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of Northeast Iowa
Community Foundation Grants $272,026: 23 local nonprofit organizations receive funding - page 5
Established in Waterloo/Cedar Falls in 1956
425 Cedar Street, Suite 310 PO Box 1176 Waterloo, IA 50704 www.cfneia.org
Social Action Inc. grant provides youth activities - page 6
Camp Noah improves morale - page 6
Teen Trust students serving community - page 7
Good News Helping you help your community.
Serving 20 Iowa counties
What is your passion? # r. ve
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of Northeast Iowa Established in Waterloo/Cedar Falls in 1956
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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Make a gift to your community by giving to any of our funds online at www.cfneia.org, or simply fill out this form:
Name: Address: Phone: Donation Amount: $
City, State, Zip:
Email:
Please make check payable to name of fund.
YES! I would like to help my community by making a gift to the BLACK HAWK COUNTY*: General Community Fund
Waterloo Community Fund
Health and Human Services Fund
Cedar Falls Community Fund
Arts and Culture Fund
Youth and Education Fund
I would like to learn more about CFNEIA & other giving options. PLEASE CONTACT ME.
*For a complete list of our CFNEIA funds, including all county and community funds, please visit us online at www.cfneia.org.
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Please clip this form and mail it with your check to: PO BOX 1176, WATERLOO, IA 50704
A legacy of love: A donor’s special tribute Orville Bloethe remembers his wife, Loanna Having been overseas 3 1/2 years, when WWII ended in midAugust, 1945, I was on the first ship home from Australia. I was discharged at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis and took the Rock Island train to Iowa City where I went to the Law School to see if I could take classes yet that fall. Fortunately, I was accepted and attended the fall and spring sessions as well as the summer session. As we neared the end of the summer session, a farm boy from Perry, Carl Schnoor, asked me if I would care to take the train to Des Moines to go to the State Fair and then come to his home to stay for the weekend. I thought it was a great idea, so I accepted. The next morning, as I was fastening up my shirt, a beautiful girl in a fresh gingham dress came out of the kitchen. It was a picture that will always remain in my mind. When I inquired what she was preparing for a meal, she said, “Butterfly wings and hummingbird tongues.” On Monday morning I had to leave, and with Loanna on one side of the gate and I on the other, I wondered if we would ever meet again. Fortunately, the 3-cent stamp made conversation easy and on the 7th time we met, we were married. It’s a wonderful story and so began our beautiful love story, which lasted nearly 62 years. Loanna’s will to do great things for her family helped create many opportunities for us to enjoy wonderful, unforgettable
experiences. In 1967 the World’s Fair was being held in Montreal, Canada. Loanna and I talked often that it would be wonderful if we could take the family to the World’s Fair. The closer we came to the time we would be leaving, the more I became convinced, “No, not this year, maybe next.” I relayed these thoughts to Loanna. When I came home the next day, in the driveway stood a folddown camper trailer and a trailer hitch attached to the car. Fortunately, I had the good sense to tell the family, “Yes, I guess we are going to the World’s Fair in Montreal.” The World’s fair was an amazing experience. We went to Quebec City, then up the St. Lawrence Seaway to Gaspe where we camped at the ocean’s side with serene beauty as the fishermen brought in their day’s catch. We then went to Albany, New York, took a flight to New York City where continued on page 3
A legacy of love: A donor’s special tribute to his wife continued from page 1 FOUNDATION STAFF Mary Ann Burk President and CEO Stacy Paul Director of Finance and Operations Carolynn Sween Program Director Alison Parrish Director of Communications Mindy Gress Director of Outreach Julie Schaefer Project Specialist Nicole Stuart Administrative Assistant
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chuck Shirey Chair Gary Bertch First Vice Chair Dawn Duven Second Vice Chair John Monaghan Treasurer Dr. Kyle Christiason Secretary Dee Vandeventer Past Chair Katy Williams Lois Rupkey-Cohrt Dennis Clark Lori Johnson Jay Bullerman Mark Rolinger Bob Smith Marlene Behn
AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVES Jim Davies Kip Hauser
EX OFFICIO Greater Cedar Valley Chambers, Chair Waterloo-Cedar Falls Junior League, President Teen Trust Representative
Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations
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From the President/CEO Mary Ann Burk Dear Friends of the Foundation, Here it is March, and I still feel like the year 2010 has just begun. But, the reality is that one quarter of the year is almost behind us and we have so much on our “to do” list. The Foundation Board and staff entered into a strategic planning process over the last year and few months, and we are still working to fine tune it to ensure that our actions meet the vision and mission of the Foundation. Overall we want to help donors meet their philanthropic goals and increase the assets of the Foundation so that grants from the Foundation can address the charitable needs and opportunities of the Cedar Valley and Northeast Iowa as they arise. We were fortunate that we ended last year with some wonderful gifts to the Foundation. Some of the gifts were to existing funds established by individual donors, families, corporations, or nonprofit agencies. Some were to establish new funds in the names of the donor, their families, or other loved ones the donors wished to remember or honor. When each named Fund is established, Foundation staff works with the donor to write a story, what we call a vignette, about the person(s), corporations or nonprofits being honored through the Fund. You will read about one of those stories in this issue-the Orville and Loanna Bloethe Family Fund. As the funds are permanent endowment funds, collectively, these stories make up the history of those who have lived in and make our communities what they are today. If you want to read more of these stories, you can go to our website and click on the established funds-they are a joy to read, even as it was a joy to learn and write about these individuals and groups.
