Winfield and Wayland receive over 40,000 in grants

MT. PLEASANT — During this year’s grant cycle for Enhance Henry County Community Foundation, four organizations from Winfield received $22,500 and four Wayland organizations received $17,900 of the total $140,000 awarded.

“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.

Along with 25 other Henry County grant recipients, the following Winfield and Wayland organizations received money from the foundation’s 19th round of grant-giving:

MOPS Winfield Food Pantry received $10,000 for their building remodel of the former Beacon News Office.

Winfield-Mt. Union Community School received $5,000 towards a disc golf course project spearheaded by a group of students during Spring Term 2023.

The Winfield Historical Society Museum received $5,000 to go towards their renovations of the museum’s future location.

Winfield’s Fire Fighter Association received $2,500 for improvements to equipment.

The Wayland alumni association received $700 for fire safety and drug prevention books.

Wayland Housing Corporation received $2,500 for repairs.

The Wayland Fourth of July Community will put their $7,200 from Enhance Henry County toward an automated firing system.

The City of Wayland will use their $7,500 reward for emergency sirens.

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.

Other grant recipients include the following:

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

$1,000 City of Hillsboro: city park tables

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

$2,500 American Legion: paint building exterior

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

$5,000 Mt. Pleasant Community School Foundation

$5,000 Old Threshers Foundation: reindeer display

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

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

$5,000 Winfield Historical Society: Museum building renovations

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

$5,500 Salem Recreational Foundation: new Snack Shack

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

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

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

$15,000 REC Center: Pool area