Area entities receive foundation grants

Marge Forey, Mary Ann Harden, Vi Roskens and Ron Walstrom accepted $5,800 from the Clay County Community Foundation on behalf of Clay County Council on Aging. (Photo by Gabe Licht) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Clay County Community Foundation strives "to connect donors who care with causes that matter and to serve as a trusted resource for addressing issues that impact the quality of life in Clay County."

They put that mission into practice as they rewarded 21 entities throughout Clay County a total of $95,052.

"We've been able to focus on the county as a whole," CCCF Board President David Rayner said. "A lot of organizations have gotten funding from us that otherwise would not have gotten funding."

Rayner also said the foundation has been able to continue focusing on four core needs within the county. Those needs are economic development and quality job creation; various types of activities; existing organizations, resources, services and facilities; and parks and outdoor recreation facilities.

The following entities received funding for specific projects.

Spencer Community Theatre received $10,000 to purchase tables, chairs, storage racks and a gridwall display system to hang costumes for programs or workshops in their new expansion.

Another grant of $10,000 was given to Seasons Center, which will allow the center to update a working space that would be used for a new psychiatrist.

Clay Central-Everly School District After School Program will use a $7,500 grant to purchase a Spanish curriculum, musical theater plays, craft supplies, educational games, rhythm band instruments, cooking tools and books.

The Spencer Area Arts Council accepted $7,434 for tables, chairs, moving carts and storage carts, which will be utilized during various public events.

Following a fire that destroyed their mobile collection bus in July of 2009, the Siouxland Community Blood Bank gladly received a $6,000 donation to go toward the $135,000 needed for a new bus.

New audio-visual equipment will be purchased for the Spencer Area Activity Center with a $5,800 grant to the Clay County Council on Aging.

Homeowners needing handicap accessible modifications to their houses will benefit from a $5,000 donation to the Clay County Local Housing Trust Fund.

A $5,000 grant will be used by the Northwest Iowa Youth Soccer Alliance for 700 feet of fencing near play and practice areas.

The city of Peterson received $5,000 to assist in the installation of energy efficient doors and the construction of a new railed ramp at the city's community center, which will meet requirements as a new polling site.

New playground equipment will be purchased for the Spencer Family YMCA Dvergsten Child Care Center with a $4,464 grant.

Another $4,000 will be given to the Peterson Lions Club. Those funds will be used to replace the shingled roof on the city park's shelter house as well as to replace wooden picnic tables and benches with new, steel-coated pieces.

As Royal Community Action finishes a multiyear restoration project in the Royal community building, they are receiving $4,000 to help fund the remodeling of the center's main meeting room.

In Everly, $4,000 will be used to extend the current walking path to nearly three-quarters of a mile in Everly City Park.

The Greenville Park Committee will utilize $4,000 to update the city's community center.

Vouchers will allow parents a break from their children as a result of a $3,000 award to the Clay County Citizen's Awareness Council for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.

Materials, dress forms and sewing machines will be purchased by the Clay County Extension Office's "Sew Inspired" Fashion Design Event as a result of a $2,994 grant.

Fostoria Fire and Rescue will purchase new structural firefighting boots, gloves and protective hoods with $2,010 from the foundation.

A $2,000 grant to the Spencer Municipal Trust -- which is partnering with Spencer Public Library and the Iowa Lakes Genealogical Society -- will assist with the digitization of Spencer newspaper archives.

The RSVP Volunteer Program is accepting $1,200 to pay for "Lunch and Learn" workshops as well as to update current software which tracks volunteer hours and generates reports.

The cities of Gillette Grove and Rossie will be receiving $1,200 and $450, respectively, to restore their signs.

Following the awards presentation, Angie Dethlefs-Trettin -- director of Iowa Council of Foundations -- spoke about the benefits of endowments.

In addition to the more than $350,000 the foundation has given to community organizations over five years, they have also established more than $250,000 in endowments.