Butler County Community Foundation Distributes $103,000 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

Butler County Community Foundation

March 15, 2021

The Butler County Community Foundation (BCCF) has granted $103,000.61 to 27 projects of organizations serving Butler County through its 2021 grant cycle.

“Because of the generous investments entrusted to the Butler County Community Foundation, nonprofit organizations are able to make great improvements to our communities. On behalf of the Governing Committee, we thank our local nonprofit organizations for their work in making Butler County a great place to live,” said Jennifer Heeren, chair of the BCCF governing committee.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount are listed below by funding areas.

Arts & Culture

• Parkersburg Historical Society, Restore Dormer Windows and Repaint, $5,260

Community Betterment

• Allison Amvet Hall Post 88, Updates, $5,600
• Aplington Recreation Complex, Rental Cart Replacement Batteries, Equipment Fixes and Sand Trap Sand, $8,000
• Bristow Betterment, Tables, $3,000
• City of Aredale, Fire Department - 4-Wheel Drive Grass Rig, $9,000
• City of Bristow, Christmas Lights, $2,000
• City of Bristow, Fire Department - Bunker Gear Lockers, Nozzles and Flashlights, $4,000
• City of Clarksville, Fire Department - Radio Replacement, $6,000
• City of Clarksville, Volunteer Park Committee - Playground Addition, $3,000
• City of Dumont, Fire Department - Upgrading Radios to State 700 MHz Project, $6,000
• City of Dumont, Public Works - 2021 V-Plow for Road Use, $3,000
• City of Greene, Aquatic Center - Bathhouse Restoration, $3,169.61
• City of Greene, Community Visioning Board - Perrin Park Courts Project, $3,000
• City of Greene, Library - Computer Replacement Program, $2,971
• City of New Hartford, Community Betterment Committee - Main Street Scape, $2,500
• City of New Hartford, Fire and EMS - Updated Facility, $2,000
• City of New Hartford, Library - Hotspots & Furniture Updates, $2,500
• City of New Hartford, Lot Restoration Committee - Town Square Handicap Access Project, $2,000
• City of Shell Rock, Bike Shelter Restroom, $9,000

Education & Youth Development

• Aplington Parkersburg Community Schools, Restoration and Improvements to Schwartz Pond, $4,000
• City of Aplington, Aplington Parkersburg Summer Reading Partnership, $1,000
• Butler County, Conservation Board - Nature Center Displays and Expansion Project, $4,000

Health

• Butler County Fair Association, First Aid Supplies/AED, $4,000

Human Service

• Families Helping Families of Iowa, Fostering Hope for Butler County's Children in Foster Care, $2,000
• Fostering Families Together, Family Events for Area Foster Families, $1,000
• St. James Lutheran Church, Allison Food Pantry, $1,000
• Trinity Reformed Church, Leeping Lambs Playground Project, $4,000

“This year, we received 55 fantastic project applications. Unfortunately, we only had one third of the funds available to grant of the total amount that was requested. This serves as a reminder to citizens that they, too, can support their local community through charitable giving and legacy plans with the Community Foundation.”

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Butler County. Committee members include: Greg Barnett, Mary Derdzinski, Jennifer Heeren (chair), Ursula Hoegsberg, Deb Homer, Jerry Orr, Mindy Pecha, Carly Pollock, Nancy Rieken, Greg Schmitz and Jeff Kolb (Ex-Officio).

Grants are awarded through BCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of: arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Butler County in order to be considered for funding. The 2022 grant cycle opens November 1 with an application deadline of December 31. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.butlerccf.org.