Fall 2010 Community Newsletter of the GCRCF

COMMUNITY Giving back motivates Parmley family to establish endowed fund

4

9 Fall 2010

12

COMMUNITY

FROM THE PRESIDENT / CEO

Fall 2010

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ron Olson, Chair Lorna M. Barnes, Past Chair Nancy Kasparek, Vice Chair/Chair Elect Kay L. Hegarty, Treasurer Gerald T. Matchett, Secretary DIRECTORS Richard Altorfer Gary Bartlett John Bickel J. Scott Bogguss Loren Coppock Swati Dandekar Chris DeWolf Ruth Hairston

Elizabeth Hladky Jerry Matchett Sean McPartland Cheryle Mitvalsky Tom Moore Fred Timko Dr. Ruth E. White Kevin Welu

CHAIR EMERITA Nancy G. McHugh PRESIDENT & CEO Les Garner Jr. FOUNDATION STAFF Emmylou Ball, Accountant Wendy Blood, Office Manager Jean Brenneman, Director of Finance Elizabeth Cwik, Program Associate Katie Giorgio, Marketing Assistant, Linn County Nonprofit Resource Center Amber A. Mulnik, Director of Communications Rochelle Naylor, Scholarship Coordinator & Program Assistant Deb Orr, Administrative Assistant Karla Twedt-Ball, Vice President of Programs Robert Untiedt, Executive Director, Linn County Nonprofit Resource Center Josie Velles, Foundation Services Manager Peggy Whitworth, Director of Resource Development

SPECIAL PROGRAMS STAFF Kimberly Beals, Engineering Experiences volunteer coordinator Barbara Klawiter, REACT Center administrator Community is published triannually by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, 324 3rd Street SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please write, call (319.366.2862) fax (319.366.2912), or e-mail info@gcrcf.org.

Please visit our Web site:

www.gcrcf.org

DESIGN WDG Communications Inc. MANAGING EDITOR & WRITER Amber Mulnik CONTRIBUTING WRITER & EDITOR Sherry Crawford

M

The Opportunity Factory

Les Garner Jr.

Most of us think of factories as places with noisy machinery and boxes of products awaiting delivery. Before I joined the Community Foundation in July, I thought of factories that way. Since then, I have come to realize that the Community Foundation is an opportunity factory, creating opportunities on a daily basis. We create opportunities for the community through the programs and services offered by the organizations we support. We create opportunities for the nonprofit community through the grants we provide and through training offered by the Linn County Non profit Resource Center. We create opportunities for donors by helping them realize their philanthropic goals.

Many of the opportunities created by the Community Foundation are available today, but we also create opportunities for the future. A critical tool for providing future opportunities is endowment. Endowments are investments in the future. They are funds that, when invested wisely, will support the community in perpetuity.

Some endowment funds are large.

The very generous gift to the Community Foundation from Bill Quarton falls into this category. The income from the Quarton Endowment Fund will support his favorite charities forever. Through the unrestricted portion of that endowment future leaders will be able to seize emerging opportunities and address problems that cannot be foreseen today.

Some endowment funds are relatively small. Early in my career as a faculty member, some friends and I

raised a few thousand dollars to start an endowment fund for the Campus Y, an organization that had meant a lot to us when we were undergraduates. At first, that endowment generated a few hundred dollars a year to support the Y. Today, three decades later, that endowment fund has grown to a value of several hundred thousand dollars, and it provides more than $20,000 per year to support the Y. I am extremely gratified to think of the many programs, field trips and activities that are now possible because of that support.

Endowment funds are critical to the sustainability of the nonprofit organizations that contribute so impressively to the quality of life in our community. Endowments provide the support to maintain and enhance the collections of art, artifacts and museums so that they will be available to our children and grandchildren. Endowments support the cost of performances so that ticket prices can remain affordable.

They offer human service agencies the chance to provide the highest quality of service to their clients, opening personal opportunities that might well have been otherwise unavailable to them.

