August 27, 2010
Theisens Stores raise $2500 for Delaware County Flood Disaster Relief Fund
The Foundation for the Future of Delaware County (FFDC), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD), announces a gift of $2500 from Theisen’s Farm, Home and Auto Stores for the 2010 Delaware County Flood Disaster Relief Fund.
This fund is growing thanks to Theisens and many other local donors and will be directed by the Delaware County Disaster Relief Committee to aid individuals, businesses and communities impacted by the flood. FFDC Chair Keith Kramer said, “We are thankful to Theisens and their customers for their support of flood relief in Delaware County.”
Individuals and businesses interested in supporting the fund should make checks payable to: 2010 Delaware County Flood Disaster Relief Fund/CFGD. Checks may be dropped off at the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County Executive Office, in care of Bev Rahe, at 200 E. Main in Manchester, or any F and M Bank or Community Savings Bank location. Checks may also be directly mailed to: CFGD, 2010 Delaware County Flood Disaster Relief Fund, 700 Locust, Suite 195, Dubuque, IA 52001.
July 28, 2010
2010 Greater Dubuque Flood Disaster Relief Fund Announced
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque announces the formation of the 2010 Flood Disaster Relief Fund with a gift of $10,000. The fund will support flood relief efforts in Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson and Jones Counties.
All gifts will be tax deductable and the fund will be directed by the Disaster Recovery Committees in the respective counties to aid individuals, businesses and communities.
Community Foundation President and CEO Nancy Van Milligen said, “These committees, comprised of emergency management professionals as well as community volunteers, will be entrusted to direct these charitable dollars to the greatest need.”
Individuals and businesses should make checks payable to CFGD 2010 Flood Disaster Relief Fund and if desired, may specifically earmark their donations for Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson or Jones County by a notation in the memo line. Checks may be delivered to the CFGD Office at 700 Locust, Suite 195, in Dubuque.
In addition, gifts may be delivered to the Foundation for the Future of Delaware County Executive Office, in care of Bev Rahe, at 200 E. Main in Manchester, or any of the F and M Bank or Community Savings Bank locations.
Checks may be also directly mailed to: CFGD, 2010 Flood Disaster Relief Fund, 700 Locust, Suite 195, Dubuque, IA 52001.
July 26, 2010
Iowa Community Foundations Honored by First Lady, Rio Executive Director
(DES MOINES) – The Rebuild Iowa Award for Service was presented to Iowa Community Foundations on Thursday, July 22. First Lady Mari Culver and Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis, executive director of the Rebuild Iowa office, will present the award during the Iowa Council of Foundations July Membership Meeting at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.
Iowa Community Foundations is one of nine recipients of the award which recognizes individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond the call of duty in Iowa’s 2008 disaster recovery efforts. Other recipients will be presented awards at various public meetings and events throughout July.
Iowa Community Foundations was instrumental in the wake of the 2008 disasters in the Embrace Iowa fundraising campaign and in other disaster recovery-related activities. Iowa Community Foundations is a coalition of foundations which serve communities all across the state. The community foundations are non-profit organizations that focus on building local philanthropy by connecting people who care to the causes that matter most to them. Working together, foundations and community stakeholders provide much needed support to a variety of non-profit programs and services focusing on creating strong places to live, work, play, raise families and retire-both now and in the future.
July 14, 2010
IBM awards KidSmart programs to The Children’s Trust
IBM has awarded 20 KidSmart Early Learning programs to The Children’s Trust, a giving circle of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
The Children’s Trust will distribute the KidSmart Early Learning programs to early childhood learning centers in the Dubuque area. The IBM KidSmart Early Learning Program integrates interactive learning activities into the pre-kindergarten curricula. The program is now being implemented in 60 countries internationally, serving more than two million children, including those from remote geographic regions and underprivileged town and cities.
IBM's KidSmart program includes the Young Explorer™, a computer housed in brightly colored, kid-friendly Little Tikes™ furniture. It is equipped with award-winning educational software to help children learn and explore concepts in math, science and language. The computer centers also help children learn important socialization skills such as how to work together and share. Exploration and socialization skills are important to prepare children for future success in school, help level the playing field and ensure all children have access to educational tools.
These units will be distributed to non-profit childcare centers that serve the area’s most at-risk children. A group of volunteers from IBM – Dubuque will work with The Children’s Trust in the distribution and set-up of the Young Explorer units at the centers.
