Ellis County Historical Society
The Volga German Centennial Association (VGCA) is pleased to announce its first community gift through its endowment fund held at the Heartland Community Foundation. This marks the first grant awarded beyond the organization’s long-standing annual college scholarship program.
VGCA extends its sincere thanks to the many community sponsors and supporters who have contributed over the years through OktoberfestHays. Their generosity made the endowment fund possible and will continue to sustain its growth.
The first gift has been awarded to the Ellis County Historical Society (ECHS) to support the installation of a new HVAC system in the Volga German Haus on the ECHS campus.
Originally built in the 1980s with funding from the VGCA, the Volga German Haus is a replica based on a pioneer diary. It offers visitors a glimpse into daily life inside an early home of the Volga Germans who settled in Ellis County in 1876.
“We are incredibly grateful to VGCA for this generous and meaningful gift,” said Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society.
“Support like this makes a real difference for organizations like ours. As a nonprofit, we are always working within a very competitive funding environment where grant dollars are limited and often restricted. This gift helps us meet an essential need and allows us to care for the artifacts, spaces and stories entrusted to us," she said. "The Volga German Haus is such an important part of our shared history, and we deeply appreciate VGCA’s continued commitment to preserving it for future generations.”
VGCA also announced plans to expand its impact through a new community gift grant program, which will open to nonprofit organizations in 2027. Additional details will be shared as the program develops.