Also, because these funds are permanent endowment funds at a Community Foundation that meets National Standards, the donors to the funds are eligible for a 25% Iowa State tax credit in addition to the federal deduction for charitable giving. We have been fortunate that the Iowa legislators recognize the value of giving to support the communities of Iowa forever through this Endow Iowa tax credit. You will also read in this newsletter about some of the many more recent grants that our Foundation has been able to make because of our generous donors. Again, there are many wonderful stories about the support these grants provide our nonprofits and the individuals and families they serve. Our Foundation made a decision to continue our granting at the same percent we had in the past and not cut because of the trying economic times and the down market. This decision was made because we realize that now is the time that our nonprofits need assistance. Knowing this, we have been conducting surveys of the nonprofits in the area to gauge how they are being affected by the struggles caused by the stressed economy. You can read the results of the first two surveys on our website. A third will be done in the coming months. Our “to do” list is long. There are so many issues that could use some attention. We continue to be grateful to all of you-our partners in philanthropy…and we will continue to work “to help you help your community”. With warmest regards,
we toured a submarine, took a trip around Staten Island, went to the top of the Empire State Building, and returned once again to Albany by train. None of this would have ever happened had it not been for the great sense and persistence of my wonderful wife, Loanna. Loanna loved nature, the outdoors, camping and going to National Parks. We would rent a travel trailer and most, if not at all times, Loanna would cook the meals. She took the lid of a Maytag washer and propped up one end with a brick, put charcoal under the lid and after the lid was hot, put on the package of potatoes, hamburger patties and baked beans. It was a great meal, thanks to the homemade grill that was Loanna’s idea. On a Northern Minnesota trip, all of us went out to pick blueberries. They were both scarce and little, but sweet and good. There was the usual grill for campers so Loanna made a crust, took tin foil and made very little blueberry pies, cooking them on the open grill. They were simply wonderful (made by the sweetest, most wonderful Mother and Wife ever).
Thank you, Loanna, for so many, many wonderful things only a mother and wife could do. You are the best and we love you very much. ~ Orville Orville and Loanna Bloethe have always been inclined to share with others in their community; especially students. The emphasis for their giving has been to expose students to the arts, and experience the thrill of a quality production at Hancher in Iowa City, Iowa. To help students with interests such as these, the Bloethe’s chose to create the Orville and Loanna Bloethe Family Fund through the Iowa County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. You can make a gift to the Orville and Loanna Bloethe Family Fund online at www.cfneia.org. Checks can be sent to Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, c/o Orville and Loanna Bloethe Family Fund at PO Box 1176, Waterloo, Iowa 50704. v
Give and receive with Endow Iowa It is rewarding to give to the causes and community you care about through the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa—in more ways than one. Your gift creates lasting good in the community, and the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program offers you generous tax incentives for giving. Through Endow Iowa, Iowans can give for less. Those who give to endowed funds at qualified community foundations, like the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, are eligible to receive 25% state tax credits for their contributions. Endow Iowa gifts also are eligible for federal tax deductions. “In Iowa, we have a strong tradition of people caring for one another and for the communities in which they live,” said Mary Ann Burk, Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa President/CEO. “Endow Iowa builds on this tradition of neighbors helping neighbors by encouraging gifts to community foundations, which serve as trusted stewards and local partners in philanthropy.” Since 2003, more than $50 million has been invested in community foundations because of Endow Iowa, improving lives and strengthening communities. By supporting endowed funds, Iowans are ensuring that their gifts will be at work well into the future. For more information about Endow Iowa, please contact the Community Foundation at (319) 287-9106 or visit www.cfneia.org. v
Gifts That Give Back With Endow Iowa, donations to community foundations cost donors less. For example, a $10,000 gift could cost just $4,000.* Gift: $10,000 Tax Credit: $2,500 Federal Tax Deduction: $3,500 Total Tax Savings: $6,000 Total Cost of Gift: $4,000** *Based on 35% marginal federal tax rate. **Gift appreciated securities and your total cost of gift is even less.
