Greater Jefferson County Foundation awards grants

The Greater Jefferson County Foundation held its annual Grant Awards Ceremony Thursday night, Aug. 18 at the Fairfield Community Center.

The grant committees met at the end of June this year to review 34 grant applications. The criteria included the number of people in the Jefferson County community who would benefit from the grant project, and the sustainability and viability of the project. Grant requests totaled $275,850.59.

The Foundation awarded over $250,000 to 24 Jefferson County organizations.

Kris Metcalf spoke to those attending regarding the covert video system that the Sheriff’s Department will purchase using grant funds awarded by the Foundation.

Those organizations receiving 2022 grants are as follows, including what they will use the funds for:

Arc of Jefferson & Nearby Counties: Annual disbursement according to the Charlotte Hammans Will

Cambridge Little Dreamers: Third year pledge fulfillment

Birmingham Volunteer Fire Department: Brush Truck equipment

Community Child Care: replace the final rooms of flooring

Fairfield Art Association: new sign

First Fridays Art Walk: Kids Activity Center toys and equipment

Fairfield Area Community Theatre: wireless microphone system

Fair Field Productions: equipment and productions costs for History of Fairfield/Parsons project

Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce: Mrs. Claus’ Bake Shop House and LED bulbs

Glasgow Cemetery: repair/reset pioneer headstones

Jefferson County Trails Council: Lamson Woods playspace and maintenance for three Loop Trail bridges

Lockridge Fire & Rescue: cutoff saw, chain saw, batteries, chargers & boots

Round Prairie Twnshp: fencing around cemetery

Maasdam Barns: build a vintage playground

Fairfield Community Center: east side entry door

Fairfield Farmers Market: Info Canopy, website upgrade and new signage

Fairfield Community School District: Behavior Intervention Training

Food Bank of Iowa: purchase food for area food banks/pantries

Jefferson County Sheriff: covert video system

Jefferson County EMS: Cargo Trailer and portable scene lighting trailer

Fairfield High School: Percussion band instruments

Pekin childcare: playground fencing

Pekin CSD: mannikins and 4 AED trainers

Stockport Volunteer Fire Department: skid units

The Well: kitchen remodel

ISU 4-H Youth Committee: funds for youth activities

The Greater Jefferson County Foundation began in 1975 with proceeds of $65,000 from the sale of the Bethany Home. With donations over the past 45 years, the assets of the Foundation have grown to over 6 Million dollars.

The first annual Grant Awards Ceremony was held in 2010, where the Foundation awarded a little over $70,000 to Jefferson County organizations. The Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines which disburses a portion of gambling money annually to add to the Foundation’s coffers for grant disbursement.

The Foundation comprises 15 members of the Board of Directors. Each board member serves two 3-year terms and serves on two committees. The committees are: Finance, Scholarship, Grant, Public Relations, Nominations and By-Laws.

Board Members are:

Frank Redeker, President; Kathy Winkelman, Vice President; Sim Buckley, Treasurer; Ashley Manning, Executive Secretary

LeAnne Edgeton, Mary Webb, Jessica Jones, Joan Fulton, Peggy Mottet, Ron Haines, Justin Engwall, Matt Eakins, Dr. Ray Woody, Dale Sue Glass, Lucas Helling

Three Ex-officio officers include: Dave Neff for Public Relations, John Morrissey for Legal Counsel and Dr. William Baumann for Finance.

Information regarding the Foundation may be found on the website at www.greaterjeffersoncountyfoundation.org or call 641-472-0758.