Legacy Award - 2015

College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources

John P. Ellbogen Foundation

Legacy Award recipient enhances lives of Wyoming citizens

Helping extend resources of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to Wyoming citizens has drawn the John P. Ellbogen Foundation the 2015 Legacy Award from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The foundation last year announced an endowment that, when matched by the state, should total about $700,000 and generate $30,000 a year for projects by UW Extension educators to energize and extend the vision of the foundation and UW across the state.

The endowment is fueling  “The John P. Ellbogen Foundation Wyoming Communities, Agriculture, and Rural Living Project Fund.”  The foundation seeks to cause or create change to benefit the people of Wyoming in support of science, education, and charity.

Extension has offices in every county and the Wind River Reservation.

A committee will determine project recipients through a competitive process, notes Glen Whipple, UW Extension director, who adds this may be the first such funding of its kind for UW Extension.

“It’s not often you get a gift like this providing substantial funding for new and innovative projects in extension and be told to just go and do the things you normally do,” says Whipple.

John Ellbogen was born and raised in Worland and was the first in his family to receive a college degree. He received a degree in history and later a juris doctorate from UW. His philanthropy focus was education.

The foundation seeks to make a statewide impact, says Mary (Ellbogen) Garland, president and chair of the foundation.

“We’re excited to serve the people of Wyoming through opportunities identified as priorities in local communities that will enhance the quality of life for their citizens,” Garland notes. “It will be rewarding to see how the work done in the extension offices will build on the vision of the foundation as well as that of the university.”