The Dallas County Foundation (DCF) hosted its annual grant awards banquet Tuesday night at the Van Meter American Legion Post 403 Hall, with upwards of 100 people celebrating the countywide spirit of community benevolence fostered by the annual DCF grants.
DCF President Vicki Lage of Perry welcomed to assembled group and noted the DCF, in conjunction with the Grow Greene County Gaming Corp. (GGCGC), was awarding $138,753 in community-betterment grants to 35 Dallas County groups.
The funding level is about $2,950 higher than the 2018 awards total, when 27 groups received grants.
The GGCGC portion of this year’s awards amounted to $43,047, marking the fourth year for the Greene County supplemental dollars, which derive from revenues at the Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson.
Last night the Dallas County Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $138,753. The Waukee Betterment Foundation received a $20,000 grant from DCF/Grow Greene County for the Miracle Park all access Fishing Pier. Miracle Park will include an accessible playground, field, and fishing pier.
“We are thrilled that our new little friend, Miah Renken, and her buddies will have this awesome recreational space,” Ubben said.
The non-profit DCF, formed in 2005 to distribute Dallas County’s share of state gambling taxes, funds a variety of charitable, civic and cultural organizations across Dallas County. Since its first granting cycle in 2006, the DCF has awarded almost $1.3 million to about 260 projects in Dallas County.
DCF Director of Development Scott Cirksena thanked the attendees for their contributions to the quality of life in Dallas County and noted the generosity of donors to the DCF Founder’s Club Campaign.
Photographs of all the grant winners can be viewed at the Spellman Photography website. DCF Board members Jan Danielson Kaiser and Butch Niebuhr presented the 2019 Dallas County Foundation/Grow Greene County Grant Gaming Corp. grant awards to 35 groups:
1. Adel Chamber of Commerce, Kinnick to Raccoon Trail Project, $4,000
2. City of Adel, Park and Recreation Zipline, $2,500
3. Metro Effect INC DBA 3rd Place, Community Center, $1,500
4. Adel Fire Association, Utility Terrain Vehicle, $10,047
5. Adel Rotary Club, Boy Scout Tents, $2,000
6. DeSoto Police Department, AED/Defibrillator, $843
7. DeSoto Fire and Rescue, Wildland Gear, $2,500
8. City of Dallas Center, Updating Softball/Parks, $5,500
9. Spurgeon Manor, Inc., Music and Memory/Seniors, $1,500
10. Dallas County Sheriff’s Benevolent Association, Bullet-Proof Vests, $5,000
11. HomeCare Services Inc. of Dallas County, Food Proofer Cabinet, $750
12. Dallas County Cattleman, Scale House, $2,000
13. Dallas County Habitat for Humanity, Pilot Program-CAPABLE, $4,000
14. Dallas County Hospital Foundation, Childhood Obesity Program, $1,500
15. Food Bank of Iowa, Delivery Vehicle, $13,000
16. Fullhart Carnegie Trust, Wall of Witness Plaque, $1,000
17. City of Granger EMS, Replace AED/Defibrillator, $1,250
18. Iowa Council for International Understanding, English Language Resources, $1,000
19. Iowa Radio Reading Information Services, IRIS Signal Dallas County Hospital, $1,000 20. Perry Alano Club, New flooring/paint, $2,500
21. Perry Middle School, Art Room Renovations, $6,000
22. Perry School/PACES, Makerspace Lab/STEAM, $7,500
23. Perry Lutheran Home, Rehab Equipment, $778
24. Perry Acorns and Oaks Daycare, Portable Room Dividers, $1,115
25, Perry Parks and Recreation, Swim Team horn/back up/timing, $1,000
26. PRESBY Childcare Center, Toys, furnishings, equipment, $1,000
27. Van Meter Community Pre-K, Pre-K playground, $1,500
28. Van Meter Firefighters Association, Wildland Fire and Medical Extrication, $3,000
29. YMCA of Greater Des Moines (Waukee), Diving Pedestal Replacement, $4,000
30. Waukee Betterment Foundation, Miracle Park Fishing Pier, $20,000
31. United Methodist Church DSM, Maple Grove Annex, $8,000
32. Woodward-Granger School, MS/HS Library Update, $5,000
33. Woodward-Granger School Foundation, Auditorium Seating Update, $9,000
34. Walnut Creek Baseball, Safety Railings for Bleachers, $5,470
35. Des Moines Performing Arts, Applause Series, $2,000
The next grant cycle will be announced in December 2019.
The DCF is an affiliate of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation. Other DCF officers and board members present included President Vicki Lage, Treasurer Butch Niebuhr, Secretary Teresa Wichtendahl and directors Chris Brocka, Tim Canney, Carol Hill, Jan Danielson Kaiser, Michelle Messer, Tiawny Meyers, Doug Pullin, Megan Cline, Tiawny Meyers, Dean Scott, Lynn Ubben and Katie Spellman.
The GGCGC Board of Directors includes Kate Neese, Peg Raney, Brenda Muir, Rick Morain, Lori Mannel, Norm Fandel, Bob Allen and Craig Marquardt.
