Donor Stories
Making Dreams Happen
Don and Shirley Kniss were never blessed with children of their own, but Shirley considered all her students her children. During her 35-year teaching career, primarily at Waterloo’s Kingsley Elementary School, Shirley influenced, nurtured, and impacted over three generations...
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Donor Stories
A Rooted Legacy
Waverly was a young community in the late 1800s when the Rathe family made it their home and a generational tradition of giving back began. Today, the community is thriving and Dr. Ann Rathe, a psychiatrist at Waverly Health Center,...
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Donor Stories
A Pillar of Generosity
Pauline Barrett was a pillar of generosity in the Cedar Valley. The impact of her giving, along with that of her husband Dr. Sterling Barrett, has rippled across the community they loved.In 1994, Pauline established the Pauline R. Barrett Fund...
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Donor Stories
A Sweet Connection
Gary and Becky Bertch are known for their generosity. As owners of Bertch Cabinets in Waterloo, the couple has made national news by taking employees on week-long cruises to show their appreciation. So, it’s no surprise the family’s generosity extends...
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Grantmaking in Action
Teaching Music and Love, No Strings Attached
Music stirs the senses, triggers emotion, and brings peopletogether on an intimate level. Perhaps no place in history hasmusic's impact been more prevalent than in our churches. Now, aWaterloo congregation is bringing the power of...
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Grantmaking in Action
Library Puts Priority on Patron Needs and Safety
The Decorah Public Library is a busy place, serving over 19,000 registered patrons and many more residents of not only Decorah but all of Winneshiek County. The Library is an all-encompassing resource center providing materials,...
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Grantmaking in Action
Grundy County ISU Extension Outreach
"In 2016 the Grundy County Extension office piloted a program called “Farm Chat” in four Grundy County Schools. The program provides real-world connections to the Iowa Core and STEM educational areas. Because field trips are...
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Grantmaking in Action
Public Health Works to Help Residents Save Lives
Nancy Sacquitne has been with Winneshiek County Public Health for 32 years. During that time her she has worked diligently on her personal mission – to ensure everybody knows how to respond in a time...
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Grantmaking in Action
Ridgeway Fire Department is a Local Effort
Mark Carolan has seen a lot in his 31 years as a volunteer fire fighter with the Ridgeway Fire Department. He knows when help is needed the local fire department is often the one to...
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