(Omaha, NE) – The Community Foundation for Western Iowa was honored, Wednesday (April 26), to accept a regional award given for excellence in marketing material. The organization received a Pinnacle Award for “Total Marketing Campaign” in the Not-For-Profit category during AMA Omaha’s Pinnacle Awards at the Truhlsen Events Center at UNMC. The Omaha Chapter of the American Marketing Association annually hosts the Pinnacle Awards to celebrate area organizations and their most successful marketing campaigns from the previous year.

Campaigns were judged by three AMA Chapters across the United States — Charleston, Cincinnati, and San Diego — based on metrics and measurable tactics. Judges looked at results-based marketing campaigns and their impact in the community. The Community Foundation’s “Total Marketing Campaign” entry encompassed its recent name change and rebrand, including a new logo, updated website and social media posts — all designed and managed in-house — and with brand awareness videos from local producer, Craig Carlsen.

Donna Dostal, President and CEO of the Community Foundation said “This project is a culmination of 18 months of research, community engagement and internal leadership discussions resulting in not only a name change, but also a complete brand strategy. It is wonderful to be recognized for hard work that ultimately, we believe, will help result in building a culture of philanthropy, enhanced by better community engagement throughout the nine western Iowa counties that we serve.”

The following individuals attended the awards dinner and celebrated the Community Foundation’s highest honor in the “Total Marketing Campaign” category – Mick McKinley, current board chair and executive committee member; Kelly Summy, founding member, past board chair, and finance committee member; Tony Tauke, past board chair, investment committee member, and education committee member; Craig Carlsen, marketing and communications committee member; Catrina Trabal, Community Partnerships Manager at the Community Foundation; Rachel Morehead, Marketing and Engagement Manager at the Community Foundation; and Donna Dostal, president and CEO.

“We are delighted to be recognized as a Pinnacle Award winner by AMA Omaha – it is such a tremendous honor and moment of immense pride,” said Rachel Morehead, Marketing and Engagement Manager at the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. “To be able to create and coordinate the rebrand and name change with our marketing committee, board of directors and Foundation team was such a rewarding experience, and this award is a moment for our entire team to savor and celebrate!”

Community Foundation for Western Iowa,, formerly Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, is your connection to creating a lasting legacy and ensuring western Iowa is strong, vibrant, and attractive for years to come. The Community Foundation provides a highly personalized plan tailored to each individual or family’s charitable goals, financial interests, and desired impact.

The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is nationally accredited by the Council on Foundations (www.cfstandards.org), is overseen by a volunteer board of leading citizens, and run by professionals with expertise in identifying the needs of western Iowa.

Mission: The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is dedicated to creating a lasting legacy in our region by engaging our citizens and communities for durable change and fostering a culture of philanthropy. This is where giving grows.

(Creston, Iowa) – An SUV traveling west on Highway 34 in Union County, Thursday night, struck a deer on the road, but the driver of the vehicle was not injured. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the 2016 GMC Yukon driven by 42-year-old Scott Allen Pendegraft, of Creston, sustained $5,000 damage, but was able to be driven away. The accident happened a little after 8-p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the legislature have settled on a more than two BILLION dollar Health and Human Services budget that boosts state funding for nursing homes, mental health care and treatment for substance abuse. Senator Mark Costello, a Republican from Imogene, says the plan has the backing of the agency and House Republicans.

“This budget is expansive,” Costello says. “It’s sustainable and it will allow the department to do their work for Iowans.” Senate Republicans approved the bill Thursday. Democrats voted against it, arguing the state should provide a pay boost to those who provide in-home care for disabled Iowans AND spend more on the state’s child care assistance program. Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says the budget fails the working poor.

“Excuse me but this brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart heavy,” Jochum said. “It is sad.” Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says the budget plan fails to address Iowa’s high maternal death rate. She says the state should extend post-pregnancy care for women enrolled in Medicaid. “Save lives, not only of lives, but when moms are healthy, babies are healthier, too.” Costello, the bill’s floor manager in the Senate, says the spending plan is sustainable.

“Senate Republicans are being responsible with Iowans’ tax dollars,” Costello says, “and we’re not willing to drain all of our resources in one year for ongoing costs.” Republicans in the House and Senate have agreed on an overall plan for the next state budgeting year that spends about 89 percent of projected state tax revenue.

(Radio Iowa) – The technology that helps tally the votes in the Iowa Senate tanked this week. Lawmakers typically push a green or red button on their desk to vote yes or no. That speedy system got real sluggish Wednesday afternoon. “We are having technical difficulties,” Senate President Amy Sinclair announced. There was a reboot. “We’re going to try it,” she said. It still didn’t work, so Charlie Smithson, the secretary of the senate, had to read each senator’s name. Each senator had to say their vote aloud and Smithson punched those votes in from his desk in the center of the senate.

A thumbs up or thumbs down didn’t work. “I can’t hear your thumb,” Smithson said. At one point, Sinclair had to remind senators not to use the buttons on their desk to vote. “Everything is moving so slowly, when you push your buttons it crashes the system up here, so we need to you to leave your fingers off the buttons,” Sinclair said, as a few senators laughed. “Don’t be kindergartners…Let the secretary call the roll so the system doesn’t crash and we can get through debate.”

Senators got through debate on a dozen bills Wednesday and Thursday by individually announcing their votes rather than punching their buttons. Lawmakers hope the glitch is fixed next week for a flurry of votes — in what could be the last week of the 2023 legislative session.