The Engelstad Foundation was created in 2002 by Ralph & Betty Engelstad for the purpose of partnering to create solutions in medical research, improving day to day living for people with disabilities and raising the possibilities for high risk individuals.
California
Joybound People & Pets - Walnut Creek, CA
Joybound People & Pets has a variety of programs designed to connect the people and animals who need each other. People Rescuing Animals…Animals Rescuing People.
Since 2012, the Engelstad Foundation has donated $11.1 Million to the Joybound People & Pets. Specifically for the Pets and Vets building the foundation created a donation match challenge which generated $10.5 million between 2018 and 2019. This facility will help Joybound People & Pets rescue up to 500 more dogs each year.
Claremont Graduate University - Claremont, CA
A member of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont Graduate University focuses on collaborative learning across disciplines to look at problems in new ways. The focus is on practice-based learning that leads to meaningful employment, a research-extensive university entirely devoted to graduate-level education.
In March 2020, $150,000 was gifted to Claremont University in order to support the creation of Yuhaaviatam Center for Health Studies. This 23,000 sq ft facility will go on to house 27 faculty members in a research hub and living laboratory for health and well-being.
MikeroweWorks Foundation - Santa Monica, CA
Mike Rowe is redefining the definition of a good education and a good job by helping people understand the impact of skilled labor on their lives. Their Work Ethic Scholarship Program supports people to get trained for skilled jobs that are in demand in the trades in order to close the skills gap, In April of 2021, $550,000 was gifted to support the Work Ethic Scholarship Program. In 2021 alone the scholarship went on to support 134 recipients.
Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases - Los Angeles, CA
The UCLA Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases is a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment, and research aimed at combating debilitating and deadly disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
In 2019 The UCLA Vatche and Tamar Division of Digestive Diseases was gifted $1,000,000. Funds were focused on the GI Fellowship Program to enrich the research and learning capability of it’s current 22 fellows.
Nevada
4E Kennels
4E Kennels was created after the owner saw how much good well bred dogs can do. The kennels have produced a multitude of service, therapy, and facility dogs. These dogs go on to help thousands of individuals all over the nation. The Engelstad Foundation understands the importance of this program and has donated $681,265 to 4E Kennels to date. This donation gave the necessary support to get more puppies into training, develop software to enhance the breeding process, and provide resources to help educate breeders and society on how to buy responsibly.
Andre Agassi Foundation
Andre Agassi had a dream to give high-level educational opportunities to lower-income and at-risk students. As life-long Las Vegans, Andre and the Engelstads both shared a vision for quality education for all in Southern Nevada. Their most recent collaboration was a matching endowment gift to be used in perpetuity towards educational excellence.
Bishop Gorman High School
Bishop Gorman High School is the oldest Catholic high school in Southern Nevada. The school founded by the Clerics of St. Viator in 1954 was looking to educate students seeking quality, Catholic, college-preparatory education. Bishop Gorman boasts a 98% college-bound rate with a graduating class continually yielding students with multiple honors and scholarships to some of the most prestigious colleges in the nation. Hoping to continue the rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence the Engelstad Foundation has provided $17 million in capital to help construct the Bishop Gorman Summerlin Campus and the Engelstad Family Academic Hall. Along with those generous gifts the Engelstad Foundation has given over $2 million in the last 10 years to fully fund tuition scholarships for 40 students seeking this type of education.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada
The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada is to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Their core programs engage young people in activities with adults, peers and family members that enable them to reach their full potential. Based on the interests and needs of the boys and girls they serve, clubs offer diverse program activities in five areas: Character and Leadership Development, Education and Career Development, The Arts, Sports Fitness and Recreation, and Health and Life Skills. The Engelstad Foundation has contributed year-to-date $6,023,520.00 .
Broadway in the HOOD
Broadway in the HOOD is dedicated to making a positive impact in communities across the U.S., with a special focus on youth between the ages of 10 and 20. Since its inception in 2010, they have produced major original productions dealing with subjects ranging from teen pregnancy, interracial dating, childhood obesity, homelessness, homosexuality, bullying, and slavery. The Engelstad Foundation has provided Broadway in the HOOD with $464,280.00 year-to-date to support their work in working with youth.
