Jasper County Foundation announces grant awards in Jasper County

Dan Skokan, president of the Jasper Community Foundation announced that $120,000 in grant awards were distributed recently to area non-profit organizations. The community foundation receives funds for grantmaking and endowment building each year from the state-sponsored County Endowment Fund Program. The grant proposals were received from educational, municipal and non-profit organizations throughout Jasper County.

“I am pleased to announce the Foundation awarded grant funding to 23 non-profits throughout Jasper County. These grant funds will provide much-needed financial support for a variety of important programs and services in our communities.” Skokan said. “Each year we make an effort to fund a wide variety of programs that touch residents all over the county. This year we were able to make grants to organizations supporting programs and services in human services, education, recreation, arts and culture, community vitality and many others.”

The Foundation awarded grants that ranged from $600 to $15,000 to new or enhanced, innovative programs that address needs or issues within Jasper County.

All submitted grant proposals were reviewed by the Jasper Community Foundation Board. The 23 organizations receiving funding through this program are:

American Legion 111 — Building & Parking Lot Upgrades

Baxter Chamber — Main Street Beautification

Baxter Volunteer Fire Dept. — Bunker Gear Replacement

City of Colfax — Downtown Pocket Park

Colfax Historical Society — Museum Addition-Electrical

Colfax Library — Computer Carrels

Food Bank of Iowa — Feeding Jasper Co.

Friends of Lynnville Library — New Resource Materials

Friends of Newton Public Library — Dolly Parton Library

Friends of Prairie City Library — Accessibility Materials for Littlest Patrons

Inspirations Child Care — Sink/Faucet

Jasper Community Foundation — Administrative

Kid Assist — Community Mobility

Lynnville Sully Education Foundation — Lighting for Stage Area

Monroe Senior Center — East Side Upstairs Project

Newton Community Theater — Sound System Project

Newton MainStreet — Splash Pad

Newton Police — Ballistic Shield

Newton Public Library — Children’s Library Project

Newton TouchDown Club — Youth Equipment

Peck Childcare Center — Expansion Project

Project Awake — Welcome Center Entrance

Sully Community Library — Book Repair Equipment

YMCA of Newton — Safety Around Water

The County Endowment Fund Program made the funds for these grants possible. This Fund was established by the state legislature in 2004 to help promote charitable giving and endowment building throughout the state. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations and affiliate community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

The Jasper Community Foundation was established in 1997 for the purpose of receiving tax-deductible bequests and gifts in the form of cash or property from individuals, corporations and other organizations that have an interest in improving the quality of life for people residing in Jasper County. The Foundation assists arts and culture, economic development, education, environment and recreation, health and human services organizations, and other high-impact projects and programs throughout the county.