Eppley Foundation
Encyclopedia
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
.)
was named in recognition of the Foundation's giving.
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. In 1960 The foundation donated $1 million to the city to convert the Omaha Municipal Airport to a jet port to better connect to the rest of the nation. It was renamed Eppley Airfield
in his honor.
In the 1970s the foundation funded Eppley Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution
for research in a variety of issues. 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. 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
.
in Indiana, where Eppley had studied. It was also the largest donor ever to the University of Nebraska at Omaha
.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Founded by Omaha hotel magnate Eugene C. Eppley
Eugene C. Eppley
Eugene C. Eppley, , also known as Gene, was a hotel magnate in Omaha, Nebraska. Eppley is credited with single-handedly building one of the most successful hotel empires, by the 1950s the largest privately owned hotel chain in the United States.-Career:Eppley was born in Akron, Ohio and was...
, the foundation was the leading benefactor for several charities and institutions in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
. (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
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.)
About
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 OmahaUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
was named in recognition of the Foundation's giving.
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. In 1960 The foundation donated $1 million to the city to convert the Omaha Municipal Airport to a jet port to better connect to the rest of the nation. It was renamed Eppley Airfield
Eppley Airfield
Eppley Airfield is a medium hub primary airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Omaha, a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. It is the largest airport in the state of Nebraska...
in his honor.
In the 1970s the foundation funded Eppley Fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
for research in a variety of issues. The Eugene C. Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
The Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases is a research institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A....
was dedicated in 1963 at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine with a $2,500,000 grant from the Eppley Foundation. 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
Downtown Omaha
Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...
.
Record donations
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 AcademiesCulver Academies
The Culver Academies is a college preparatory boarding school and summer camp in the United States. The Culver Academies is composed of three entities: Culver Military Academy for boys, Culver Girls Academy , and the Culver Summer Schools and Camps . Collectively known as Culver Academies located...
in Indiana, where Eppley had studied. It was also the largest donor ever to the University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
.
Honorary naming
Properties currently or formerly named after Eugene C. Eppley because of donations by his foundation include:- Eppley AirfieldEppley AirfieldEppley Airfield is a medium hub primary airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Omaha, a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. It is the largest airport in the state of Nebraska...
in Omaha - Eugene C. Eppley Administration BuildingEugene C. Eppley Administration BuildingThe Eugene C. Eppley Administration Building is located at 600 South 42nd Street on the University of Nebraska at Omaha north campus in Omaha, Nebraska.-History:...
(formerly Library) at the University of Nebraska at OmahaUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaThe University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University... - Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied DiseasesEppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied DiseasesThe Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases is a research institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A....
at the University of Nebraska Medical CenterUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterThe University of Nebraska Medical Center is a public academic health sciences center located on 42nd and Emile Streets in Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. UNMC is the only public academic health science center in Nebraska.-Academics and rankings:...
, Omaha - Eugene C. Eppley College of Business AdministrationEugene C. Eppley College of Business AdministrationThe Eugene C. Eppley College of Business Administration is the business school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Opened in 1962, today 150 students annually complete degrees in Masters in Business Administration); Masters of Science in information technology; and Masters of Securities and...
at Creighton UniversityCreighton UniversityCreighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by... - Eugene C. Eppley Recreation Center at the Omaha School for Boys
- Gene Eppley Camp, a Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
camp in Bellevue, NebraskaBellevue, NebraskaBellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in... - Eugene C. Eppley Pachyderm Hill at the Henry Doorly ZooHenry Doorly ZooThe Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, located at 3701 South 10th Street.It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its mission is conservation, research, recreation, and education.Omaha's Henry Doorly...
in Omaha
- Eugene C. Eppley Auditorium and the Eppley Club at Culver AcademiesCulver AcademiesThe Culver Academies is a college preparatory boarding school and summer camp in the United States. The Culver Academies is composed of three entities: Culver Military Academy for boys, Culver Girls Academy , and the Culver Summer Schools and Camps . Collectively known as Culver Academies located...
in Culver, IndianaCulver, IndianaCulver is a town in Marshall County, Indiana, United States. Culver is part of Union Township that also includes the communities of Burr Oak, Hibbard, Maxinkuckee and Rutland. The population was 1,353 at the 2010 census... - Eugene C. Eppley Fine Arts BuildingEugene C. Eppley Fine Arts BuildingThe Eugene C. Eppley Fine Arts Building is located on the Morningside College campus in Sioux City, Iowa. Built in 1966, it is regarded as "one of the finest music and arts facilities in the Midwest." The auditorium seats 1,400 and is noted for its acoustical qualities and the majestic Sanford...
at Morningside CollegeMorningside CollegeMorningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
, Sioux City, IowaSioux City, IowaSioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state.... - Eugene C. Eppley CenterEugene C. Eppley CenterThe Eugene C. Eppley Center is located on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, Michigan. It is home to the University's Masters in Business Administration Program offices, the MBA Career Services Center, computer labs, the financial analysis lab and the information systems lab....
at Michigan State University School of Hospitality BusinessMichigan State University School of Hospitality BusinessThe School of Hospitality Business is an industry-specific school within the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Founded in 1927 as the nation's first business-based Hotel Training Course, The School of Hospitality Business now has 865 undergraduate students, 25 graduate...