Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, has  announced that $39,000 in grants was awarded to Audubon County nonprofit agencies.  With the grants, the Audubon County Community Foundation has distributed over $1.5 million in grants and scholarships over the last 19 years.

The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Audubon County Community Foundation by the September 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the Audubon County Board of Directors:

• Audubon Community Cinema – $15,000 for a screen, projection and sound equipment, seats and wall covering at the Rose Movie Theater.
• Audubon Recreation Foundation – $10,000 for funding to build a recreation center.
• The City of Exira – $2,000 for a sign at the east entrance to the community.
• The Exira Community Club – $10,000 to complete the renovation of the Rec. Center.
• Exira Fire & EMS Association – $2,000 to purchase and install and automatic standby generator at the fire hall, for emergencies.

Nonprofit representatives receiving grant awards: 1st row from left to right: Lexi Christensen and Peggy Tuft, City of Exira; Dillon and Alex Clemsen, Exira Fire & EMS Association; Linda Blomme, Audubon Community Cinema; Abby Rasmussen, Exira Community Club. Back row: Audubon County Community Foundation board members Shelley Burr and Genelle Deist (Chair).

The amount available included $2,000 from the Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund, $2,500 from the Charles T. and Kathleen K. Manatt Endowed Fund, $650 from the Audubon State Bank/Stephen Garst Endowed Fund, $1,000 from the Audubon Masonic Association Endowed Fund, $450 from the Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund, and $450 from the Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon.

All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services.  Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible.

Audubon County agency representatives received their checks on November 9th.  During brief check distribution activities Deist commended the nonprofit agencies for their individual efforts to provide a better quality of life for the residents of Audubon County.