The Community Foundation Grants $385,000 to Community Projects
Jun. 30, 2016
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines announces Leadership Grants
Through strategic Leadership Grants, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines plays a key role in providing significant funding to projects that strengthen Greater Des Moines by responding to community trends and opportunities. Leadership Grants are funded through donations to the Better Together Fund. Donors to the Better Together Fund give to support community needs now and into the future as identified through the Community Foundation’s grantmaking process facilitated by the organization’s expert staff, Grantmaking Committee and board of directors. The Community Foundation announces support of the following four organizations with Leadership Grants:
Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation
A $250,000 Leadership Grant was provided to support Phase 1 for the enhancement of Des Moines Water Works Park. Elements of the first phase include: an underpass to Gray's Lake, welcome gateway, amphitheater, Great Lawn, play areas, outdoor classrooms, enhanced trails and more. According to Randy Reichardt, Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation board of director’s president, “The Master Plan for Des Moines Water Works Park will significantly enhance the quality of life for everyone in Greater Des Moines and the Community Foundation’s investment through Leadership Grant support has catapulted this project forward. We are grateful to be part of a growing family of great initiatives that the Community Foundation has supported to make our community a better place.”
Orchard Place
A $50,000 Leadership Grant was awarded to Orchard Place to lead an initiative, along with more than 20 partners, to develop a comprehensive master plan for the structure and implementation of a full range of children's mental health services in Greater Des Moines. “Addressing the needs of children and youth in mental health crisis just took a giant step forward. Because of the Community Foundation's support, we are now able to move forward with our community partners to develop a comprehensive plan for crisis intervention services for youth, a well substantiated but unaddressed need in our community. We are deeply grateful for the Community Foundation's support and the impact it will have on the lives of Iowa kids,” says Orchard Place CEO, Anne Starr.
Partnership for a Hunger Free Polk County
A $50,000 Leadership Grant was provided to the Partnership for a Hunger Free Polk County which strives to eliminate hunger in Central Iowa through strategies such as expanding pantry hours and locations, purchasing food for the pantry system, and other infrastructure needs such as a mobile pantry and warehouse facility. As shared by Polk County Supervisor John Mauro, “The Partnership for Hunger Free Polk County and the Board of Supervisors are extremely thankful for the Community Foundation's support of our goal to end hunger in Polk County. It's hard to believe that here in our own community one in eight adults and one in five children don't know where their next meal will come from.
Capital Crossroads
A $35,000 Leadership Grant was awarded to Capital Crossroads to support the community-wide planning for Capital Crossroads 2.0 - a bold but achievable community vision for the 50-mile radius surrounding the State Capitol. "Through Capital Crossroads, our region has joined together to chart a course to meet the challenges of the future. Partners like the Community Foundation and others have propelled the vision plan to nearly 400 implementation successes. As we move into development of Capital Crossroads 2.0 with continued support from these organizations, we're thrilled to continue building these collaborations and becoming better together,” shares Bethany Wilcoxon, Capital Crossroads director.