Drake University recently received three grants from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino totaling $21,800 to support projects in the Law School, Cowles Library and the Dean of Students Office.
The Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Awards were presented at recent luncheon for:
- $6,800 for the Law School Library’s archival project
- $5,000 for a male leadership project through the Dean of Students Office titled, Brother to Brother
- $10,000 for Cowles Library’s Citizens Arise! series, an ongoing initiative designed to engage students, teachers and the general public about the importance of responsible citizenship
The award will provide the Law School with funding for its archive project in materials to arrange, store and exhibit the Drake Law School archives, which will be housed in the Dwight D. Opperman Law Library. The Law Library also plans to purchase new file cabinets, archival quality containers and display cases.
Funding will help support the project out of the Dean of Students Office. The initiative will target minority male Drake students to help them develop characteristics of manhood, academic success, service learning, financial literacy and multicultural competence. The initiative will challenge participants to create their own personal vision and demonstrate leadership, team work, emotional intelligence, integrity, campus involvement and community service.
The Citizens Arise! project will continue to reach the Des Moines and Iowa community through educational programs that encourage building community and being an engaged citizen. The funding will bring distinguished speakers to Drake’s campus for public lectures and continuing education courses.
Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grants are awarded to projects in one of four categories: arts and culture, economic development, education and human services. Prairie Meadows has contributed more than $433 million to promote these areas in Iowa.