The Community Foundation is a place where a rich variety of endowment funds, large and small, can be created and managed so that those funds will support achievement of our current community goals and grow to provide even greater opportunity in the future. Thanks to all of you who are part of this opportunity factory and for the expanded sense of possibility that you are creating.

PHOTOGRAPHY Impact Photography/Molly Kempf

Les Garner Jr.

COVER STORY

P

Giving back motivates Parmley family to establish endowed fund

Plugging back into their community is important to Dave and their endowed fund will allow in choosing beneficiaries for Anne Parmley. They care about the place they call home and annual gifts. the needs of those around them.

“We can put it toward the area of greatest need,

Both have been involved in a variety of community whatever it’s needed for most to meet their mission,” service in Cedar Rapids and supported local nonprofits. But Dave says. “We can thank them with our check for the idea of reaching out in a deeper, more personal way led what they’re doing.” the Parmleys to take their caring to a new level: in April, they

The Parmleys’ fund will provide its first distribution established a donor-advised, endowed family fund with the next year.

Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation (GCRCF).

Initially, the gifts will be small, “but as it grows, we’ll

“We thought it would be nice to create a giving be able to give more to more groups,” Dave notes. “The mechanism that would outlast us,” Dave explains.

Foundation is a great way to leverage our gift.”

When they realized they were in

Anne appreciates the sense of a position to take that step, they knew creating something lasting through such the Community Foundation was the “We want our kids to know an endowment.“It’s a footprint for place to go. us. A place,” she explains. “With this

“We knew about the Foundation, about the fund and maybe Community Foundation fund, you feel but when we saw how quickly they like you have a piece of it. It feels a little contribute to causes they stepped forward after the flood to more sustainable. And with this, over help, we were even more impressed,” we’ll be able to see the impact.” rally around. As they grow, time, Anne says.

Ultimately, the Parmleys hope to

Several factors prompted the they’ll learn to give back to include input from their children – Parmleys to create an endowed fund, Lauren, age 10, and Jack, 13.

Dave notes. As a member of Indian Creek the community they live in.”

“We want our kids to know about Nature Center’s board of directors, Dave the fund and maybe contribute to causes Dave Parmley saw the value of the Center’s partnership they rally around,” Dave says. “As they with the GCRCF. The Center’s director, Rich Patterson, grow, they’ll learn to give back to the community they live in.” was adamant about continuously building an endowment for

Dave and Anne have made a point to make their kids the Center through ongoing donations, large and small. As aware of needs in the community and why it’s important to that endowment grew, its ability to help sustain the Center give to programs that offer help. made a huge difference.

“We talk about people who have trouble or special

Another factor was the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program, needs,” Dave explains, “just so they understand the which encourages charitable giving through the creation of importance of supporting those causes. Families in tough permanent, endowed funds. In exchange, donors receive a situations need our help.”

25 percent state income tax credit.

The satisfaction is real when you can provide tangible

“That tax credit is a tool, a real incentive to give,” help, Anne says.

Dave adds. “It allowed us an opportunity to establish our

“You get that charge because you know you’re going family fund.” to be able to give and make a difference,” she adds.

The Parmleys have supported nonprofits like Waypoint,

Dave agrees. “We look forward to the day we can Tanager Place and Four Oaks that provide help for families write the first check from this fund.” and children in need. Now, they look forward to the flexibility

COMMUNITY 3

NONPROFIT PROFILE

Endowments critical to nonprofits’ survival, success

I

Rich Patterson, director Indian Creek Nature Center

Indian Creek Nature Center (ICNC) today is a well-established, treasured resource for the Cedar Rapids community and beyond. For more than 30 years, its staff and board, aided by a wide range of dedicated volunteers, have worked to restore and conserve its land, which now encompasses 234 acres.

