The Cass County Community Foundation today (Friday) announced that grants totaling $27,230 were awarded to 12 Cass County nonprofit agencies and local municipalities. With these grants, the Cass County Community Foundation has distributed over $2 million in grants and scholarships over the last 21 years.

The following organizations were awarded grants by the Cass County Community Foundation Advisory Board at a check presentation:

• Anita Health & Wellness Center – $3,000 for exercise equipment.
• Anita Public Library – $1,000 for an AED (Automated external defibrillator)
• Anita Volunteer Fire Assoc. – $3,130 for air tanks w/regulators.
• Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center – $5,000 for indoor interactive technology & gym games.
• Atlantic Public Library – $3,000 for shelving & furniture for Youth Service.
• Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) – $1,400 for Rock Island Depot interior window coverings.
• Cass County Historical Museum – $1,250 for signage.
• City of Griswold – $1,750 for ADA compliant doors at the Griswold Community Bldg.
• Friends of the Griswold Public Library – $2,450 for a lighting update.
• Griswold Rescue – $1,250 for an ambulance pharmaceutical refrigerator.
• Massena Public Library – $1,500 for an upgrade to a digital system check-out process.
• Nishna Valley YMCA – $2,500 for a replacement fire alarm system.

All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible to apply.

These grant funds were made possible by the generosity of donors to the Cass County Community Foundation and the following charitable funds through the community foundation:Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund and Triumph Endowed Fund for Cass County.

The Cass County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds—such as those above—that address changing, vital community needs and interests. To inquire about donating to the Cass County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member listed below. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Cass County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.