Tama County Community Foundation Distributes Over $143,000 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

Tama County Community Foundation

April 22, 2022

The Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF) held its 2022 grant awards celebration at the Wieting Theatre on April 21, announcing the distribution of $143,471.35 to 32 projects of organizations serving Tama County through its 2022 grant cycle.

“Congratulations to Tama County Community Foundation’s 2022 grant recipients! We are proud to partner with these organizations as they serve the needs of our county and work to create stronger communities for all,” said Sara Forrester, chair of the TCCF governing committee.

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

Arts & Culture

• City of Traer, Winding Stairs Festival – Equipment, $1,995
• STC Music Boosters, Music Stands, $12,500.60
• Wieting Opera Housing Company, Wieting Stage Lights, $5,500
• Wolf Creek Players, Ongoing Theater Expenses, $5,000

Community Betterment

• City of Chelsea, Fire Department – Air Packs, $15,000
• City of Chelsea, Library – Sidewalk Railing, $7,422
• City of Gladbrook, Fire Department – K12 Saw, $1,500
• City of Toledo, Fire Department – Fire Safety, $8,000
• City of Toledo, Police Department – Body Cameras, $4,392.50
• Dysart Community Betterment Corporation, Vision Dysart Committee – Main Street Pocket Park, $7,500
• Tama County – Auditor, Tama County Tourism – Marketing 2022, $4,250
• Toledo Library Foundation, Fantasy/Science Fiction Book Enhancement Project, $2,000

Education & Youth Development

• Al Éxito, Al Éxito Tama: Student Success Tama, $4,150
• Crayon Corner Learning Center, Floor Registers, $1,500
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Tama County, $1,000
• North Tama County Community School District, Athletic Department – Basketball Equipment Upgrade, $6,820
• North Tama County Community School District, Elementary – Book Vending Machine, $5,850
• Our Sacred Space, Inc., Day Camp Summer 2022, $1,352
• Pied Piper Preschool and Child Care, Chain Link Fence, $5,000
• Tama County 4-H, Agriculture Awareness – Goats and Poultry, $1,050

Environment & Animal Welfare

• Tama County – Auditor, Conservation – Improvements at T.F. Clark Park, $4,500
• Tama County Humane Society, Spay and Neuter Funding, $4,500
• Tama County ISU Extension & Outreach Office, Gardening with Seniors, $4,239.25

Health

• Child Abuse Prevention Services, Inc., Adolescent Sexual Health, $1,250
• Gladbrook Peace United Church of Christ, Church Defibrillator, $1,200
• Iowa River Hospice, Day of Care, $6,500

Human Service

• Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support, Tama County Victim Housing Services, $3,000
• Central Iowa Residential Services, Inc., Tama Opportunity Center (TOC) and Client Needs, $2,000
• Families Helping Families of Iowa, Program Support for Tama County Children in Foster Care, $2,500
• Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Feeding Communities, $8,000
• The Compassionate Friends (Marshalltown), Newsletter, $1,000
• Traer United Presbyterian Church – Traer, Christian Hands Across Traer (CHAT), $3,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Tama County. Committee members include: Gloria Fonseca, Sara Forrester (chair), Dixie Forcht, Darvin Graham, Mary Ann Gregory, Melanie Kemper and Chris Schafer.

Grants are awarded through TCCF’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 Tama County in order to be considered for funding. The 2023 grant cycle opens November 1, 2022, with an application deadline of January 15, 2023. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.tamaccf.org.