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New 4th Quarter Partners in Philanthropy The Community Foundation is committed to cultivating strong communities across Northeast Iowa and beyond by growing our permanent endowment. We are pleased to announce the following funds were established October 1-December 31, 2009 in support of this mission: EDNA AND DON ADAMS ENDOWMENT FUND This donor advised fund was established in honor of Edna and Don Adams under the Buchanan County Community Foundation. Income from the fund will be used to support the charitable needs of Buchanan County, Iowa.
LAWRENCE J. AND IRENE M. BRADLEY FUND This designated fund was established to honor the memory of Lawrence and Irene Bradley and their family. Income will be granted to benefit the Rockwell City, Iowa Public Library and the Rockwell City Meals on Wheels program.
CLEAR LAKE/VENTURA AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - ENGAGE! FUND
This field of interest fund was established by the governing committee members of the Kossuth County Community Foundation. Grants will be made from the fund to qualified nonprofit agencies to benefit the citizens of Kossuth County, Iowa.
DORT AND RON MASTAIN EDUCATION FUND This scholarship fund was established in honor of Dort and Ron Mastain. Income will be used for scholarships to deserving graduates of Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School.
This advised field of interest fund was established under the Clear Lake/Ventura Area Community Foundation. Income from the fund will be used to make charitable grants to nonprofit agencies to provide winter apparel to benefit the citizens of the Ventura and Clear Lake, Iowa areas.
KARLEE NAGEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
EXCEPTIONAL PERSONS ENDOWMENT FUND
JEAN AND CLAIR PARKER FUND
This agency endowment fund was established to support the charitable activities of the Exceptional Persons Foundation, which makes a positive difference for people living with disabilities, enhances community child care and strengthens families.
This unrestricted fund was established by Jean and Clair Parker at the time of Jean’s death through their planned estate gift. Income from the fund will be used to carry out the educational and charitable purposes of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa in serving the broad needs of Black Hawk County.
CHRISTIAN AND RUTH FISHER APLINGTON LIBRARY MEMORIAL FUND This designated fund was established in memory of Christian and Ruth Fisher under the Butler County Community Foundation. Income will benefit the library in Aplington, Iowa.
INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING FUND This agency fund was established under the Buchanan County Community Foundation to support the building of a new Independence High School.
KOSSUTH COUNTY C.A.R.E. TEAM FUND This agency endowment fund was established under the Kossuth County Community Foundation. Income from the fund will support the charitable activities and programs of the Kossuth County Child Assistance Resource Education Team (C.A.R.E. Team).
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KOSSUTH COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GOVERNING COMMITTEE ENDOWMENT FUND
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This scholarship fund was established in memory of Karlee Nagel. Income from the fund will go to provide one-year scholarships made annually, as long as funds are available, to qualified graduates of Waterloo West High School.
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 in January 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. When the house opens, 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.
DEAN AND LEE PLATT FAMILY FUND This unrestricted fund was established in memory of Dean Platt and in honor of the Dean and Lee Platt Family. Income from the fund will be used to carry out the educational and charitable purposes of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa in serving the broad needs of Black Hawk County.
FRANK AND ANN WEINER FAMILY FUND This donor advised fund was established in honor of the Frank and Ann Weiner Family under the Floyd County Community Foundation. Recommendations for usage of the income of the fund will be made by the Weiner Family. Support the causes you care about by starting a fund or making a gift to one of our established funds at the Community Foundation. For more information, call (319) 287-9106 or visit us at www.cfneia.org!
Nina Thomas, Program Coordinator for Allen Child Protection Center, gives an update on the Center and how their grant will be used.