The commitment to its mission has remained strong, despite some lean years when funding was stretched thin, recalls Rich Patterson, ICNC Director since 1978. Like many nonprofits, the Center’s board often struggled to meet basic needs like salaries, utilities and other operational costs.

In those early years, the Center operated financially “on a song and a prayer,” Patterson says. “We had no savings; we were living hand-to-mouth.”

Board members often discussed the need for establishing an endowment as a long-term investment whose yield would generate funding to support the Center.

It was an elusive goal, but the need was imperative.

Finally, in 1982, the board created a charitable trust as a separate, legal entity and pledged to gradually build an endowment.

“It had the structure, but it had no money, in the beginning,” Patterson recalls. “The hardest step is taking that first step. But it’s critical to the future for nonprofits.”

Today, 28 years later, that endowment’s assets have reached almost $2 million, generating nearly 20 percent of operational cash needs, easing pressure on annual fundraising.

“We have an endowment that’s sizable today because we have taken a long-time look at funding, beyond today’s evident needs,” Patterson points out.

That’s an essential step for any nonprofit to succeed, he stresses.

4 The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

First, create a charitable trust with its own separate board to manage the endowed funds; distribute earnings annually to fund operations. And prohibit the use of any funds deposited in the endowment from ever being used to fund short-term needs or shortfalls.

From there, Patterson advises, it’s vital to promote endowment giving and make donors aware of it as an option for gifts of cash, bequests or other ways of planned giving. “It appeals to some donors,” Patterson adds. “It has a lot of power. A gift to the endowment provides for the Center in perpetuity. And it’s an opportunity

“Our relationship is a partnership. The Community Foundation is an enormous benefit to this community and nonprofits.”

Rich Patterson, ICNC Director

to have everlasting life as a donor. It’s an enduring influence, with your name on it.”

Eventually, as an endowment grows, it’s wise to turn over its assets to the management of a foundation like the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation (GCRCF). ICNC took that great step forward in 2005, Patterson says, because the GCRCF pools the assets of many nonprofits with its own significant funds and hires professional investment advisors. Investing those combined funds brings larger returns with fewer risks.

Another big draw is the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program, which encourages charitable giving through establishing permanent, endowed funds.

In return, donors receive a 25percent state income tax credit. The funds can be donor-advised, designated or unrestricted, and must be held at an Iowa community foundation.

ICNC’s endowment is made up of nearly 20 different funds now managed by the GCRCF, money that came from hundreds of small contributions combined with the larger investments of the Community Foundation. The ICNC’s board hopes its endowment reaches $13 million by 2023, the ICNC’s 50th anniversary, so that up to 50percent of annual operating costs will be covered by endowment dollars.

“You’re entrusting the Foundation,” Patterson says. “But they have well-informed financial advisors.

Our relationship is a partnership.

The Community Foundation is an enormous benefit to this community and nonprofits.”

Endowing Cedar Rapids and Beyond For good. For ever.

I

Iowans have a giving spirit and they work hard to ensure their communities thrive for generations to come. They share a passion for their community and a desire to give back in a way that lasts forever.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation works with donors of all ages who come from all types of backgrounds – they are homemakers, farmers, business leaders, young professionals, volunteers, educators, students and laborers – they create permanent endowments that benefit local nonprofits and the causes they care about. The size of their gifts varies too – they know that every endowment, no matter what the amount, can make a difference and lasts a lifetime.

Year 1

Year 10

Year 15

Year 25

Year 50

Establish an endowment fund

$5,219 in cumulative grants

$8,546 in cumulative grants

$16,276 in cumulative grants

$43,838 in cumulative grants

$10,000 gift

$12,787 fund balance

$14,118 fund balance

$17,210 fund balance

$28,235 fund balance

How an Endowment Works An essential component of the work of the Community Foundation is building a permanent collection of endowed funds through contributions made by many donors during their lifetime or through an estate plan. These contributions are carefully invested for maximum return and growth, ensuring that the funds will exist in perpetuity.

