HF2302 Grant Money Distributed to Cass County Nonprofit Agencies

April 24, 2007.   Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the Cass County Endowment Fund, announced today the distribution of $51,237.55 in grants to Cass County nonprofit agencies.  The following organizations received grants:

These organizations had submitted grant applications to the Cass County Endowment Fund by the February 1^st deadline and were approved at its recent Board meeting.  All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible.

Cass County agency representatives received their checks this week.  During brief check distribution activities, Mr. Hunt honored the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Cass County.   The twenty-two agencies receiving grants represent their community’s efforts at building stronger communities.  That is what the Cass County Endowment Fund is all about.  Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $51,237.55 in grants to these important community efforts in Cass County.”

Hunt explained, “The Cass County Endowment Fund is one of nine ‘Qualified Community Foundations’ in Southwest Iowa as recognized by the Iowa Department of Economic Development.  The nine community foundations are collectively known as the Endowment Funds of Southwest Iowa, are affiliated with the Omaha Community Foundation, and meet or exceed the Standards for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington DC.”

The Cass County Endowment Fund works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address the changing, vital community needs.  Contributions large and small come in the form of cash, appreciated securities, real estate and end of life bequests that leave a lasting legacy.  The Cass County Endowment Fund invests and administers these funds and makes the funds available each year for distribution to qualified organizations.  “This is an annual granting process,” said Hunt, “this year the Cass County Endowment Fund will distribute approximately $82,000 in grants and scholarships.”

Board members of the Cass County Endowment Fund are Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic; Vice Chair, Gary Maas, of Massena;  Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic; Royal Bierbaum of rural Griswold; Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic; and Don Karns, of Anita.     For more information on establishing a scholarship, a family fund, or foundation, in Cass County contact any of these board members or the Endowment Funds of Southwest Iowa, Dennis N. Nissen, Iowa Program Officer at 800-794-3458.

First row: Marie Rourick; Vicki Rhoads; Beulah Follmann; Lu Ann Gipple; and Tracey Helvie.  Second row: Lisa McAfee; Vicki Wedemeyer; Steve Livengood; Shiona Putnam; Kathy Havens; Lila Hoogeveen; Andria Cossolotto; and Kim Palmer.  Third row: Cindy Miller; Sharon Winchell; Jim Mailander; Carolyn Hartmann; Dianna Williams; and LaVon Eblen.  Fourth row: Dave Chase; Jim Zellmer; and Dennis Sierck.

Nicholas Hunt, Chair of the Cass County Endowment Fund, announced today the distribution of $20,271 in grants to Cass County nonprofit agencies.  The following organizations received grants:

Organization	Program	Award	Fund
Nishna Valley Trails, Inc.	T-Bone Trail Phase 4	$5,000	Cass County Endowment Fund
Anita Foundation, Inc.	Health and Wellness Center	$2,500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Atlantic Coca-Cola Center and Museum	Museum Cataloging	$1,000	Cass County Endowment Fund
Atlantic Rock Island Society	Purchase and Install a Heat Pump	$1,500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Cass County Fireman's Association	Countywide Firefighter I and II Training	$500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Cass County Conservation Board	Cocklin Fish Farm Park Improvements	$1,500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Cass County Chapter American Red Cross	CPR/First Aid and Water Safety	$1,000	Cass County Endowment Fund
Cass County Historical Museum and Society	Replacement of Windows and Protection of the Stained Glass	$4,376	Cass County Endowment Fund and Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund
Center for the Advancement of Self Sufficiency (CASS, Inc.)	CPR Manikins and Heartstart Defibrillators	$500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Anita Police Department	Officer Safety Program	$500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Atlantic Dept. of Parks and Recreation	East Ridge Park Development Plan	$1,500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Friends of the Atlantic Iowa Animal Shelter	Continuing Sanitation Services	$3,000	Cass County Endowment Fund and Lawrence E. and Mary J. Turner Endowed Fund
Hitchcock House Advisory Board	Story of Hitchcock House in Pictures	$1,000	Cass County Endowment Fund
Nishna Valley Family YMCA	Automatic External Defibrillator	$500	Cass County Endowment Fund
Matthew's House Child Care	Copier, Refrigerator, Four-Passenger Stroller	$500	Cass County Endowment Fund
West Central Community Action	Atlantic I & II Head Start	$395	Cass County Endowment Fund

These organizations had submitted grant applications to the Cass County Endowment Fund by the September 1^st deadline and were approved at its recent Board meeting.  All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible.

Cass County agency representatives received their checks this week.  During brief check distribution activities, Mr. Hunt honored the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Cass County.   The sixteen agencies receiving grants represent their community’s efforts at building stronger communities.  That is what the Cass County Endowment Fund is all about.  Our Advisory Board is pleased to direct $20,271 in grants to these important community efforts in Cass County.”

Hunt explained, “The Cass County Endowment Fund is a countywide community foundation that serves the interests of Cass County and its residents.  It was established to help donors contribute to the betterment of their community by creating their own family foundation, an endowed named fund, or a scholarship fund to honor loved ones.  Because the Cass County Endowment Fund is a community foundation and a public charity each gift has maximum tax benefits.  The Cass County Endowment Fund is one of nine “Qualified Community Foundations” in Southwest Iowa as recognized by the Iowa Department of Economic Development.  The nine community foundations are collectively known as the Endowment Funds of Southwest Iowa, are affiliated with the Omaha Community Foundation, and meet or exceed the Standard for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington DC.   Hunt said, “In other words we are For Good…Forever.”

The Cass County Endowment Fund works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address the changing, vital community needs.  Contributions large and small come in the form of cash, appreciated securities, real estate and end of life bequests that leave a lasting legacy.  The Cass County Endowment Fund invests and administers these funds and makes the funds available each year for distribution to qualified organizations.  “This is an annual granting process,” said Hunt.

Board members of the Cass County Endowment Fund are Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic; Vice Chair Gary Maas of Massena; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness of Atlantic; Royal Bierbaum of rural Griswold; Mark D. Kyhnn of Atlantic; and Don Karns of Anita.  For more information on establishing a scholarship, a family fund, or foundation, in Cass County contact any of these board members or the Endowment Funds of Southwest Iowa, Dennis N. Nissen, Iowa Program Officer at 800-794-3458.