Dyersville Area Community Foundation Announces Award Recipients
DYERSVILLE, Iowa—The Dyersville Area Community Foundation (DACF) is pleased to announce the awarding of nine grants to nonprofits located in the communities of Dyersville, New Vienna, Petersburg and Epworth. Grants are supported by donations made to the Foundation’s endowment fund, which distributed approximately $20,000 during this grant cycle.
Nonprofit representatives accepted their grants at an Oct. 24 award ceremony. Representatives of organizations large and small spoke to the impact of their projects and the reach of grant dollars.
Randy Mahoney accepted an award to help the Dyersville Health Foundation purchase new colonoscopy equipment. “Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, and it’s almost completely preventable through early detection,” said Mahoney. Over 150 screenings are performed annually at Mercy Medical Center — Dyersville and on average, half of them are positive for cancer. “That’s why it’s so important for us to continue these lifesaving screenings in Dyersville.”
The Dyersville Area Historical Society received a grant for landscaping at the Dyer-Botsford House. “This grant is so important to us because of our low budget. I want to thank the Foundation for the grant, because without it, this couldn’t be done,” said representative Judy Weber. “I want to thank the supporters who financially give to the Community Foundation, because grants to a small nonprofit like us just are not possible without your generous donations.”
In addition to supporting nonprofits with grantmaking, the DACF has also adopted several special projects, such as the Dyersville Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. DACF made a significant contribution to support the program and the work of its coordinator, Jessica Pape, to ensure area students don’t fall behind and continue to meet important benchmarks in reading.
The recipients honored at DACF’s Oct. 24 award ceremony in Dyersville were:
Area Residential Care – $781.50
Dyersville internet access
City of Dyersville — James Kennedy Public Library - $2,000
Pop-Up portable library and outreach services
Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce - $646
Welcoming new residents
Dyersville Area Historical Society – $836
Landscaping at Dyer-Botsford House
Dyersville Commercial Club Park – $2,100
Park picnic tables
Dyersville Health Foundation – $1,975
New colonoscopy equipment for Mercy — Dyersville
New Vienna Area Historical Society – $154
New, updated color brochures and postcards
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church – $5,000
Capital campaign for church restoration
Seton Catholic School – $500
Seton Farley Bookies — book club
“Part of our mission is to connect donors with community needs. That’s how we get things done,” said Nancy Dunkel, DACF executive director. “Gifts to the DACF endowment make grantmaking possible here at home. With the support of generous local donors, we can continue to assist the area nonprofits that keep our communities thriving.”
Gifts to the DACF endowment may be eligible for the Endow Iowa 25% State Tax Credit. Click for more information or call 563.599.7094.