Community Foundation approves more than $350,000 in grants 

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa held its fall grant award ceremony January 19, announcing grants approved in excess of $350,235, to 35 area nonprofits, nearly $100,000 more than what was distributed at the spring award ceremony. The next deadline to apply for a Community Foundation grant is April 1.

Mary Ann Burk, President and CEO of the Foundation, opened one of her final grant ceremonies as President and CEO, stating, “The CFNEIA is so appreciative of the many donors who make these grants possible. The impact made by the Foundation’s grants has increased over the years because of the generosity of so many. In December, 2011, alone, donations to the Foundation exceeded $2.5 million, ensuring even greater impact in the years to come.” Burk will be retiring at the end of May.  

The YWCA of Black Hawk County Latino Services Program was awarded $30,000 for general operations. The YWCA Latino Services Program served 648 individuals in 2011. The services provided by the bilingual staff address needs of Latino families, including translation, interpretation, referrals, and job assistance services. 

Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care Center received a grant of $15,000 for a kitchen restoration project. The Center has been serving children in the Cedar Valley for 41 years. Director Linda Jacoby stated, “We can’t think of anything more important than investing in the lives of our little people.” Jacoby said the kitchen has assisted in preparing thousands of meals and snacks over the years and it’s finally time for some updates. 

Cedar Valley Friends of the Family received a grant of $10,000 to support their Safe Shelter which is located in Waverly, but is the closest domestic abuse shelter to Black Hawk County. Nearly 75% of individuals served by CVFF are from Black Hawk County. The Shelter has 21 beds and certified advocates are on call 24 hours to assist victims and their families.

In addition to the YWCA Latino Services, Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, and the Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care Center, the following is a complete list of Black Hawk County discretionary grantees receiving funding from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. 

Arts & Culture:

• Hawkeye Community College-Hawkeye Celebrates the Arts! Artist Series
• Metropolitan Choral-Sponsorship of Winter 2012 Concert 

Community Affairs and Development:

• Friends of National Cattle Congress-Efforts to raise attendance in the NCC
• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church-Community Center; Waterloo Neighborhood Economic Development-Micro Enterprise Project

Education:

• Covenant Medical Center-Retired Senior Volunteer Program for mentors for students (RSVP)
•  Family Management Credit Counselors-Recovering After a Financial Setback Class
•  The Job Foundation-Financial Stewardship Mentoring Program
•  University of Northern Iowa Foundation-Shining Stars: Girls Looking Ahead
•  Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley-Service-Learning: Engaging Youth in Service
•  Waterloo Community Schools Foundation-Operational Support, Marketing/Communications
•  Waterloo Community School District-Standardized Dress Code Assistance Program

Health:

• Allen Health Systems, Inc.-Allen Child Protection Center
•  Cedar Valley Hospice-Caring Connections Project
•  Communities in Schools-Success Street
•  Kingsley Elementary-Heart rate monitors

Historic Preservation:

• Cedar Falls Woman’s Club-Replacing stove & hood in Woman’s Club kitchen
•  Grout Museum District-Renovation of Heritage Hall 

Human Services:  

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa, Inc.-Community and School-Based Mentoring
•  Cedar Valley Friends of the Family-Safe Shelter for victims of domestic violence from Black Hawk  County
•  Angel House-General operations support
•  Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care Center-Kitchen renovation
•  House of Hope-General operations support
•  Community United Child Care-Resurfacing staff parking lot
•  Consumer Credit Counseling Service of NE Iowa, Inc.-Representative Payee Services
•  East Side Ministerial Alliance-Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
•  Family and Children’s Council of Black Hawk County-Parent Connection Program
•  Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois-Leadership Programming for At-Risk Girls in Black  Hawk County
•  Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity-UNI Americorps work crew and staff support
•  National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum-‘Wrestling for a Reason’ Mentoring Program
•  Northeast Iowa Food Bank-Backpack Program
•  Social Action Inc.-Youth Financial Literacy Program
•  Variety: The Children’s Charity-Bikes for Kids
•  Family YMCA of Black Hawk County-Facility improvements
•  YWCA of Black Hawk County-Latino Services operational support

Local nonprofits surprised with $7,384 in grant awards

WATERLOO, December 12, 2011 – Four area nonprofits serving women and children received a grants totaling $7,384 from the Community Foundation’s Women’s Fund, a permanent endowment established to benefit projects and programs serving women, girls and families in the community. Approximately 40 Women in Philanthropy members gathered at the Waterloo Elks Lodge on Tuesday for a quarterly luncheon. Nina Thomas from Allen Child Protection Center, Julia Baldwin from Angel House, Casey Herkelman from Cedar Valley Friends of the Family, and Monica Paulsen from House of Hope presented at the luncheon about their programs. Afterward, the agencies were each surprised with a grant award.

Every fall, Women in Philanthropy members vote for a nonprofit agency to receive the Women’s Fund grant. This year was unique because four nonprofits were selected.

At the luncheon, Baldwin shared remarks about how Angel House opened in 2009 because of a $23,595 grant received from the Community Foundation; $3,595 which came specifically as a grant from the Women’s Fund.

Additionally, in October 2010, the Community Foundation began a Women’s Fund Challenge after receiving a $50,000 challenge gift to the Fund. Development Director, Ali Parrish, announced at the luncheon on Tuesday that the Women’s Fund Challenge had officially been met, increasing the Women’s Fund endowment by over $100,000 during the past year. The increase in endowment assets and supplementary donations that were added to the annual Women’s Fund grant are what contributed to the much larger total grant award this year.

Women in Philanthropy is a program of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, which promotes the intellectual and economic growth of women in today’s culture. The group meets quarterly to keep women informed of issues affecting women and girls in the Cedar Valley. Membership is open to all women interested in having fun with philanthropy.

To receive more information about Women in Philanthropy and the Women’s Fund, please call Ali Parrish at 319-287-9106. 

 

Community Foundation receives $2 million in estate gift

WATERLOO, December 5, 2011 – The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa has been gifted over $2 million from the George Paul estate to establish two additional funds in the name of George and his wife Hallene. Income from the funds will benefit the Floyd County Historical Museum in Charles City, Iowa; the Norway Valley Historical Museum in Clarinda, Iowa; the Waterloo Center for the Arts; scholarships for Black Hawk County students attending the Allen College of Nursing &Radiography; and the Grout Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.

Attorney Henry Edsill of Regions Morgan Keegan Trust and Attorney Rick Miller assisted with the estate gift and transfer of funds to the Foundation. “George was a remarkable guy,” said Miller. “He was charitably minded and used the umbrella of the Community Foundation to support many things. Since George and Hallene had no children, giving to the community was the obvious thing to do.” 

Mary Ann Burk, President and CEO of the Foundation said “It has been a great honor to know George over the years. We are so pleased he chose the Community Foundation to carry out his and his wife’s legacy to the community.” 

Although George and Hallene have both passed away, three funds now stand in their name at the Foundation; an earlier endowment fund was established in 1999 with the Community Foundation, which supports transportation costs of El Kahir to transport children and their families to and from the Shriner’s Hospital. Gifts from their funds will be made to support the causes and programs they loved even after their deaths.