College of Southern Nevada
College of Southern Nevada (CSN) has been serving Southern Nevada for over 50 years providing opportunities for students in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Seeing how important the efforts of CSN are to Las Vegas, the Engelstad Foundation donated $7.8 million in order to create the Ralph & Betty Engelstad School of Health Sciences in 2008. Since then, over 11,000 health and science learners have graduated from the campus. Along with providing that new wing of the West Charleston Campus that donation went on to provide scholarships, internships, and the purchase of cardiovascular equipment. With the success of the Cardiovascular Respiratory Expansion Wing, the Englestad Foundation saw it fit to donate another $3,000,000 in order to create The Betty Engelstad School of Health Sciences in Henderson.
Cristo Rey St. Viator
Turning women and men of limited economic standing into individuals of faith, purpose, and service. One of many in the network, Cristo Rey St. Viator stands to bring a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and integrated work-study program to the Las Vegas area. Understanding the value of education and the inequality in its access, the Engelstad Foundation gifted Cristo Rey St. Viator with $8.5 million. This gift went towards the construction and operational needs of the campus. Now serving 230 students, Cristo Rey St. Viator looks to provide many more students with a chance for a brighter future.
Dignity Health – St. Rose Dominican
Making communities healthier, Dignity Health – St. Rose Dominican has been offering high-quality service with top physicians and nurses for years throughout The Las Vegas area. The Engelstad Foundation saw the benefits this group of hospitals has provided to many communities and has donated more than $19,750,000 to the organization since 2009. This has provided valuable funding to many programs within the organization, but especially the R.E.D. Rose program. So far, that program has been able to serve more than 400 women in Southern Nevada. Providing the underserved with 300 clinical breast exams, 150 mammograms, and 130 ultrasounds.
Eye Care 4 Kids
In 2001, Joseph Carbone left his private practice to focus on the problem he recognized through his work. There were numerous underprivileged families unable to afford professional eye care for their children, so he started Eye Care 4 Kids. In 2012 the Engelstad Foundation stepped in and decided to help this noble cause and donate a little over $3 million dollars to the cause helping the program provide eye exams and prescription glasses. This program for the last 20 years has been able to provide high-quality eye care to over 80,000 children.
Fulfillment Fund – Las Vegas
Established in Las Vegas in 2012, the Fulfillment Fund was created to get students a shot at a brighter future by making sure they are financially and educationally equipped to attend a post-secondary program. After the successful graduation of its first cohort, the Fulfillment Fund has seen a 7x increase in the number of students served with an average of 98% of students graduating and moving on to a 2 or 4-year institution. Since 2014, the Engelstad Foundation has been there to support the organization by committing $10 million to post-secondary scholarships. So far, the Fulfillment Fund has awarded $1,768,625 to students in hopes to give them a future maybe they didn’t even believe was possible.
Future Smiles
Providing children and adolescents with the opportunity to have dental health in the future is the mission of Future Smiles. Along with providing education about oral health, this program offers preventive and restorative dental services to reduce common dental problems. Since 2009, more than 80,000 teeth have been saved for over 34,000 children whose families cannot afford dental care. With the aim to help, the Engelstad Foundation has been an excellent supporter by providing multiple gifts totaling $1,415,000 to the program to provide children with healthy teeth.
Goodie Two Shoes Foundation
The Goodie Two Shoes Foundation provides disadvantaged children and children in crisis with new shoes and socks, as well as other items deemed essential for good health and positive development.
In 2010, GTSF launched its mobile shoe unit, a 48’ custom shoe-store-on-wheels, which takes GTSF’s year-round programming directly to children in need at their school or referring agency. With this new unit, GTSF is able to serve 10,000 at-risk Southern Nevada children annually. The Engelstad Foundation believes in the inspiring work of this organization and has funded $1,098,168.22 year-to-date.
Green Our planet
In 2013, Green Our Planet was founded by Ciara Byrne and Kim MacQuarrie with the goal of using their experience in filmmaking, the power of the internet, and fundraising ability to support conservation efforts. Over the 9 years, the organization went on to build school gardens and hydroponics laboratories in 330 schools impacting over 160,000 students. With such achievement, the Engelstad Foundation wanted to help the organization reach even more children and donated $2,500,000 in April 2022. With this contribution, 150,000 students in 250 different schools across the nation will learn STEM, nutrition, and conservation education through outdoor and hydroponic gardens.
