Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, has announced $45,590 in grants was awarded to Audubon County nonprofit agencies. With the grants monies, the Audubon County Community Foundation has distributed over $1.7 million in grants and scholarships over the last 20 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 Chamber of Commerce – Maintenance of “Albert the Bull”, $3,000
Audubon County Fair Board – Campsite improvements, $10,000
Audubon Recreation Foundation – Complete racquetball & basketball courts at new recreation center, $6,340
Brayton Community Club – Remodel Brayton Legion Park bathroom, new roof, door, paint, $5,000
Exira Fire & EMS Association – Portable fire ground monitor, $2,000
Exira Public Library – Remodel work area for students & patrons, $750
Friendship Home Foundation – Renovations, $10,000
Gray Community Betterment Corporation – Playground improvements, $2,500
The Children’s Nest – Safety equipment, $6,000

The amount available included $2,000 for the Exira area from the Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund, $2,500 from the Charles T. and Kathleen K. Manatt Endowed Fund, $900 from the Audubon State Bank/Stephen Garst Endowed Fund, $1,000 for the City of Audubon area from the Audubon Masonic Association Endowed Fund, $445 for the City of Audubon from the Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon, and $445 for the City of Audubon from the Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund.  The amount also includes an additional $5,000 in the form of a donation from the Estate of Milo and Dolores Clemmensen.

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 Oct. 26th. 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 was established in 1997 and works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create permanent funds that address the 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’ll 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. The Audubon County Community Foundation invests and administers these funds and distributes grants to deserving, qualified nonprofit organizations. “This has grown from an annual event to twice a year, with one grant cycle in the spring and another in the fall,” said Deist.

Board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are: Chair, Genelle Deist of Audubon; Vice Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton; Secretary/Treasurer, Barbara Johnson of Audubon; Shelley Burr, Audubon; Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; Daryl Olsen, DVM, of Audubon; and Joseph T. Rasmussen of Exira. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact any of the Board Members, or call Dennis Nissen, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458.