American Indian tribal colleges, some having to use inadequate facilities for years, will get a boost from a $30 million donation by the Lilly Endowment, the Associated Press reports.

The gift to the American Indian College Fund will go to facility construction and renovation at 30 tribal colleges in 12 states. The institutions, mostly community colleges run by tribes on reservation lands, serve 26,000 students, AP reports.

The grant is the largest ever received by the the AICF. It also is the largest single private gift to any American Indian organization, the AICF reports.

Many of the colleges have been holding classes in old government buildings and portable classrooms. At one school, the main classroom building was condemned by inspectors. At another, the facilities have been located in converted World War II barracks for the last 20 years, the Associated Press reports.

The gift kicks off a $120-million capital campaign for the colleges. The fund reports that it has taken in $43 million so far, AP reports.

The private Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment was founded in 1937. It supports religious, educational and community development efforts, primarily in Indianapolis and Indiana.

Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19990928/
us/indian_colleges_3.html
and
http://www.collegefund.org/lilly.htm