Enhance Henry County awards $140,000 to local groups

MT. PLEASANT — The Enhance Henry County Community Foundation awarded $140,000 to 29 county organizations during the organization’s 19th round of grants.

“It just gets better and better every year,” Foundation President Robert Meyers said as he began to announce grant recipients at a celebratory gathering Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the Union Block Building.

“I think ya’ll know how this works,” Meyers said. “We get a lot from the casinos.”

According to Meyers, the money is then split with 75% going towards awarding grants and 25% is put towards growing the foundation’s endowment.

As the endowment grows, so does the foundation’s resource for distributing funds. Meyers explained that as the endowment grows, so does the interest earned on the money, and that interest can then be used for additional grant funds.

According to foundation advisory board member Paul Dennison, the foundation received more requests for grants this year than they have any year prior.

A press release from the foundation states that grant applications for this year’s awards totaled $534,303.48. That’s over $50,000 more in requests than last year.

“We only wish we had more resources at the foundation because we know there are many needs and worthy projects throughout the county,” Meyer said.

According to EHCCF, the organization is made up of representatives from throughout Henry County with a mission to help the communities and non-profit organizations in Henry County with projects they might not otherwise be able to accomplish on their own.

The application for these grants requires applicants match 25% of funds and be classified as a non-profit or have a fiscal sponsor.

Meyers announced the following recipients of the 2023 grants from Enhance Henry County Community Foundation:

$1,000 City of Salem: Salem City Park and nature trail improvements

$10,000 MOPS Winfield food Pantry: new Winfield Food Pantry building remodel

$2,100 Mt. Pleasant Historical Preservation: historical preservation of Mt. pleasant and preservation of historical Second Baptist Church

$1,000 City of Hillsboro: city park tables

$5,000 Mt. Pleasant Community School Foundation

$5,000 Old Threshers Foundation: reindeer display

$1,500 Henry County Public Health, Healthy Henry County Communities: Community Health Foundation

$5,000 Winfield-Mt. Union Community School: Disc golf course

$7,500 City of Wayland: Emergency sirens

$2,500 Mt. Pleasant Music Boosters: Rise Up and Sing

$2,000 Mt. Pleasant Christian School: Security Measures

$15,000 Midwest Old Threshers: Campground Revitalization phase two

$4,000 Swedish Heritage Society Foundation: Strategic planning and videograph

$5,000 Henry County Heritage Trust: Renovation of Saunders School

$7,000 New London Community School District: Food pantry assistance

$5,000 Winfield Historical Society: Museum building renovations

$5,500 Salem Recreational Foundation: new Snack Shack

$1,000 Iowa WINS: First Presbyterian Church community restoration center

$15,000 Mt. Pleasant Community Childcare Center: Operational expenses

$2,500 Winfield Fire Fighter Association: improvements to equipment

$1,000 Mt. Pleasant Little League: Mound replacement

$15,000 REC Center: Pool area

$5,000 Harlan-Lincoln House: HVAC System replacement

$2,500 Mt. Union Garden Club: equipment and needs

$700 Wayland alumni association: fire safety and drug prevention books

$2,500 Wayland Housing Corporation: repairs

$7,200 Wayland Fourth of July Community: automated firing system

$1,000 Lewelling Quaker Museum: document preservation and display

$2,500 American Legion: paint building exterior

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com