The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine recognizes the good work of fellow citizens and charitable organizations who are making a difference in Muscatine County through the annual Initiative Awards.
Award recipients include:
Tom Hendricks Community Service Award The recipient of the 2022 Tom Hendricks Community Service Award is Weed Park Zoo Garden.
The Weed Park Zoo Garden recognizes and promotes the history of Weed Park and cultivates Dr. and Mrs. Weed’s enthusiastic love of horticulture. The volunteer-led initiative of the Zoo Garden was to take a neglected area of Weed Park and transform it into a location that would provide the community with a variety of beautiful gardens and walking paths while at the same time reflecting on the history of Weed Park and the former zoo. Throughout the years, the Zoo Garden has utilized community volunteers in many various capacities to support their mission.
As part of the award, the Zoo Garden received a $8,000 grant to support the maintenance and development of the garden.
Muscatine Charities, Inc. established the Tom Hendricks Service Award Endowment Fund within the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine in 2016 to honor Tom Hendrick's volunteer leadership and service to the greater Muscatine community.
Shirley Jean Drake Great Initiative Award The recipient of the 2022 Shirley Jean Drake Great Initiative Award is Jean Meyer.
Jean Meyer has been a dedicated volunteer at the Wilton Public Library for over 12 years. She has helped with the children’s programming to lead games, helps with crafts, chaperone, or any task that needs done. She also started the puzzle table which has brought a regular group of adults to the library for many years. Outside of the library, Jean has volunteered and built relationships with people in the community by helping to deliver groceries, assist with transportation to medical appointments, pet sit, and more. Her friendly nature and thoughtfulness encourages and inspires others to follow her lead to be a better person.
As part of the award, Jean received a $1,500 grant to be directed to the charity of her choice - the Wilton Food Pantry.
The Great Initiative Award was established to honor inaugural recipient Shirley Jean Drake, a long-time Board member of the Community Foundation who left a legacy of great initiatives across our community, county, and state. The cheerful, ethical, and inspirational determination she demonstrated will continue to be honored through the Shirley Jean Drake Great Initiative Award.
Giles Joslyn Youth Initiative Award The recipient of the 2022 Giles Joslyn Youth Initiative Award is Ethan Mattes.
Ethan has volunteered with Rebuilding Together Muscatine County to build ramps for individuals in need. He has coordinated jobs from start to finish including the design, gathering needed materials, raising funds, recruiting volunteers, and constructing the ramps. Ethan is a senior at Muscatine High School and has been volunteering for over three years. He plans to pursue post-secondary education and a career in the field of engineering.
As part of the award, Ethan received a $1,000 grant to be directed to the charity of his choice – Rebuilding Together Muscatine County.
Giles Joslyn received the first Youth Initiative Award for implementing a ‘Stringfest’ concert to raise money for new band instruments and music lessons for students who might not otherwise be able to afford them. The passion, persistence, enterprise, and leadership he demonstrated will continue to be honored through the Giles Joslyn Youth Initiative Award.