HOPE for Prisoners
HOPE for Prisoners facilitates reentry and reintegration services to men, women, and young adults who are exiting various segments of the judicial system. Their holistic approach is to encourage and impart HOPE into ex-offenders as they come alongside them and their families in efforts to transform lives and systematically educate society in ways to engage and support them. The program is grounded in the belief that with the proper assistance, ex-offenders returning to the community can overcome the many barriers to successful living that the incarceration experience can create. The Engelstad Foundation has contributed $81,500.00 to support their important re-entry contributions to our community.
JDRF – Desert West Chapter
JDRF is the leading global organization in funding Type 1 diabetes research with a goal to eliminate this disease from our society. The organization has branches across the nation which includes one in both Southern and Northern Nevada. In Southern Nevada, the Engelstad Foundation has been a contributor since 2011 which currently totals $900,000. This funding supports their overall cause of fighting T1D and is also used to support the 15,000 youths and adults who suffer from this auto-immune disease.
Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV
Established in 2014 the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine strives to deliver high quality innovative education, research, and superb clinical care to all of Nevada. Committed to driving this progress forward, the Engelstad Foundation has donated $15 million to construct the Kirk Kerkorian Medical Educational Building. Along with their strong partnership with Nevada Health and Bioscience Corporation (NHBC) and the newly constructed building the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, the Engelstad Foundation continues to be a transformational force in improving health care in Nevada.
Las Vegas Golden Chariots
Committed to delivering an inclusive opportunity for children with physical disabilities or able-bodied children with a desire to play a non-traditional form of hockey the Vegas Golden Chariots is a program founded under the Jr. Vegas Golden Knights organization. Providing support for all communities in Southern Nevada, the Engelstad Foundation saw fit to contribute $174,295 to the cause. The funds go towards the continual effort to grow the program participation while also establishing a committee to coordinate the program’s expansion efforts.
Las Vegas Jaycees Mobile Home Community
Built in 1993, The Las Vegas Jaycees Mobile Home Community has been providing affordable housing to the Las Vegas senior community for 24 years. This gated community gives its residents multiple benefits including a clubhouse and swimming pool and many others to make this a highly sought-after community for the best of the Las Vegas senior community. Understanding the generation before made us who we are now the Engelstad Foundation has gifted the community $70,000 so their standard of life can continue to be high. This generous contribution went to home improvements for 57 homes on the property that helped repair steps, provide new paint for the exterior of the units, and many other necessary repairs to the homes.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum
Created from the loving voices of a small group of passionately concerned individuals, the City of Las Vegas purchased a building to house the tremendous amount of pre-existing collections of wildlife and prehistoric exhibits around the city. To this day, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum houses multi-million-dollar, world-class exhibits covering everything land, air, earth, and sea from Nevada to Africa. Seeing the importance of this organization, the Engelstad Foundation has donated $500,000 to contribute to the creation of the Treasures of Egypt exhibit. Also, a gift of $1,000,000 was given for traveling exhibits that support The Summer Exhibition series which draws 21,000 people each summer since its creation.
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
Legal Aid of Southern Nevada gives attorney services to those who would not usually be able to afford them. This non-profit provides legal advice, aid, representation, and education to victims of domestic violence, crime, and children in the foster care system. The Engelstad Foundation has been instrumental as a major donor to the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. The donations enabled the construction of its new headquarters and grow Legal Aid’s programs by adding new specialty areas.
LVMPD Joint Emergency Training Institute
After the events of 1 October, the call to make Vegas a safer place was louder than ever. Lacking a facility to train our civil servants the LVMPD looked to create a dedicated training facility to raise the ability of our serving men and women. This is where the Engelstad Foundation stepped in with the initial investment of $6 Million in matching funds to give the first push. This investment started a cascade of support and the idea of constructing the Joint Emergency Training Institute became a reality. Now with 100 acres and 2 of many more facilities to come, the JETI can train 3000 LVMPD officers and support 80 other agencies of first responders.
Nathan Adelson Hospice
39 years ago, the Nathan Adelson Hospice became Southern Nevada’s first home care hospice. Currently the only non-profit hospice in Southern Nevada, the Nathan Adelson Hospice provides palliative care to more than 350 patients. With the same mission of caring for the Southern Nevada community, The Engelstad Foundation saw it fit to support this non-profit in the cause of helping those in their great time of need. A gift of $500,000 was given in 2015, 2020, and most recently in 2021 to support their efforts. With each donation, NAH is able to help 100 additional individuals and in 2021 they supported 4,949 patients.
Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation
Founded by the first child oncologist in Las Vegas in 1993, the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation has been providing psycho-social services for all critically ill children and their families. Through programs like Camp Cartwheel and the continually expanding educational services for families the organization annually serves over 2,000 children and family members who have been affected by cancer. The Engelstad Foundation has continually given its support through the years and has donated $3,500,000 to date to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Nevada Diabetes Association
Since 1997, the Nevada Diabetes Association has been providing a broad spectrum of services to the Nevada community. These programs range from camps for children and education for families and individuals who are in need. The $124,00 of funding provided by the Engelstad Foundation has gone to improve those resources and add many other that provide comfort, knowledge, and a sense of community. Specifically, the funding has gone to provide scholarships to Camp Vegas which gives Southern Nevada children with type 1 diabetes an opportunity to take part in the camp.
Nevada Grant Lab
History shows that Nevada has received some of the lowest amounts of federal grant funding for non-profit organizations in the United States. With non-profits holding a vital role in Nevada communities, the Nevada Grant lab has a mission to change that. Their goal is to support non-profits and their government partners to help these organizations get access to federal funding. Having an active role in supporting Nevadans, the Engelstad Foundation stepped in and became the initial investor donating $600,000 to date and a promise of more to come for this venture. Since 2020, the Nevada Grant Lab has been able to help nearly 170 non-profits get the vital funding they need to continue their efforts.
The Nevada Independent
Founded in 2017, The Nevada Independent provides Nevadans with in-depth news coverage and informed opinions that shed light on the matters that mean most to Nevadans. Understanding that the citizens of Southern Nevada need non-partisan outlets that are focused on topics relevant to them, the Engelstad Foundation stepped in and generously donated a $500,000 matching grant to the organization. This donation helped to activate the donor base that raised the matching $500,000 in two months. These funds allowed the organization to hire a K-12 reporter and expand coverage to rural and minority communities.
Olive Crest
Olive Crest started with humble beginnings with the generosity of Dr. Don and Lois Verleur who took in four teenage girls starting their first children's homes. With their continued efforts they now help children, families, and individuals through family preservation and support. Since 2005 the Engelstad Foundation has gifted $2,000,000 in support of that cause. Their support gave the organization the ability to develop programming and increased resources so they can give support to more foster kids in need. Having already served over 25,000 children, Olive Crest looks to serve 2,250 more children this year alone.
Opportunity 180
Kids are the future but not every kid gets a fair shot to fully realize what they can be. Understanding that dilemma, Opportunity 180 is committed to ensuring every kid has access to a great school in their neighborhood that can get them on track to college and career ready. With this commitment being no small endeavor, the Engelstad Foundation has committed $5,000,000 to this cause because of their understanding of children being our future. This money will be used to support all facets of the organization in order to help Opportunity 180 achieve its goal of adding 100,000 high-quality education seats by 2030.
Opportunity Village
Opportunity Village is the first non-profit that the Engelstad Foundation partnered with and is a major recipient of Foundation funds to this day. The relationship began with Ralph hiring employees with disabilities through Opportunity Village’s work training program, and since then the Engelstad Foundation has supported a variety of vocational as well as cognitive training programs. Most recently, they funded the construction of Betty’s Village with a $35,000,000 lead gift. Within the first five months of Betty’s Village opening, all 70+ units were occupied by individuals with disabilities.
Project 150
In 2011, a news outlet reported that 150 homeless students were attending Rancho High School. This one report knocked over the first domino creating a movement to help the 7500 students in the Las Vegas Valley suffering from homelessness. The Las Vegas community banded together and helped these individuals and recognizing this will be a continuous effort, Project 150 was born. Seeing the need and acknowledging the effort for this endeavor, the Engelstad Foundation generously donated $1,600,000 to Project 150 for the organization to buy their 8800 sq. ft building. Now armed with resources, Project 150 supports more than 6000 students every year.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas has a wonderful mission of providing a supportive home away from home for families and children who receive inpatient or outpatient treatment at a local hospital. For most families, the RMHC is a godsend and the Engelstad Foundation saw it right to help them bless others with a $2,750,000 gift. This gift supports house operations, a small dental van, and most importantly the construction of a second home for Greater Las Vegas.
Roseman University
Built on a foundation of compassion and empathy, Roseman University serves the Southern Nevada communities and many others through the education of future health care workers and patient care. Founded in Henderson, Nevada in 1999 this non-profit higher learning institution has gone on to provide more than 6,700 graduates to this state and many others to help provide a healthier future. Noticing the impact Roseman has had on the entire city of Las Vegas, the Engelstad Foundation generously gifted $10,000,000 to support the development of the Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Medicine. Once fully operational and at full maturity, Rose anticipates 400 MD students to be enrolled.
