Community Foundation grants help Muscatine groups

Organizations that work with residents in Muscatine County just received grants worth over $235,000 for their programming.

The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine has awarded over $235,000 in grants to support local charitable programs and projects through the Impact and Racial Justice Granting Programs. The grants are geared towards a variety of initiatives, including education, human services, culture, health and racial justice. The Community Foundation’s competitive grant programs are supported by the County Endowment Regranting Program and funds established by donors to support specific charitable causes.

Individual funds that are financing the grants include:

• Hilda E. Collitz for the Homeless Fund
• George G. Millett Memorial Fund
• Joe W. and Betty L. Rauch Memorial Endowment Fund
• Mary Jo & Richard H. Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund
• West Liberty Community Endowment Fund
• Racial Justice Fund.

Organizations that received grants include:

• Aligned Impact Muscatine County – $21,091 for the Course to College Muscatine County Program, Kindergarten Readiness, and the Summer Melt Mentoring Program. (Mary Jo & Richard H. Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund, Racial Justice Fund, and County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• Crossroads, Inc. – $28,500 for Senior Resources Outreach Program, Senior Resources Meals on Wheels, and the Muscatine Senior Center. (Mary Jo & Richard H. Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund, George G. Millet Memorial Fund, and County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Co. – $1,250 for North Meets South, a community celebration highlighting Hallowe’en and Day of the Dead. (West Liberty Community Endowment Fund)
• EveryChild – $8,500 for the Mississippi Valley Child Protection Center. (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• Family Resources, Inc. – $20,000 for clinical mental health services and services for survivors of sexual and domestic abuse. (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• Flickinger Learning Center – $18,500 for building use expansion, programming, and The Bridge, a new teen program. (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• Iowa Jobs for Americas Graduates (iJAG) Inc. – $10,000 for equipping future-ready students. (Joe W. and Betty L. Rauch Memorial Endowment Fund and County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• Junior Achievement of the Heartland – $8,500 for core mission programs in Muscatine County (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• LULAC Council 317 Columbus Junction – $21,505 for the food pantry and the continuation of the Columbus Junction Community Advocate position and program. (Racial Justice Fund)
• Lutheran Services in Iowa – $4,250 for early childhood home visitation services. (County Endowment Regranting Program)
• Muscatine Center for Social Action (MCSA) – $38,500 for the Food Service Program, Emergency Overnight Shelters, Domestic Violence Shelter, and the Homeless Prevention Program. (Mary Jo & Richard H. Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund, Hilda E. Collitz for the Homeless Fund, and County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• Muscatine Community School District – $6,520 for Viva Muscatine, a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. (Racial Justice Fund)
• Muscatine Community YMCA – $4,977 for Big Brothers Big Sisters to support 45 Bigs in 45 Days. (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• River Bend Food Bank – $10,000 to support residents of Muscatine County who lack reliable access to food. (Mary Jo & Richard H. Stanley Human Conditions Support Fund)
• The Diversity Service Center of Iowa – $20,173.86 for the Educational Outreach Program and the Minority Senior Citizens Program (County Endowment Re-granting Program and Racial Justice Fund)
• Vision to Learn – $8,500 for increasing vision care access to students in West Liberty. (County Endowment Re-Granting Program)
• West Liberty Heritage Foundation – $1,250 for the Beers and St. John Inn Museum restoration project. (West Liberty Community Endowment Fund)
• West Liberty High School – $1,800 to provide staff with translation devices to break language barriers within the classroom. (West Liberty Community Endowment Fund)
• West Liberty LULAC – $2,009 to help immigrant community members complete the steps needed to obtain United States citizenship. (Racial Justice Fund)

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

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. Click here for more information on Community Foundation grants.

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