The growth of the endowment funds and the income earned help to provide the grant dollars necessary to carry out the charitable intent of the donors who established them.

Endowed funds held at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation have a granting policy of 5 percent.

This means that over time, more grant dollars are available to the community and nonprofits while the endowment fund itself continues to grow.

Unrestricted Fund Your gift can address a broad range of local needs, including future needs that may not be anticipated at the time the endowment is established. This type of fund enables the Community Foundation to respond to the community’s most pressing needs, now and in the future.

This illustration assumes a: 5 percent granting policy 1.5 percent administration fee 8.5 percent rate of return 0 percent inflation Types of Endowments In partnership with the Community Foundation, you can establish or contribute to five primary types of endowment funds:

Donor-Advised Fund With this type of fund, you’re actively involved in suggesting which programs, projects or nonprofits receive grants on an ongoing basis. Grants are awarded to nonprofits in the name of the fund (or anonymously if you prefer). This fund also could present an opportunity to share the spirit of philanthropy by engaging other generations in making grant recommendations.

www.gcrcf.org

Field of Interest Fund When you make your gift, you choose the particular area or areas you want funded, such as education, health or community development, and the Community Foundation’s board awards grants to nonprofits or programs that serve that purpose.

Designated Fund This type of fund enables you to choose a specific nonprofit or organizations, such as a museum, youth center or church that your endowment will support in perpetuity. In addition, you may wish to support continued education opportunities through a specific designated endowment called a scholarship fund.

Agency Endowment Fund This type of fund is established by a nonprofit at the Community Foundation. It’s a simple and efficient way to build an endowment that helps create sustainability and supports the nonprofit’s mission in perpetuity.

Businesses, individuals, families and organizations may make additional contributions to the fund.

If you’re interested in establishing an endowed fund and want more information, visit www.gcrcf.org or contact Peggy Whitworth, director of Resource Development, at 319.366.2862 or peggy.whitworth@gcrcf.org.

COMMUNITY 5

Endow Iowa Tax Credit

N

No matter which type of endowment partnership you may explore with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, you could benefit from the Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

The Iowa Legislature created the program, and since 2004 it has provided an incentive to establish and grow endowment funds for Iowa charitable causes at qualified community foundations. Endow Iowa provides donors the opportunity to apply (on a first-come, first-served basis) for a 25 percent State of Iowa tax credit, which is in addition to any federal deduction you may receive for the charitable gift. The Endow Iowa Tax Credit is available to any Iowa taxpayer, including financial institutions and businesses.

As of Dec. 1, 2010, approximately $2 million in credits remain through the Endow Iowa Tax Credit program for this year.

Getting Started The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation wants to work with you to ensure that your giving experience is tailored to your situation and meets your charitable goals.

Your gift to the Community Foundation can be for any amount and made in a variety of forms, including cash, appreciated stock, real estate or other assets. These gifts can be made now or through an estate plan.

You can establish an endowment at the Community Foundation to support the causes you believe in or you can choose to give to an existing fund that matches your charitable interests.

When you are ready to explore your charitable giving options, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is the place to start. Contact either Peggy Whitworth, Resource Development director, or Les Garner, president & CEO.

Gift Amount*

Federal Income Tax Deduction

Iowa Income Tax Iowa Income Tax Net Cost of Gift* Grants Made Deduction† Credit (25%) After 10 Years

Grants Made After 50 Years

$10,000

$3,500

—

$2,500

$4,000

$6,241

$62,566

$25,000

$8,750

—

$6,250

$10,000

$15,602

$156,416

$50,000

$17,500

—

$12,500

$20,000

$31,203

$312,832

$100,000

$35,000

—

$25,000

$40,000

$62,407

$625,655

$1,000,000

$350,000

—

$250,000

$400,000

$624,068

$6,256,648

Non-Itemizers Gift Amount* *$1,000

Federal Income Tax Deduction

Iowa Income Tax Iowa Income Tax Net Cost of Gift* Grants Made Deduction† Credit (25%) After 10 Years

—

—

$250

Assumptions: Federal income tax bracket computed at 35 percent (assuming individual taxpayer utilizes Schedule A – itemized deductions on their federal tax return).

