Kinder family planning to give $25,000 to Cape Public Schools Foundation

A donation of $25,000 from a Houston, Texas, couple will help fund grants to teachers in the Cape Girardeau public schools.

The money -- donated to the Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation -- will go to help buy the supplies teachers need for classroom projects and lessons.

The foundation began awarding "Great Idea" teaching grants last spring. It initially handed out checks totaling $20,400.

Richard and Nancy Kinder provided the latest boost to the foundation's finances, agreeing to give $25,000 over the next two years to the grant program.

The Kinders previously have awarded money to teachers in recognition of their efforts. Those awards were named in honor of Richard Kinder's mother, Edna C. Kinder.

Stacy Kinder, president of the school district foundation and a niece by marriage of Richard Kinder, said her group is receiving applications from teachers for some of the grant money. "So far, we have about 16 applications," she said.

The foundation hopes to award grants in early May.

Nancy and Richard Kinder, through their own foundation, annually award about $5 million to various charities.

"We are developing a park in downtown Houston. We give to hospitals and to building campaigns," said Nancy Kinder.

During a three-year period starting in 2001, the Kinders handed out 10 awards worth $10,000 each to Cape Girardeau-area schoolteachers.

Richard Kinder grew up in Cape Girardeau, graduating from Central High School in 1962.

He operates Kinder Morgan, a gas pipeline business.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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