Community Foundation Awards Over $240,000 in Leadership Grants
Jun. 17, 2014
Des Moines, IA (June 17, 2014): Through
strategic Leadership Grants the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
plays a key role in providing significant funding leadership to projects that
strengthen Greater Des Moines by proactively 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 organizations with Leadership Grants:
Polk County Conservation
A Leadership Grant of $100,000 was awarded to fund the
construction of the Jester Park Conservation Center. This new facility will
serve as a welcome center, interpretative center, promoter of public health and
STEM education and serve as administrative headquarters for the Polk County
Conservation Board. The Center's vision centers on citizen engagement with
diverse natural systems through quality environmental education and outdoor
recreation. This facility will serve as a discovery portal where people of all
ages can actively and reactively experience Iowa's natural heritage.
Contact: Kami Rankin, Community Outreach Supervisor, kami.rankin@polkcountyiowa.gov,
515-323-5363
Community Youth Concepts
A
$50,000 Leadership Grant was awarded to the Community Youth Concepts Project
Forever Home capital campaign. Community Youth Concept's new facility will be
located within the Urban Core of Des Moines to better serve the population of
students its programs impact. The new space will result in an estimated $28,000
annual cost savings related to operating expenses which will be reinvested in
programming and organizational development to effectively serve more youth.
Contact: Amy Croll,
Executive Director, amy@cyconcepts.org,
515-243-4292
Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation
The Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation was awarded a
$35,000 Leadership Grant to fund a feasibility study as part of the organizational
development and startup of the Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation. The Des
Moines Water Works Park Foundation has been identified as a critical component
of the Tomorrow Plan, addressing the Capital Crossroads goals for the region, building
on the Healthiest State Initiative and Healthy Polk 2020.
Contact: Sam Carrell, Acting Executive Director, Scarrell@dmwwpf.org, 515-240-7993
Harbor of Hope
A $35,000
Leadership Grant was awarded to Harbor of Hope to support the Lifetime Recovery
Program. Harbor of Hope is a residential addiction recovery center that
provides a positive, structured program to men newly released from prison or reducing
incarceration time through Drug Court. This project is a collaborative approach
to providing services to clients as well as work with mental health service
providers to identify areas for systems change in health services. This project
will allow both Harbor of Hope and health service providers to work in tandem
to leverage system resources, eliminate duplication, pursue better policy and
develop protocols for more effective treatment of the wider recovery
population.
Contact:
Tom Pontow, Executive Director, tompontow@mchsi.com,
515-306-0134
Des Moines Art Center
A $20,000
Leadership Grant was awarded to the Des Moines Art Center to support the
Conservation of Environmental Sculpture project. The project will renovate an
environmental sculpture, "Greenwood Pond Double Site" (1989-1996) by American artist Mary Miss, owned by the Art Center and sited in Greenwood Park. This
environmental sculpture is noteworthy as it is the first urban wetlands art
project in the country. By restoring the artwork the public will once again be
able to enjoy and learn from an unique urban wetland.
Contact: Emily Bahnsen, Development
Director, ebahnsen@desmoinesartcenter.org,
515-271-0338
About the Community
Foundation of Greater Des Moines
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines improves quality of life for all
by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about
and providing leadership on important community issues.we're simply better
together. The Community Foundation manages assets in excess of $320 million,
administers more than 1,200 charitable funds and distributed more than $21
million in grants in 2013. Visit www.desmoinesfoundation.org
to learn more.