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Community Foundation grants $272,026 to 23 local nonprofits

At the December board meeting of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, the board of directors approved a total of $272,026 in grants to 23 Black Hawk County non-profit organizations. The awards were announced Thursday during a ceremony at the Community Foundation’s Philanthropy Center.

Among the awards was a $20,000 grant to Angel House for its clean and sober living facility for women. Once the house opens in March, it will provide safe and structured housing for seven female residents for up to 18 months.
 
Women will be referred to the home after being released from a correctional facility or an addiction treatment center in the area. Program classes provided to the residents will include time and money management, nutrition and cooking, healthy relationships and communications skills, parenting, and job seeking skills. When needed, the women will also be put in touch with community resources to fill other needs such as medication and grief counseling.
 
Julia Baldwin, executive director, received the grant check on behalf of Angel House. She said, “We are so grateful for this grant, for the faithfulness of the Community Foundation, and for the generosity of its donors. After nearly two years of hard work, we will now be able to open our doors.”
 
The Allen Child Protection Center also received a $32,353 grant. The center is a program of Allen Women’s Health and will serve children who are physically or sexually abused. It will offer evaluation, forensic investigation and case coordination for an estimated 200 children during the first year of operation.
 
The Community Foundation grant will be used primarily to build a soundproof room for recording forensic interviews on digital media. The recordings will be used in court proceedings to prosecute cases of child abuse.
 
In addition to Angel House and Allen Child Protection Center, the following is a complete list of Black Hawk County discretionary grantees and the program or fund that received a Fall 2009 grant award from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
 
Arts & Culture: Hawkeye Community College (2009-20010 Hawkeye Celebrates the Arts Series).
 
Community Affairs & Development: Covenant Medical Center (RSVP support of Prime Time); Waterloo Leisure Services (Pat Bowlsby off leash Dog Park).
 
Education: Consumer Credit Counseling Service of NE Iowa (Money Map High School Literacy Program); Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (Waterloo East High I-Jag for 2010-2011 School year).
 
Health: American Heart Association, Inc (Go Red for Women Luncheon for the event in BHC); National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Sponsor Town Hall Event for MS); Allen Women’s Health (To establish a Child Protection Center). 
 
Historic Preservation: Grout Museum District (Museum School student registration fees); La Porte City FFA Historical and Ag Museum (Online Fundraising database).
 
Human Services: Big Brothers/Big Sisters (AMACHI: Mentoring Children of Prisoners in Black Hawk County); Communities in Schools (Success Street); Family and Children’s Council of Black Hawk County (Parent Education Programming); Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (Youth Leadership Development Outreach); Grin and Grow Ltd. (Quality Early Childhood education services); The Job Foundation (Financial integrity mentorship program); Northeast Iowa Food Bank (Cedar Valley Food Pantry); Variety-The Children’s Charity (Bikes for Kids); YWCA of Black Hawk County (Childcare programs financial assistance).
 
For more information, contact (319) 287-9106 or visit www.cfneia.org. The organization is now accepting online donations.
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How you can help Haiti

One of the greatest humanitarian disasters in recent memory is unfolding in Haiti. The country was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake and much of its basic infrastructure that provides basic human needs, including food and water, is unable to function. The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s opinion is that the best way to help people in Haiti at this point in time is to make monetary donations to organizations that are experienced in disaster relief and have a presence in the country.

 

After researching potential candidates for support, we found this list of organizations provided through Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors that look well positioned to help in Haiti. Arabella Advisors selected these based on their initial research and past experience with disaster-recovery funding.

 

American Red Cross - American Red Cross Disaster management specialists are already on the scene in Haiti providing disaster relief services.

 

CARE - With an active presence in Haiti since 1954, CARE's work there focuses on HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, maternal and child health, education, food security, and water and sanitation.

 

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - CRS has more than 50 years of experience in Haiti and currently serves some 200,000 of the poorest and most marginalized Haitians in the areas of health and nutrition, education, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, peace building and migration.

 

Oxfam - With a staff of 200, including a 15-member emergency response team, Oxfam International brings expertise in water, sanitation and public health in Haiti, as well as local knowledge and community networks established over the past decade.

 

PLAN - Having worked in Haiti since 1973, the organization currently implements child-centered community development programs featuring Health, Education for Girls and Boys, HIV/AIDS, and the Rights of the Child.

 

Save the Children - Having worked in Haiti since 1985, primarily in Port-au-Prince and the Central Plateau region, Save the Children provides health, education, protection and food security programs to vulnerable children.

 

We also recommend that donors interested in giving to the relief efforts in Haiti review Guidelines for Appropriate International Disaster Donations on the Center for International Disaster Information website.

 

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us at (319) 287-9106 or email a staff member.