Riverboat foundation awards $244,315 for COVID relief

The Washington County Riverboat Foundation recently gave $244,315 to nonprofits for derecho and COVID-19 relief.

The Relief Grant opened in late August. It was an opportunity to support nonprofit organizations who have suffered hardships due to the difficulty of circumstances happening in 2020, said Executive Director Patty Koller.

The foundation had to abandon the spring grants and mini grants this year because of COVID-19 and the temporary closure of the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort.

There were 32 applicants and grant requests up to $25,000 were considered.

Koller said due to limited funding only 16 grants were awarded.

The awardees are:

' Kiwanis AMers received $5,000 for Lonny's Kids.

' Y's Men & Women received $12,250 for funding YMCA programs.

' Main Street Washington received $13,000 for recovery.

' Washington Chamber received $13,000 for COVID relief.

' Hospice of Washington County received $23,629 for hospice.

' Washington County Ambulance received $25,000 for ventilators.

' Lake Darling Youth Center received $25,000 for relief.

' Midwest Central Railroad in Henry County received $13,726 for COVID relief.

' His Hands Free Clinic in Linn County received $14,908 for derecho/COVID help.

' Horizons in Linn County received $23,802 for critical needs.

' Waypoint Services in Linn County received $25,000 for recovery support.

' Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support in Linn County received $25,000 for organizational operation.

' Catherine McAuley Center in Linn County received $25,000 for long-term storage needs.

Koller hopes the foundation will be able to return to a normal grant cycle in the future, but right now she is waiting to see what happens as time goes on.