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 that received a Fall 2009 grant award from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
Mary Ann Burk with Maria Benham, Executive Director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa
Arts & Culture: Hawkeye Community College (2009-2010 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 (Town Hall Event for MS); Allen Women’s Health (Child Protection Center). Historic Preservation: Grout Museum District (Museum School student registration fees). 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); 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). v
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Grant Partner: Social Action Inc. provides education and recreation activities for youth In tough times, teaching local youth about financial literacy and entrepreneurship has never been more important. In June 2009 the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa awarded 5,000 dollars to the Social Action Inc. to help turn this idea into a class. Taking place over a five week period, the financial class proved to be a good learning experience for those who participated. In class, the youth were provided information on budgeting, investing, financing, marketing and managing a business. The members of the class developed a mock-business plan in accordance with what they learned. Participants also had an opportunity to visit with a representative from
Veridian Credit Union. In the visit to class the representative explained the different types of savings/checking accounts among other things. When the five week class came to an end the youth were awarded a $100.00 check to open a bank account. The other focus of the grant was based around recreation and entertainment for youth. As a result, the Social Action Inc. established its Friday Night Teen Dances. Dances featured local musicians who not only performed, but also had words of encouragement to share with youth. The average turnout for a Friday Night Teen Dance was 65 young people. The Social Action Inc continues to host its Friday Night Teen Dances and has plans for more financial classes in the future. These events were a success due in large part to the contribution of the Community Foundation.
Grant Partner: Camp Noah improves morale of children affected by floods In February 2009, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa awarded 5,000 dollars to the Bremer Country Recovery Coalition. The mission: help kids affected by the flooding disaster of 2008. To assist those in need the Bremer Country Recovery Coalition supported an event called Camp Noah. This five day therapeutic summer camp was aimed at improving the morale of kids in Waverly and Shell Rock, IA.
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Teen Trust off to another great start By Teen Trust Student Director, Sunni Swarbrick The 2009-2010 Teen Trust students, representing 11 Black Hawk County high schools, started off their year last fall by identifying and assessing the needs of the community and formulating their grant application. They also formed committees geared towards their various goals for the year. These committees included public relations and marketing, service, endowment, and relations.
distributing informational letters to student leadership groups. In late March, the students will be volunteering with the Northeast Iowa Special Olympics and their Spring games at the UNI Dome. Lastly, in March and April the trustees will be working on recruitment for next year’s board, and doing some fundraising for the Teen Trust Endowment fund with Cold Stone Creamery.
The trustees are currently beginning the process of reviewing and evaluating grant applications from the 13 organizations that applied for funding. Their process has started with narrowing down the applications to be considered for funding based upon what they assessed to be the greatest needs within the community. They are also keeping busy with numerous service projects. They adopted a family for the 2009 holiday season and made Valentines for the residents of the Lutheran Home in Cedar Falls. They also worked with RJ McElroy Trust to kick things off for the Gold Star Awards program by hanging up posters in their schools and
2009-2010 Teen Trust Student Trustees with Sunni Swarbrick, Teen Trust Student Director
Calendar of Events MARCH
The two camps took place in the summer of 2009 and had almost eighty registrants. Many of the campers had homes that were either completely destroyed or severely damaged. While at camp the children enjoyed a full range of activities and games that allowed them to be social and have fun. Arts and crafts played an essential role in making Camp Noah a success. Local artists from Shell Rock and Waverly sketched Noah’s Ark-inspired art on 55 gallon drums. These drums were then painted by the children and transformed into trash cans for municipal parks. The children then proudly placed their signatures on the trash cans for friends and family to see. KWWL meteorologist Jennifer Hildreth also made an appearance at both locations. In her presentation she described the science of bad weather to the campers.
Students serving the community:
March 24 - CFNEIA Executive Committee 11:30am-1:00pm US Bank Conference Room-1st Floor
On the last day the children were asked to make preparedness bags. These kits included; flashlights, bottled water, Kleenex, socks, and personal hygiene items. Participating in this activity served as a way to empower campers and proved to be exciting as well. It is the hope of the Bremer County Recovery Coalition that legacies left by the campers such as the trash cans will inspire projects in the future. v
March 31 - Teen Trust Board Meeting 12:00-2:00pm
APRIL April 6 - Young Leaders in Action Conference 8:00am-1:30pm Hawkeye Community College April 7 - 20 Under 40 Luncheon 12:00-1:00pm Philanthropy Center Conference Room
April 13 - Women in Philanthropy Luncheon 11:30-1:00pm At the home of Katy Williams April 14 - CFNEIA Board of Directors 3:00-5:00pm Philanthropy Center Conference Room April 19 - Waverly Community Fund Grant Awards Ceremony Waverly-Shell Rock High School April 20 - Mayor’s Top Teen Awards & Mother Moon Service Scholarship Presentation 6:00pm Sullivan Brothers Center
April 21 - Kossuth County Community Foundation Grant Awards Ceremony Algona Senior Center April 22 - Iowa Council of Foundations Meeting 10:00am-2:00pm Des Moines
MAY May 12 - Metro Funders Meeting 12:00-1:00pm Philanthropy Center Conference Room May 19 - CFNEIA PR/Development Committee 12:00-2:00pm Philanthropy Center Conference Room
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