Special Olympics Nevada
Since 2001, the Special Olympics of Southern Nevada has taken our children and adults with intellectual disabilities and enriched their lives through sport. With the support of 1,670 volunteers, 942 volunteer coaches, and funding from generous donations the Special Olympics of Southern Nevada continues to support the intellectually disabled in our community. As one of the proud partners, the Engelstad Foundation has given $1.25 million helping the program reach over 123,000 individuals with disabilities. This funding also helped provide CDC training to 150 volunteer physicians and medical professionals allowing them to screen over 700 members of the disabled community.
Spread the Word Nevada
Spread the Word is a children’s literacy organization dedicated to helping all children develop the reading skills they need to succeed. The organization “changes lives one book at a time” by distributing new and gently used books to children within Southern Nevada’s low-income, at-risk communities. The Engelstad Foundation has given nearly $1.2 million to support Spread the Word Nevada’s efforts, which have helped place books into the hands and homes of more than 467,000 low-income youth in Southern Nevada.
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
50 years ago, Father Jack Adam created a place to help the neglected children of Nevada. Through the help and generosity of the Boulder City community, St. Jude’s Ranch has slowly blossomed into two beautiful locations. These locations provide housing for homeless families and individuals, employment and education assistance, sibling preservation for families separated in foster care, and many others. Standing by their cause, the Engelstad Foundation gifted $2,656,300 to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children to renovate several foster homes managed by the St. Jude’s Ranch. On top of that generous gift, the Engelstad Foundation has given an additional $1.3 million to support a much-needed IT infrastructure upgrade.
Teach for America Las Vegas Valley
Alongside many parents, educators, business, and community leaders Teach for America is working to strengthen the education system as they know that education is the key to greater opportunities in college and beyond. Since 2004, Teach For America has partnered with the Clark County School District (CCSD) to improve outcomes for all kids. They contribute by recruiting and supporting diverse leaders to tackle educational inequity. They begin their commitment to enduring change with immediate impact in the classroom for at least two years. Their leadership in the classroom and proximity to students and families inspire a lifelong commitment. They see their alumni leading classrooms and holding leadership roles in local organizations dedicated to making strides for our children. The Engelstad Foundation supports Teach for America in the Las Vegas Valley with $5,500,000.00 year-to-date contributions.
The Animal Foundation
The Animal Foundation, founded in 1978, is the highest volume single-site animal shelter in America. In June 2015, The Animal Foundation announced Mission: Possible 2010, a strategic initiative to save the lives of all healthy and treatable animals that arrive at the foundation in need, by the end of the year 2010. The Engelstad Foundation is playing a significant role in creating the Engelstad Adoption Center by contributing $7,000,000 to reach the goal of Mission: Possible 2020.
UNLV Rebel Hockey
One of many sports teams under the UNLV banner, UNLV Rebel Hockey is a self-funded club organization that gives athletes a chance to hone their skills in hopes of advancing to the next level. With the knowledge that these sports help develop young men and women into better Nevadans, the Engelstad Foundation has contributed $1,576,495 to the UNLV Rebel Hockey cause. These funds allow the team to afford uniforms, game and practice ice time and all the needs of a high performing collegiate club team.
The Caring Place
Easing the journey for those who have a long road ahead is the mission of The Caring Place. The Caring Place is an adult services program of NVCCF that is dedicated to helping individuals who suffer from cancer. This program provides no-cost support and education for those who are suffering and the families and friends that support them. The Engelstad Foundation decided to step in and help a truly worthy cause and donated $2,700,000. This gives the organization the ability to continue serving as many as 3,000 patients annually with financial, emotional, and social needs.
The Center
The Center, first established in June 1993, was inspired by the Friday Night Men’s Rap Group at the Community Counseling Center. The Center offers many resources for the LGBTQIA+ community including office spaces, free HIV testing, and additional meeting spaces for groups in support of the community. Since the summer of 93’, The Center continues to grow and has moved twice to accommodate for the growing need of their services. Understanding that growing need, the Engelstad Foundation has donated $195,000 in 2021 to support The Center and another donation of $450,000 in 2021 for health and safety improvements.