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, The Children’s Trust and IBM plan to distribute these units in early August.
July 14, 2010
Dubuque 2.0 Launches Recognition Campaign
People across Dubuque soon will begin to see window decals and stickers with the recognizably-shaped green “pick” of the Dubuque 2.0 logo – strategically placed by citizens to acknowledge a sustainable action or choice. The recognition campaign will draw attention to the actions you can take to support a more sustainable lifestyle.
Dubuquers are encouraged to reward friends, family, neighbors, and businesses that are acting sustainably or have made sustainable choices by placing one of the removable stickers on the product, shelf, or item that points out the sustainable behavior or choice. As a community, business, or non-profit leader, you are encouraged to accept these removable stickers as a sign of appreciation and citizen and consumer recognition of “doing it green”. If you’re being “green”…we might just catch you “green-handed”.
Additionally, if you’d like to simply show your support for Dubuque 2.0 and your choice to become more sustainable – simply adhere a window decal where it’s visible to your customers or clients.
The Dubuque 2.0 stickers and window clings will be at the Dubuque 2.0 booth at community events and can also be picked-up at the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque on the mezzanine level of the historic Roshek Building or at the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce at 300 Main Street in downtown Dubuque.
Keep your eyes peeled…as you may find these stickers in the unlikeliest of places. Area businesses, residents, schools, and non-profits are doing great things everyday that create a more equitable, livable and viable community for us all.
For more information on Dubuque 2.0 please visit http://www.dubuque2.org
July 6, 2010
Now Accepting Letters of Intent for the 2010 Annual Grant Cycle
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is now accepting Letters of Intent for the 2010 annual grant cycle. Letters of Intent will be accepted until August 6th at 5pm. Later this summer, the Community Foundation will be requesting full applications from selected organizations that submitted letters of intent. Over $30,000 will be granted to nonprofit organizations that are focusing on neighborhood development. The maximum grant award is $15,000.
“The Community Foundation’s Grantmaking and Community Leadership Committee is shifting to a more strategic approach. Our goal is to make a greater impact on an identified need within our community. The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is eager to address the root causes of issues facing our community,” said Nancy Van Milligen, Community Foundation President/CEO.
Submit one (1) original letter of intent and eight (8) copies by August 6th, 2010 by 5:00 PM to be considered for the full application process. The Letter of Intent can be found
HERE or can be picked up at the Community Foundation office located at 700 Locust St, Suite 195.
This year the Community Foundation has modified their annual grant cycle to be more strategic in their grantmaking. The 2010 grant funding priority is Neighborhood Development within neighborhoods of need. (Neighborhoods of need may include areas with low-income residents, slum and blight, lack of organized recreation, etc.) Organizations may be located in other parts of city, but the grant-funding must be used for neighborhood development within areas of need. Applicants are encouraged to be creative with their proposals. The targeted outcome is to encourage positive neighborhood transformation to create safer neighborhoods, supported and stable families, healthy relationships, increased awareness and understanding, neighborhood pride, increased financial stability, options for healthy lifestyles, increased social and civic engagement opportunities, etc.
June 4, 2010
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Receives $50,000 for Community Engagement
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is pleased to announce it’s been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Iowa Office of Energy Independence through the Power Fund Community Grants program. The grant is awarded to support community engagement efforts of Dubuque 2.0, an initiative facilitated by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, aimed at inspiring sustainability.
Justin Thiltgen, Dubuque 2.0 Director, said, "This grant has the potential to touch thousands of residents in Dubuque. As we work to inspire sustainability, we will be hosting community meetings for all families and employee groups to receive free toolkits. These kits will include tools to learn about energy efficiency and actually measure energy use. With this knowledge, individuals, families and businesses can make the best choices to conserve energy. In exchange for the kit, we will ask participants to sign a pledge of sustainability and also register on our Dubuque2.0 website to track participant and community progress of energy efficiency. We see this as an important way for Dubuque to continue to be a model for the region, state and nation on the practices of a sustainable community."
The Community Grants program is funded through four percent of the annual appropriation of the Iowa Power Fund. Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque President and CEO Nancy Van Milligen said, "We are proud to partner with the State of Iowa and will continue to ensure that Dubuque leads on sustainability issues."
For more information on Dubuque 2.0 please visit http://www.dubuque2.org.
For more information on the Iowa Office of Energy Independence, the Community Grants program, and other recipient projects please visit http://www.energy.iowa.gov