Kirschner Trusts

Eastern Oklahoma Nonprofits

Compassion Outreach Center – $15,000 – To support free medical services for uninsured individuals through their Compassion Clinic.

Eastern Oklahoma Library System, Muskogee Public Library – $4,000 – To provide lower-income families with books to build home libraries and encourage healthy habits in kids.

Education Foundation of Muskogee – $1,000 – To support classroom teachers and their innovative curriculum projects that spark their students’ enthusiasm for learning.

Home of Hope – $25,000 – To support a training model for high school students with intellectual disabilities to prepare them for competitive employment post-high school.

Junior Achievement of Oklahoma – $10,000 – To support hands-on, project-based lessons for K-8th grade students that combine classroom learning with real-world experiences.

Kelly B. Todd Cerebral Palsy & Neuro-Muscular Foundation – $25,000 – To support Neuro-Muscular Electrical Stimulation-related costs as part of their speech-language therapy for children with dysphagia.

Muskogee Community Food Pantry – $15,000 – To provide emergency food packages to ensure people have a comprehensive supply of healthy food, pet food and essential items.

Muskogee Community Band Association – $10,000 – To maintain instruments and support musical education for financially disadvantaged students.

Muskogee County Child Advocacy Center – $20,000 – To support forensic interviewing and emergency support for youth as well as repair and refurbish a client resource room.

Muskogee County EMS/COACHES TEAM – $2,000 – To provide vital child passenger safety services and fund a peer support program for medics.

Muskogee Little Theater – $4,575 – To rent professional puppets for their production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Muskogee Arts and Science Center – $3,000 – To purchase supplies for school field trips and Saturday activities.

Neighbors Building Neighborhoods of Muskogee – $20,000 – To support the Dream Team’s after-school and summer learning programs that address the challenges of generational poverty and social isolation.

Northeastern State University Foundation – $10,000 – To support the E. Phil Kirschner Memorial Scholarship at Northeaster State University.

Oklahoma Foundation for the Education of Blind Children and Youth – $6,000 – To support scholarships for visually impaired students and grants for teachers of blind or visually impaired students.

Town of Tullahassee – $20,000 – To help revitalize and enhance the town’s appeal to visitors through heritage markers and Civic Center improvements.

Volunteers of America of Oklahoma – $5,000 – To engage Americans aged 55 and older in volunteer service in Cherokee, Muskogee, McIntosh and Sequoyah counties.

Women In Safe Home – $10,000 – To provide refuge and supportive services to individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, enabling them to leave abusive environments securely.

Zoe Institute – $15,000 – To help launch the Work Ready Oklahoma Program in Cherokee County, which will help foster self-sufficiency among vulnerable Oklahomans.

Educational & Vocational Opportunities for Children and Young Adults with Disabilities

A New Leaf – $20,000 – To support Transition Academy, a two-year residential program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, focusing on equipping them for independent living and employment.

NewView Oklahoma – $20,000 – To support a 90-day initiative providing low-vision and blind individuals with training to enhance their school attendance, career skills, workforce entry and overall livelihood.

Not Your Average Joe – $25,000 – To help launch a new Not Your Average Joe location in Choctaw, support mentors and trainers and enhance training for neurodiverse and neurotypical staff.

Oklahoma State University Foundation – $35,000 – To support new faculty and a scholarship for Opportunity Orange Scholars, an on-campus certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities.

Paths to Independence – $25,000 – To support a new Cooking for Independence program that will include culinary arts classes and food handler permit preparation for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Pathways Adult Learning Center – $20,000 – To support their Life Skills Cooking class and develop a curriculum that integrates academic subjects with life skills and experiential learning.

South Central Industries – $20,000 – To help expand training and employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the opening of HaPEEPy’s Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Shawnee.

Spiro Public School District – $15,000 – To support a practical living space equipped with kitchen and laundry appliances to teach students independent living skills.

The Academy of Classical Christian Studies – $20,000 – To support the expansion of their Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy program for students aged 6-14, diagnosed with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down syndrome.

The Arc of Oklahoma – $10,000 – To train volunteers as lay advocates, aiding K-12 students with disabilities in Tulsa Public Schools.

The Little Light House – $15,000 – To support the year-round preschool program that helps students learn vital skills like walking, talking, eating, playing and living independently.

University of Oklahoma Foundation with OU’s Sooner Works – $35,000 – To support their four-year program for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities seeking a college experience.

University of Oklahoma Foundation with OU’s SPARK360° Program – $35,000 – To enhance the Spark360 program to better serve neurodiverse students, extend services and increase program visibility.

Jewish Education, Culture & Heritage

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion – $3,600 – To support scholarships for rabbinical students.

Institute of Southern Jewish Life – $10,000 – To preserve and enrich the history and ongoing experience of Southern Jewish life by ensuring access to meaningful Jewish experiences for all.

JBI International – $6,000 – To provide free audio, large print and braille materials to individuals who cannot read standard print.

Jewish Children’s Regional Service – $60,000 – To support college scholarships, grants for Jewish summer camps, special needs assistance and other vital outreach programs pivotal in building one’s Jewish identity.

Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab – $10,000 – To support their Restorative Nursing/Care Gym with Certified Nursing Assistants who assist residents with exercise and physical therapies.

Stillwater Museum Association – $7,799 – To create a new exhibit exploring the history of Jewish residents, including notable figures and businesses like Jake Katz and Katz’s Store.

Tulsa Jewish Community Council Jewish Federation of Tulsa – $20,000 – To help preserve and promote Jewish Culture and history at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art.