The Cleveland Clinic - Nevada
The Cleveland Clinic Nevada consistently remains one of the top five hospitals in the nation with a top 10 neurological program. Specializing in collaborative care, Nevadans can access their no-cost patient, family and care partner resources and education services. With a combined amount of $1.75 million, the Engelstad Foundation will provide The Cleveland Clinic with a greater ability to support fellowships, salaries, and resources. The Cleveland Clinic has already helped over 2200 participants with these programs and continues to strive to reach more in the coming years.
The Simon Keith Foundation
The Simon Keith Foundation is dedicated to supporting youths who have gone through life-saving surgeries. Simon, whom himself received a heart transplant and went on to become a top-tier athlete, made it his mission to help others to do the same. In an effort to support the dreams of youths, the Engelstad Foundation has given $1.25 million to the cause doing their part to help unfortunate boys and girls get back to their sport. With this support, the Simon Keith Foundation can continue helping these individuals while also increasing donor registration through their public awareness efforts.
The Smith Center
With a mission to inspire artists, audiences, and diverse communities alike, The Smith Center opened its doors in March 2012. With 20 years of work to provide Southern Nevada with World-Class Performing Arts, The Smith Center brings the very best of music, theater, and art to Southern Nevada for a wholly separate entertainment experience. Believing in the power of the arts and the important benefits they bring to the Las Vegas youth, the Engelstad Foundation generously gifted a series of charitable contributions totaling $10 million.
Three Square
Three Square is a food bank founded by Eric Hilton to assist underserved and underfed people in Las Vegas. What started as a basic food bank has turned into a cornerstone of services for Nevada. The Engelstad family originally partnered with Three Square to facilitate the building of a commercial kitchen to enable more efficient food services. Since this original venture, the Foundation has gone on to fund summer backpack projects, summer camp, and most recently a matching gift to secure Three Squares’ endowment.
Touro University Nevada
Touro University is the largest medical school in Nevada. Touro is also a non-profit university that makes it a point to give back to the Nevada community by providing free services implemented by their current students. This importance of giving back has been instilled in its students causing more than 100 graduates, since 2019, to stay in the state for their residency. Because of their continual efforts, the Engelstad Foundation has been a supporter of Touro University. So far, the Engelstad Foundation has gifted $7 million to the university which helps fund scholarships, partnership programs, research, and most importantly mobile health care outreach which supplied the students with a portable ultrasound. This device gives the university the ability to help provide a free critical service to the underserved of the Southern Nevada community.
University of Nevada Las Vegas
The Engelstads’ relationship with UNLV began in 2009, with the creation of the Engelstad Scholars Program, which offers a full tuition scholarship for students regardless of their chosen field. These students are, however, required to accumulate 100 service hours with several chosen non-profits in the area. To date, Engelstad Scholars has proudly graduated 65 students, and aims to enroll 100 students. In 2016, the Engelstad Foundation also agreed to become one of the founding community members for UNLV’s first accredited Medical School—in which they also aim to enroll 100 scholarship students.
Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada
Volunteers in Medicine was created to help the individuals of Southern Nevada who can’t afford or don’t have access to health care. Starting in 2010, that is exactly what they provided, and the Engelstad Foundation sought to help in this cause. Since 2017, the Engelstad Foundation has donated $300,000 per year for the last five years. With this support Volunteers in Medicine has been able to help 3500 uninsured and low-income patients in Southern Nevada received health care, prescriptions, dental care, and diagnostic testing. In 2022, they aim to support 1400 patients.
New York
Green Chimneys - Brewster, NY
greenchimneys.org Green Chimneys School is an innovative program incorporating academic, behavioral and emotional support in a comprehensive learning environment to help each child achieve new skills and confidence and return to their home school district with the best chance of success. All of these outcomes integrated into the healing power of nature where human-animal contact can have a profound effect on a child. 2020-2022 the organization was gifted $300,000 each year, totaling $900,000 YTD. The contribution serves 320 special needs students each year through nature-based education at their therapeutic day school program. Organization wide, Green Chimneys supports 3,000 kids every year.North Dakota / Minnesota
City of Thief River Falls
The Ralph Engelstad Arena was a gift from Ralph Engelstad to the city of Thief River Falls. Since its opening in 2003, the arena has enabled this city of just under 9,000 to transform into a significant hockey hub. A native of Thief River and a former college hockey player, Engelstad and the Engelstad Foundation provided the bulk of the funding for the $15 million building, which now hosts everything form youth hockey programs and local high school teams to a Junior A franchise.
