Hormel Foundation approves $4.2 million in grants

Published 10:31 am Friday, November 20, 2009

The Hormel Foundation approved more than $4.2 million in grants to local organizations for 2010.

That money will go to more than 20 local groups including Habitat for Humanity, the City of Austin, the Salvation Army and the Austin Community Scholarship Committee.

The primary recipient of the foundation’s contributions is the University of Minnesota’s Hormel Institute. The relationship between these two groups dates back to a 1942 agreement between the university’s board of regents and the Hormel Foundation.

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Money given to the Hormel Institute goes toward education and research concerning things like heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

Contributions of about $65,000 also came through the Geo. A. Hormel Testamentary Trust, which has contributed over $3 million to Austin organizations since 1946. This contribution benefited more than 20 area organizations like the American Legion Post 91, the Matchbox Children’s Theater, and contributions were made to area sports organizations.

Along with the foundation’s contributions, money from the estate of Edna Denbow Schrafel was used to fund the grant to the Austin Public Education Foundation. Likewise, funds from the estate of Adelaide Holton will go toward an endowed professorship to benefit the Hormel Institute.

Since the Hormel Foods Corp. founder George A. Hormel and son Jay C. Hormel formed the Hormel Foundation in 1941, the foundation has contributed more than $77 million to the Austin area.

Organizations interested in receiving a grant from the Hormel Foundation in 2011 should submit an application before Sept. 1, 2010. Applications can be found at www.thehormelfoundation.com.