More than $100,000 Granted to Crawford 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, Steve Vary, Chair of the Crawford County Community Foundation (formerly the Crawford County Endowment Fund) is pleased to announce today the investment of $102,279.63 in grants in Crawford 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 Vary.   "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 Crawford 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 Crawford County Community Foundation by the February 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the Crawford County Board of Directors:

Organization	Project	Award
Charter Oak-Ute Education Foundation	Computer Whiteboard	$975
Norelius Community Library	Digital Presentation Initiative	$1,000
Ricketts Park and Recreation Committee	Park Betterment	$1,000
City of Schleswig	Schleswig Southern Heights Park	$1,500
Crawford County Conservation Board	Yellow Smoke Campground Park Improvements	$2,000
Crawford County Board of Supervisors	Neal Moeller Environmental Education Center	$2,000
Manilla Area Historical Association	Painting the Klondike Hotel	$2,500
Eventide Senior Housing, Inc.	Handicap Accessible Automatic Door Openers	$2,750
WESCO Industries	Client Database Project	$4,000
Dow City Community Club	Community Storm Shelter	$4,250
Vail Swimming Pool Association	Drain Covers	$4,500
Ar-We-Va Education Foundation	Project Reading	$5,000
City of Charter Oak	Walkway for Arboretum and Veteran's Memorial	$5,000
Westside Economic Development Organization	Acquisition and Demolition of Distressed Real Estate	$5,000
City of Schleswig	Schleswig Youth Recreation	$6,000
Friends of the Denison Recreation Center	Friends of the Denison Recreation Center/Denison Recreation Center	$15,234.97
City of Denison	Animal Shelter Expansion	$19,234.97
Hospital Foundation of Crawford County	Mobile Wireless Computerized Healthcare Stations	$20,234.69

Of those awards, the top three areas represented were Recreation, Health-General & Rehabilitative, and Animal Related with 27%, 20%, and 19% respectively.  All grantees met the criteria as Crawford County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Crawford County were eligible.   

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

Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $102,279.63 in grants to these important community efforts in Crawford County.”  Vary explained, “The Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Vary, “to-date the Crawford County Community Foundation has distributed approximately $258,700 in grants in Crawford County.”

Board members of the Crawford County Community Foundation are: Chair, Steve Vary of Arion; Vice Chair Jim White of Westside; Secretary/Treasurer Allen Nepper of Denison; Larry Abbe of Schleswig; Dave Kock of Breda; Charles Agan of Manilla; Joan Petersen of Denison; Jim Lohman of Denison; and Scott Ferguson of Denison.