Over $229,000 in Local Grants Awarded

Pictured: Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine team members

MUSCATINE, IA – The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine is pleased to announce the awarding of over $229,000 in grants to support local charitable programs and projects through the Impact and Racial Justice Granting Programs.

The grants are aimed at a wide range of initiatives, including education, human services, health, culture, and racial justice. Each grant is a testament to the incredible depth of work happening within our community.

The Community Foundation’s competitive grant programs are supported by the County Endowment Re-granting Program, as well as through funds established by donors to support specific charitable causes. Individual funds include the Hilda E. Collitz for the Homeless Fund, Ray Hockersmith Memorial Fund, Joe W. and Betty L. Rauch Memorial Endowment Fund, Pat & Jim Powers Endowment Fund, Richard H. & Mary Jo Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund, West Liberty Community Endowment Fund, and the Racial Justice Fund.

Organizations that received grants include:

Aligned Impact Muscatine County - $12,500 for Course to College Muscatine County and the Muscatine County Child and Family Success Program (West Liberty Community Endowment Fund, County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

EveryChild - (AKA Child Abuse Council) - $10,000 for the Mississippi Valley Child Protection Center (Richard H. and Mary Jo Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund)

Family Resources, Inc. - $20,000 for Safety, Stability, and Support for Survivors and Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in Muscatine County (Richard H. and Mary Jo Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund)

First Church United - $1,402.77 for the First Church United West Liberty - AED Replacement Project (West Liberty Community Endowment Fund)

Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAG) Inc. - $10,000 for Preparing Greater Muscatine Youth for Education & Careers (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

Iowa Legal Aid - $10,000 for Legal Services for Low-Income Muscatine County Residents (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

Iowa State University Muscatine County Extension and Outreach - $2,000 for the Church of Christ - Master Gardener Donation Garden (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

LULAC Council 517 Columbus Junction - $31,226 for the Columbus Junction Community Advocate Program and the Food Pantry (Racial Justice Fund)

Lutheran Services in Iowa - $7,000 for Early Childhood Home Visitation Services (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

Muscatine Center for Social Action – MCSA - $40,000 for Emergency Overnight Sheltering Services, Homeless Prevention Program, Domestic Violence Shelter, and the Food Pantry (Hilda E. Collitz for the Homeless Fund, County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

Muscatine Community School District - $6,500 for the Civic Data Science: Students Shape the Future of Towhead Island program (Joe W. and Betty L. Rauch Memorial Endowment Fund, County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

Pearl City Outreach - $10,000 for the Pearl City Outreach program (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

River Bend Food Bank - $10,000 for Supporting Muscatine School Food Programs for the Well-Being of Local Families (Richard H. and Mary Jo Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund)

The Bridge Initiative - $10,000 for The Bridge Initiative (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

The Diversity Service Center of Iowa - $6,900.95 for the Educational Outreach Program (Racial Justice Fund and County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

The Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - $8,415 for the Elevate Communities Business Program (Racial Justice Fund)

Trinity Muscatine Public Health - $8,100 for the Mental Health Connections program (Pat & Jim Powers Endowment Fund and County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

Vision To Learn - $10,000 for Increasing Vision Care Access for West Liberty Students (Richard H. and Mary Jo Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund)

Viva Muscatine - $5,390 for the Viva Muscatine event (Racial Justice Fund)

West Liberty Community School District - $7,100 for the West Liberty Elementary Inclusive Playground (Ray Hockersmith Memorial Fund and West Liberty Community Endowment Fund)

Wilton Public Library - $2,500 for Improving Access for Struggling & Reluctant Readers (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)

“We are thrilled to support these organizations and their vital work in our communities,” said Rebecca Harden-Jones, Programs Manager at the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. “These grants will make a significant impact, helping to address critical needs and enhancing the quality of life for residents in our county.”

All Community Foundation competitive grant applications are reviewed by a volunteer community granting committee and scored on the same criteria. Grants are allocated by the average score of each application until the available funding is expended. To learn more about Community Foundation grant programs, visit www.givinggreater.org/granting.