Iowa income tax bracket computed at 8 percent.

$750

$624

$6,257

Grant assumptions are made based on an 8.5 percent rate of return from GCRCF investment pool and an annual distribution of 5 percent from the fund.

This is for illustration purpose only. Please contact your advisor to determine exact tax benefits.

* Using appreciated stock lowers the net cost of your gift even further. † Donor receives a 25 percent Iowa income tax credit but no Iowa income tax deduction.

6 The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

Grants Made After 50 Years

www.gcrcf.org

GRANTS LIST

More than $800,000 granted to nonprofits during summer grant cycle

T

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation (GCRCF) board of directors approved 47 grants to 38 nonprofits totaling $812,023.46 from June through August. The grant awards were from a variety of competitive unrestricted and field of interest funds held at the GCRCF that address community needs in the areas of arts and culture, community development and the environment, education and health and human service.

▪▪ $1,659.46 to Cedar Rapids Downtown District for July 17th Farmers’ Market/Community Mural Project

Organizational Development Fund The Organizational Development Fund assists nonprofit agencies in their efforts to build capacity and effectiveness and fund activities that increase the success and impact of the organizations’ programs.

▪▪ $5,000 to Community Corrections Improvement Association for its Children of Promise Sustainability Development Plan

▪▪ $1,500 to Iowa Art Works for Nonprofit Innovation Award on collaboration

▪▪ $3,840 to Safe Place Foundation for an expansion feasibility study

▪▪ $925 to the Salvation Army of Cedar Rapids for estate and charitable gift planning institute

▪▪ $3,400 to Willis Dady Emergency Shelter for building a sound finance and budget infrastructure for the future

▪▪ $4,753 to Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association for the 2010 Midnight Hoops Program

Flood 2008 Fund As of June 23, 2010, the Community Foundation has awarded $5.7 million in grants from the Flood 2008 Fund to 76 local nonprofits who serve the greater good and are working to improve our community since the June 2008 flood. For a complete list of grant awards, go to www.gcrcf.org in the News section.

▪▪ $25,000 to Kids First Law Center for rebuilding Kids First ▪▪ $19,700 to St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation for Linn County Mind Body Medicine Coalition President’s Fund The President’s Fund makes available grants to meet the needs of emerging grass-roots organizations, the strategic and emergency issues of established organizations, unexpected opportunities and current community or sector learning.

▪▪ $1,500 to American Advertising Federation Cedar Rapids Iowa City for Nonprofit Innovation Award for charitable purpose of the Public Service Sexting Campaign

▪▪ $2,400 to Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services for piano rebuilding ▪▪ $2,000 to Friends of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission for start-up costs

▪▪ $1,500 to Junior League of Cedar Rapids for Nonprofit Innovation Award for brand identity/unique marketing campaign ▪▪ $1,500 to Mercy Medical Center Foundation for Nonprofit Innovation Award for nonprofit leadership excellence ▪▪ $2,000 to Tapestry Time Bank for start-up costs

▪▪ $5,000 to Young Parents Network for moving costs Momentum Fund The Momentum Fund makes grants to existing programs that have demonstrated successful outcomes. Programs must have been in existence for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that the program is successfully achieving its stated outcome goals for at least two years.

