More than $100,000 Granted to Page County Nonprofit Agencies
Nearly $1 Million Invested in Nonprofits by the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa

While there may not be an over abundance of good investment news lately, Elaine Armstrong, Chair of the Page County Community Foundation (formerly the Page County Endowment Fund), working in partnership with the Greater Shenandoah Foundation and the Clarinda Foundation, is pleased to announce today the investment of $102,280.34 in grants in Page County nonprofit agencies. 

"This is timely economic news for our County because research has shown that $1 of investment in a nonprofit organization can lead to $8 in economic benefit to the public," said Armstrong.   "I do not know where else today you can find that kind of return on a dollar.  It is our hope that the grants announced today can pay dividends to Page County of an approximate $800,000 value.  And the greatest news is that's value we all share in our communities."

The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Page County Community Foundation by the February 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the Page County Board of Directors:

Organization	Project	Award
American Red Cross/Loess Hills Chapter	Page County Disaster Services and Shelter Program	$1,500
City of Essex	Essex Youth Sports	$2,000
Clarinda Lutheran School Association	Project Library 2009	$2,000
Essex Community School District	Media Center Automation	$2,000
Grandma's House Day Care	Food Handling and Storage Equipment	$2,000
Lied Public Library	Be Creative at Your Library	$2,000
Our House Child Development Center	Purchase of Educational Materials and Supplies	$2,000
Lied Public Library	Adding Computers	$2,500
Mentoring Affects Youth	Leadership Training/Promotional Enhancement Program	$2,500
Shenandoah Music Association	2009-2010 Season	$2,500
Shenandoah Band Boosters	Instrumental Music Department Upgrades	$2,700
Elm Heights Care Center	Common Area Television Project	$2,797
Greater Shenandoah Historical Society	Digital Storage of Media Collection	$3,000
Shenandoah Public Library Foundation	Memories of the Last Hard Times:  The '30s	$3,000
Southwest Iowa Families, Inc.	Energy Efficient HVAC Replacement	$3,000
Shenandoah Community Schools	Technology Grant	$4,000
Blanchard Community Center	New HVAC	$4,500
Shenandoah Medical Center	Laboratory Centrifuge	$4,600
Clarinda Chamber of Commerce	Downtown Tree Planters	$5,000
Coin Volunteer Fire and Rescue	New Slide In Unit	$5,000
Essex Child Center Inc.	Refurbishing the Front of the Center	$6,000
Nishna Productions, Inc.	Shenandoah Projects	$6,400
Clarinda Fire Department	Updating Our SCBAs	$6,451.34
City of Northboro	Emergency Warning Siren Replacement	$9,732
Glenn Miller Birthplace Society	Equipment for the Museum	$15,000

Of those awards, the top three areas represented were Public Safety, Arts, Culture and Humanities, and Education, with 22%, 20%, and 16% respectively.  All grantees met the criteria as Page County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Page County were eligible.   

Page County agency representatives received their checks this week.  During brief check distribution activities, Armstrong commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Page County.  

Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $102,280.34 in grants to these important community efforts in Page County.”   Armstrong explained, “The Page County Community Foundation is one of nine counties united as the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, which collectively meet or exceed the Standards for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington DC.”  Together, the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa will invest nearly $1 million this spring in nonprofits in our area.

The Page County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address the changing, vital community needs and interests.  Contributions large and small come in the form of cash, appreciated stock, real estate and end of life bequests that leave a lasting legacy.  The Page County Community Foundation invests and administers these funds and distributes funds each year to deserving, qualified nonprofit organizations.  “This is an annual granting process,” said Armstrong, “to-date the Page County Community Foundation has distributed approximately $258,000 in grants in Page County.”

Board members of the Page County Community Foundation are: Chair, Elaine Armstrong of Clarinda; Vice Chair Jan Billings of Shenandoah; Secretary/Treasurer Jeannine Liljedahl of Essex; Gary Beggs of Clarinda; Jim Millhone, Esq. of Clarinda; and Robert Norris, Esq. of Shenandoah.