and health needs of their children.
The Kristin and Phillip Van Court Charitable Fund will donate $25,000 to the center to match the Scoular Foundation grant. Phillip Van Court is a Scoular Vice President and member of Scoular’s Board of Directors. The combined $50,000 will fund dyslexia training for teachers in communities where Scoular has Midwest facilities.
“Dyslexia affects one out of every five children. By providing diagnosis and training resources for teachers, we can help determine the specific needs and create the support and intervention to help these children learn to read and write effectively. My wife, Kristin, and I are honored and privileged to be able to partner with such a great organization,” said Phillip Van Court.
Bourbon Women Foundation, $15,000 grant: This foundation supports women in the beverage alcohol industry through educational opportunities. The Scoular grant will allow the foundation to more quickly launch a new scholarship program nationwide to support women seeking formal training, such as a distilling certificate. Alicia Burton, Scoular’s Kentucky-based distilling market specialist, is a member of the national Board of the Bourbon Women Association. She received a Bourbon Women Foundation grant in 2021 to attend the association’s signature event, SIPosium.
“We are extremely excited that Scoular chose our foundation as one of the recipients of its Community Impact Grant,” said Brittany Allison, the foundation’s chair. “We believe our new scholarship program focusing on women pursing degrees or certificates in distilling or fermentation will ultimately lead to a more diverse workforce in the spirits industry.”
Access Period, $10,000 grant: Access Period works to end period poverty in Nebraska by distributing menstrual products through community partners and schools statewide. With additional funding, the organization will expand further into rural communities in southeast, north central and southwest Nebraska.
“It’s so important that we reach those in rural areas who can’t afford or easily access period products,” said Kristin Lowrey, the organization’s executive director. “This allows students to concentrate at school, participate in sports, and have more worry-free days. With the help of organizations like Scoular, we can reach everyone who is experiencing period poverty in Nebraska.”
About Scoular
Scoular is an employee-owned, over $10B agribusiness company leading the way since 1892. We buy, sell, store, handle and process grain and ingredients by leveraging our global networks and expertise in international trade and transportation. Employing 1,400 people in more than 100 offices and facilities in North America and Asia, we provide safe and reliable solutions to farmers, grain processors, renewable energy producers and manufacturers of animal feed, aquafeed and pet food as well as food, beverages and supplements. Scoular, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, ranks 49th on the Forbes list of America’s largest private companies.
For more information contact:
Scoular: Melissa Matczak
Mmatczak@scoular.com