▪▪ $50,000 to Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) for programs preventing substance abuse in Linn County ▪▪ $50,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa for Polk/Taylor Communities Mentoring Project ▪▪ $50,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids for club outreach ▪▪ $5,000 to Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre for Young Artist Program School Outreach Opera 2011 & 2012: “Herman the Horse: a Healthy Tail”

continued on 8 COMMUNITY 7

GRANTS LIST

Summer Grant Awards continued from page 7

Momentum Fund continued ▪▪ $16,000 to Community Corrections Improvement Association for VISTA Neighborhood Assistance Project/ Corridor Recovery ▪▪ $50,000 to Community Health Free Clinic for its Prescription Assistance Program ▪▪ $35,000 to Eastern Iowa Arts Academy for increased access to EAA programs ▪▪ $37,344 to Foundation 2 to support Foundation 2 crisis center staffing ▪▪ $12,500 to Foundation 2 to support Foundation 2 crisis center staffing ▪▪ $19,692 to Iowa Legal Aid for Disaster Relief Project ▪▪ $29,872 to Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Inc. for Junior Achievement economic and financial literacy programming

Linn County Fund The Linn County Endowment Fund gives priority to enhancing quality of life and community development outside the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area.

▪▪ $3,000 to Alburnett Community School District Foundation for repair and improvement of walking/running trail ▪▪ $14,980 to Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) for Rural Linn County Substance Abuse Prevention Programming ▪▪ $15,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa for Positive Linn County Youth Outcomes ▪▪ $15,000 to Center Point Ambulance Services Inc. (C-PAS) for generator installation/community safe room activation ▪▪ $3,306 to Central City Historical Society Corporation for Sawyer House gutter/facia project

▪▪ $40,000 to Kids First Law Center for creating stability for children of divorce

▪▪ $5,000 to Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Inc. for financial literacy education for rural school districts

▪▪ $34,784 to Kirkwood Foundation for GAP Tuition Assistance Program

▪▪ $4,790 to Kids First Law Center for workshops to help kids cope with divorce

▪▪ $50,000 to Matthew 25 Ministry Hub for Matthew 25 Tool Library

▪▪ $5,000 to Linn County Historical Society for Main Streets of Linn County exhibit

▪▪ $30,000 to Orchestra Iowa for Orchestra Iowa opening night concerts at Brucemore

▪▪ $1,500 to Old Creamery Theatre Co. for Young Abe Lincoln project

▪▪ $32,000 to SPT Theatre Company for Tales from the Writers’ Room, Seasons Three and Four

▪▪ $3,000 to Red Cedar Chamber Music for Music in Libraries of Rural Linn County

▪▪ $40,000 to St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation for St. Luke’s Dental Health Center

▪▪ $2,827 to Witwer Center, Inc. for So No Rural Senior Goes Hungry program

▪▪ $50,000 to Waypoint for operations of the Waypoint Madge Phillips Center for Homeless Women and Children

▪▪ $9,751 to Workplace Learning Connection for “Brain Drain or Brain Gain: What is the Bottom Line?”

▪▪ $15,000 to Young Parents Network for “Reaching Out-Building Up”

8 The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

www.gcrcf.org

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT

Momentum Fund grant helps introduce kids to opera theatre

B

Bringing opera theatre to young children – especially those in fifth grade and under – has long been a passion of the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre through its Young Artist Program School Outreach.

Thanks to a two-year, $5,000 grant from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation’s Momentum Fund and the Myron and Esther Wilson Fund, such performances will continue in 2011 and 2012. The theatre will produce the oneact children’s opera, “Herman the Horse: A Healthy Tail.”

Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre produces two professional main stage operas each year at Theatre Cedar Rapids. For the past seven years, their Young Artist Program singers have also performed a school outreach production in Cedar Rapids schools. This year, Marion schools also participated.

Each school’s music and classroom teachers get a curriculum packet tying the opera to their overall curriculum.

Performances are free.

Students, teachers and parents have responded enthusiastically, says Daniel Kleinknecht, executive director of Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre and music professor at Mount Mercy University, with requests for return visits and performances. “It’s all about performing and interacting with the students,” he adds. “It’s part of our philosophy to introduce people to opera who otherwise might not

Daniel Kleinknecht, executive director of Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre

experience it. These grants have really helped us reach thousands of community school children.”

