Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, is pleased to announce that grants totaling $116,841.19 were awarded to Audubon County nonprofit agencies. The following nonprofit organizations, which submitted applications to the Audubon County Community Foundation by the February 1st deadline, were awarded grants by the Audubon County Community Foundation Board of Directors:

• Audubon County Conservation Board – Littlefield Recreation Area Playground, $20,000.
• Audubon Recreation Foundation – Bowling Lanes, $30,000.
• Exira Community Club – Rec Reno Project, $25,000.
• Exira Parks Committee – Exira Legion Playground Project, $10,000.
• Friendship Home Foundation – Memory Support Unit Improvements, $19,091.19
• The Children’s Nest – Playground Renovation Project, $12,750.

Nonprofit representatives receiving grant awards (left to right): 1st row: Mary Wede, The Children’s Nest; Jess Nixon, Friendship Home Foundation; Lexi Christensen, Exira Parks Committee; Harper and Abby Rasmussen, Exira Community Club; 2nd row: Bruce Haag, Audubon County Conservation Board, Troy Wessel and Jenny Smith, Audubon Recreation Foundation; 3rd row: Audubon County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members Shelley Burr, Genelle Deist, and Bob Blomme.

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 April 5th. 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.

The Audubon County Community Foundation, as an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation and member of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, receives funds annually from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grant-making throughout the county. Created in 2004, the County Endowment Fund Program is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations and affiliate community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

Beyond the County Endowment Fund Program, the Audubon County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. Donating to a permanently endowed fund helps your neighbors today AND you help build a stronger community tomorrow. Not only that, you may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for each donation, in addition to any Federal tax benefits for which you may qualify.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact any of the Board Members, or call Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458.