Genelle Deist, Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation, reports $46,900 in grants was awarded Nov, 2nd to Audubon County nonprofit agencies. With the grants, the Audubon County Community Foundation has distributed over $1.9 million in grants and scholarships over the last 21 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:

1. Audubon County Historical Society…$2,500 to replace windows of Nathaniel Hamlin Park Museum
2. Audubon Recreation Foundation….$21,900 for Bowling Lane Construction
3. Brayton Community Club….$20,000 for Phase 2 of Renovations
4. Exira Public Library…$2,500 for a  Fireproof Book Drop

The amount available included: $2,500 for the Exira area, from the Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund; $2,500 from the Milo and Dolores Clemmensen 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 is available for the City of Audubon area from the Audubon Masonic Association Endowed Fund; $450 is available for the City of Audubon from the Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon, and, $450 for the City of Audubon from the Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund.

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. The Audubon County Community Foundation was established in 1997 and works with individuals, families, businesses and organizations to create charitable funds that address the changing, vital community needs and interests. Donating to a charitable 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 donations, 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. 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; Bob Blomme of Audubon; Shelley Burr of Audubon; Steven B. Hansen 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 Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458.