UNL's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute gets second $1 million grant

Released on 12/16/2014, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Neb., December 16th, 2014 —

            The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has earned a second $1 million grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation.

            The award will be used to support the needs of OLLI's growing membership, said Dee Aguilar, coordinator of the UNL OLLI program.

            "Funds generated by investing this endowment will help provide stability and sustainability to further support and expand OLLI programs," Aguilar said. "This is especially important as we work to keep up with the demands of our growing membership."

            Since 2004, OLLI at UNL has provided lifelong learning programming primarily for people 50 years and older. In the last year alone, OLLI has offered more than 150 non-credit courses plus special events and tours. Course topics range from writing, music, science and history to movies, theater and art.

            OLLI programs are designed for learning strictly for the joy of learning; participants are not graded and do not earn college credits. The program is part of the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences and has more than 1,080 dues paying members participating in programs.

            The institute received a first $1 million grant in 2008 after meeting several criteria set forth by the Bernard Osher Foundation.

            Aguilar said OLLI was invited to apply for and earned a one-year, $50,000 operating grant from the national Osher foundation in 2013. Successful execution of the criteria set forth in that grant made the OLLI program eligible for consideration of the second $1 million endowment. Requirements for second endowment gifts include: diversity of programs offered; opportunities for volunteer engagement and leadership; strong support from the host institution; sound organizational structure and financial stability; annual fundraising program; and membership of more than 1,000.

            For more information on the OLLI at UNL program, go to http://olli.unl.edu.

Writer: Troy Fedderson, University Communications

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