The Bellevue Community Foundation (BCF) awarded five grants to organizations that are making a difference in the Bellevue Community at their annual Bellevue Community Tailgate Party last Saturday night. These grants were awarded as part of the BCF’S 2015 grant cycle which was open to organizations that provide services within the City of Bellevue earlier this summer. This year the BCF Grant Committee chose Bellevue Junior Sports Association (BJSA), the Bellevue East After Prom Committee, the Bellevue Public Schools Foundation, Splash Pads for Bellevue and the Bellevue Economic Enhancement Foundation as the local organizations which will receive funding this year.
BJSA was founded in 1975 and opened its 21,000 Square foot facility in 1990. Many of us have played in games or watched our kids play games in BJSA throughout the years. BJSA received $2743.90 from the BCF and will use this money to help fund a new scoreboard in their main gym which will replace the current one that has been there since the building opened 25 years ago.
The Bellevue East After Prom Committee received a $5000. This committee is made up of a number of parents and volunteers who help sponsor an event that provides high school students a supervised, safe and substance free environment to hang out with friends and classmates throughout the night after the Prom. This grant funding will be used to help pay for the many activities that are offered as well as food and drink for the students.
The BCF also awarded $5000 to the Bellevue Public Schools Foundation for the construction of a new entryway and ticket booth to the Football Field at Bellevue West High School. The Bellevue Board of Education approved naming the Bellevue West Football Field, Faiman Field in honor of John Faiman who was a long time Dean and Football Coach at Bellevue West who passed away in the summer of 2012 before the start of his 27th season. Funding from this grant will help get the construction project started that once completed will let visitors know of the lasting impact Coach Faiman had on the school, the district and the community. John’s son Kelly Faiman was in attendance to accept this grant on behalf of the BPS Foundation and his family.
Splash Pads for Bellevue has been around since 2011 with a goal of raising money to install a sprinkler playground in Everett Park and other areas throughout Bellevue. The BCF has awarded Splash Pads $5000 to be used in conjunction with funding from the City of Bellevue to construct a Splash Pad at Everett Park. This location is centrally located in Bellevue and offers plenty of parking along with close access to ball fields, walking trails and a picnic area. The splash pad is planned to be open next summer.
The Bellevue Community Foundation is also happy to contribute $5000 to the Bellevue Economic Enhancement Foundation under the leadership of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce. This money will be used to create, enhance and expand the necessary marketing materials to reach out to developers, real estate agents, bankers, business owners and land owners throughout the nation to educate and encourage them on the demographics of our community and why they should come to Bellevue to do business. We all know the great things and people that Bellevue has to offer and it is important that we get the word out to others about this great community.
After the grants were awarded the Bellevue Community Foundation announced that its 2015 MVP award went to Darwin and Joy Hanssen who are the owners of DJ’s Dugout. The BCF’s MVP is awarded to a person or person who has and continues to be a strong contributor to the Bellevue Community and the Hanssen’s were a perfect fit for this award. The Foundation thanks Darwin and Joy for continuing to make a difference in Bellevue and your generosity is appreciated!
The BCF is a proud affiliate of the Midlands Community Foundation. The annual Bellevue Community Tailgate Party is the Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year over 400 people came down to Champions Village to enjoy the Nebraska vs Miami football game on a number of TV’s throughout the complex and many of them stuck around to enjoy music from “On the Fritz”. Profits from this event will allow the BCF to continue to support great projects and organizations in the Bellevue Community. For more information on the Foundation please go to
www.bellevuecommunityfoundation.org