(Council Bluffs, IA) – Officials with the Pottawattamie Community Foundation, today (Wednesday), announced a name change and expansion of its mission. Established in 2008, the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is becoming the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, to better reflects the Foundation’s mission to build community through giving while being a leader in donor-centric philanthropy.

“The growth of the Community Foundation reflects the awesome and inspiring support of our community,” said Tony Tauke, Community Foundation for Western Iowa Board Chair. “We have seen a substantial increase in the size of gifts and in the number of donors. Individual donor-advised and special needs funds have mushroomed beyond Pottawattamie County borders. This expansion is reflected in the new addition to our once little office which was completed due to the generous contribution and strong support of the Lakin Foundation. This seedling organization started nearly fifteen years ago and has grown into a fruitful tree of philanthropy with many branches, relationships, and donors that encompass more than just Pottawattamie County. We as a Board see the potential for growing larger and creating more impact over the coming years.” (Additional information can be found HERE)

In its most recent annual report published in April, the Community Foundation shared the incredible growth and impact that donors and fund holders have created in southwest Iowa. Last year, investors awarded 269 grants totaling an astounding $1.9 million dollars to a variety of nonprofit organizations in focus areas such as community betterment, education, human services, and arts & culture. This is an 18.79% increase in grant awards from 2020 ($532,504). The investor granting, coupled with the Foundation’s grant awards, was $2.2 Million.

Additionally, the annual impact report revealed that the Community Foundation significantly increased its total assets to $52,363,015 by the end of December, a 15.8% increase from 2021 ($44,078,011), and nearly $40 million more from its total assets in 2017 ($12,722,156).

In late November, the Community Foundation moved back into a newly renovated and expanded building at 536 E Broadway due to generous funding support from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation. A gift of $556,000 helped the Community Foundation add a total of 1,110 square feet – complete with four additional office spaces for future staff capacity needs, new ADA compliant restrooms, a staff kitchenette, and a large conference room to host board and committee meetings.

The Community Foundation invites you to attend its ribbon cutting and building dedication on Monday, May 16, from 8:00-am to 10:00-am at 536 E Broadway in Council Bluffs. The event will celebrate the new name announcement, as well as the beautiful building renovation and addition generously funded by the Charles E. Lakin Foundation. The Community Foundation will officially dedicate the building as the Florence M. and Charles E. Lakin Center for Community Giving.

(Radio Iowa) – A district court judge has ruled one of the Fairfield teens accused of killing a high school Spanish teacher will not have his case moved to juvenile court. Seventeen-year-old Jeremy Goodale is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of 66-year-old Nohema Graber and will stand accused in an adult courtroom starting August 23rd. Willard Miller faces the same charges. Both were 16 at the time of the November 2nd murder.

Goodale and Willard Miller both sought waivers of their case to juvenile court. Judge Shawn Showers states in his ruling that there are no reasonable prospects for rehabilitating Goodale in juvenile court given the magnitude of the crime described in the charging documents.

A ruling on Miller’s request to be tried in juvenile court could come later this week.