Farm Rescue
Farm Rescue was founded in 2005, and has helped over 1,000 families since its inception. The non-profit organization’s mission is to help farmers who have experienced a major illness, injury, or natural disaster by providing the necessary equipment and volunteer workforce to plant or harvest crops, bale hay, or feed livestock. Farm Rescue helps farm families in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois and Wisconsin. The Engelstad Foundation has given nearly $2.5 million to Farm Rescue, in honor of Ralph and Betty Engelstad’s deep family roots in agriculture and farming.
Forward Foundation
The Engelstad Foundation has donated upwards of $210,000 to the Forward Foundation, the non-profit arm of Bank Forward. Their mission is to support children experiencing life-threatening health crises by providing monetary assistance to their families, eliminating financial obstacles in order to radically transform their future, and help them “fast forward” to their goals in life. One hundred percent of the donation will directly benefit the children served.
Gigi’s Playhouse - Fargo, ND
gigisplayhouse.org North Dakota’s first Down Syndrome Achievement Center, they offer free educational and therapeutic programs to individuals with Down Syndrome from birth to adulthood, their families and the community. In 2019, the organization was gifted $250,000 for facility expansion and in 2021, a donation match program brought a total grant amount to $1,178,227 to rebuild GiGi's Playhouse The 2019 building expansion provided a 183% increase in program participation in the region. Even after the 2021 fire devastation, GiGi's Playhouse. Still served 200 families in the region. The grand Re-opening was October 2022.Grand Forks' Community Violence Intervention Center
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The Director of Grand Forks' Community Violence Intervention Center has said that a recent $3 million grant from the Engelstad Foundation, “will have a huge impact on the organization's efforts to put a stop to community violence.” The Community Violence Intervention Center provides a variety of services dedicated to making Grand Forks a place where all people (women, men, and children) are safe, respected, and free. Their programs focus on helping adults and children affected by domestic and sexual violence, stalking, bullying, as well as victims of crime.
Sacred Heart Church and School
Over the years, the Engelstad Foundation has made major gifts to the school’s library and their “New Day Campaign” aimed at stabilizing and increasing student enrollment. Most recently, the Foundation endowed a $2.5 million grant to fund a 10,865-square foot addition to the school in East Grand Forks. Betty Engelstad, matriarch of the Engelstad family and widow of Ralph Engelstad, is a 1950 graduate of Sacred Heart School.
Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation - Medora, ND
The foundation connects people to Medora for positive, life-changing experiences. The focus is to Preserve the experience of the badlands, present opportunities for visitors to be educatied and inspired by the Old West, our patriotic heritage and the life of Theodore Roosevelt in the badlands and Serve travelers by providing comfort while visiting the area.
$1,000,000 was donated in 2020 for the construction of transportation additions to the existing Amphitheatre. A high-capacity dual elevator was added to the facility to support safer transportation of the 120,000 yearly summer guests.
University of North Dakota
The Engelstad Foundation has been central to the development of University of North Dakota, particularly its hockey program and scholarships. Ralph was a proud alum of UND, and a tireless Fighting Sioux supporter. The Foundation was responsible for the building of the Ralph Engelstad Hockey Arena, now fondly known as "The Ralph." It is anecdotally known as the best collegiate hockey facility in the country. Additionally, the Foundation provides academic support in the form of scholarships to students who would be unable to attend UND without financial assistance.
Utah
Huntsman Cancer Center - Salt Lake City, UT
Huntsman Cancer Institute is an NCI-designated cancer research facility and hospital located on the campus of University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. In June of 2020, a $100,000 donation was given in order to help fund a clinical trial for pediatric brain cancer. This living investment funded a grant to study potential immunotherapy treatment for pediatric brain tumors.Utah Shakespeare Festival - Cedar City, UT
The Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre celebrated its opening night on July 7, 2016. It is an open-air space, reminiscent of Elizabethan theatres but with modern amenities and technology. As the symbolic home of the Festival, it features plays by Shakespeare and other playwrights whose works are appropriate for its outdoor Elizabethan-inspired architecture. It is also used for educational programming for Southern Utah University. The theatre seats approximately 921 and is named for the Ralph & Betty Engelstad family which was a major donor toward the building.
Starting in 2013, the Engelstad Foundation has donated $5,000,000, the largest gift in the theatre company's history. Today this state-of-the-art theatre now matches the quality of its Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning productions.