News

The Kerr Foundation, Inc. Contributes $5,000 to the Tree Bank
The Kerr Foundation recently provided a challenge grant in the sum of $5,000 to the Tree Bank in support of two new educational programs. The first, entitled “Shade Trees On Playgrounds” (STOP), is to educate children and youth for the prevention of prevent skin cancer by utilizing shade. A second program entitled “Campus Trees” is planned for technical schools, colleges and universities. By working to raise the funds necessary to meet the Kerr Foundation challenge, the Tree Bank raised almost twice the amount needed to receive their grant. “We applaud the Tree Bank for 25 years of improving Oklahoma, one tree at a time”, said George Geissler, State Forester and Director of Oklahoma Forestry Services. “It is a massive undertaking but we see the results of their efforts affecting communities across Oklahoma through healthier urban areas with improved air and water quality, beautiful landscapes, shaded playgrounds and engaged citizenry ready to further our mission of conserving, protecting and enhancing Oklahoma’s forests”.

The Kerr Foundation, Inc. Contributes $10,000 to Truman
The Kerr Foundation, Inc. recently contributed $10,000 to the Truman State University Foundation in support of the Health and Exercise Sciences (HES) Fountaine C. Piper Movement Analysis Laboratory project. The gift was made after the University successfully met the conditions of The Kerr Foundation's 1:1 challenge grant.

The challenge grant was instrumental in helping the University secure more than $18,000 in contributions from HES alumni and friends. When fully funded, the Fontaine C. Piper Movement Analysis Laboratory will be the leading motion analysis laboratory in the Midwest. The laboratory's equipment will provide Truman students with cutting-edge technology and experiences and will play a significant role in expanding the depth and breadth of research questions available for exploration.

"We are confident that these experiences and opportunities for research will lay a strong foundation for students who wish to pursue careers in the human-services professions, including medicine, physical and occupational therapy, and geriatrics." said Chris Lantz, associate professor of exercise sciences at Truman.

The Piper Lab Project recently concluded year one of a three-year fund raising effort for the project. The gift from The Kerr Foundation pushes the projects total to more than $50,000 toward the overall goal of $100,000.