The collaborative effort broadens the scope of the children’s creative, musical and cultural education.

“The pieces we choose introduce these students to classical music and singing, opera and theater, but also deliver a subliminal message,” Kleinknecht notes. “This year’s ‘Herman the Horse’ ties in with the national trend we see encouraging people to eat well and take care of themselves.”

It also provides unique experience and employment for Iowa artists. The Opera Theatre, established in 1998, began its Young Artist program in 2000, providing a rare opportunity for new actors to learn and perform professional opera. This fall, more than 100 university and college students auditioned for the Young Artist Program.

Ongoing support from the Community Foundation has made a great difference for the group’s efforts, Kleinknecht stresses.

“It’s been important for us emotionally because it said, ‘we believe in what you’re trying to do.’ The Community Foundation helped establish us early on,” he says.

“We’re eternally grateful to the Momentum Fund and the Community Foundation for believing in our vision.”

The cast of the Young Artist production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers on stage at Brucemore.

COMMUNITY 9

GRANTEE IN FOCUS

GCRCF grant helps support ASAC ongoing prevention efforts

S

Melissa Walker, ASAC’s deputy director of prevention services

Substantial funding cuts at state and federal levels threatened to undermine ongoing substance abuse prevention efforts of the Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) in the community.

Fortunately, a two-year, $50,000 grant from the Community Foundation’s Momentum Fund will erase that threat.

The funding for 2011-12 also enables ASAC to continue a more comprehensive approach in teaching prevention and healthy decision-making skills to kids at risk for addiction and substance abuse.

The partnership with schools that works directly with students and parents is still an integral part of ASAC’s work, explains Melissa Walker, ASAC’s deputy director of prevention services. But ASAC advocates are charting a new path that links direct interaction with kids and broader approaches to establish healthy attitudes community-wide.

“It’s becoming a challenge within our field to find funding,” Walker

explains. “We used to target specific groups of kids in school. That works, but you only affect those individual groups.

It’s a more effective use of funding and staff time to go beyond just working with curriculum.”

ASAC works with community coalitions to reduce youth use and access to alcohol, prescription drugs, marijuana and tobacco. Examples abound: the Rural Communities Reducing Alcohol in Linn (RC RAIL); an alcohol-free graduation sign campaign encouraging alcohol-free graduation parties; working with pharmacies on a Prescription Drug Drive to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse among youth, and decrease the number of prescriptions available by collecting expired or unwanted prescription drugs.

“These kinds of programs have such a large effect on the community as a whole,” Walker explains. “We want to have a greater impact through changing policies and raising awareness.”

ASAC served more than 20,000 people in Linn County in 2009 and anticipates serving that many or more through 2011. Facing more than $200,000 in funding cuts, ASAC turned to the GCRCF for help.

“We’ve been fortunate to have entities like the GCRCF that are supportive of big-picture programming,” Walker notes. “Not very many communities have that kind of support.”

ASAC and collaborative efforts seem to be working. From 2005 to 2008, the percentage of 11th graders who admitted using alcohol in the previous month dropped from 32 percent to 29 percent in Linn County; the 2008 state average was 36 percent.

Tobacco use is also down. But there’s more work ahead, Walker adds.

“We need to help prepare the community to be there for these kids when they go home,” Walker says.

“The Community Foundation grant allows us to address the changing needs of the community. It’s a great resource.”

Philanthropists of the Year winners As part of National Philanthropy Day, John and Dyan Smith of Cedar Rapids received the 2010 Individual Philanthropists of the Year award presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Eastern Iowa Chapter. Les Garner, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, nominated the Smiths along with several other organizations including Cornell College, Four Oaks, Mercy Foundation and the United Way of East Central Iowa. Through personal gifts and corporate gifts from their family business (CRST International) the Smith family has contributed to the betterment of life in Eastern Iowa through their support of the arts, human services and education.

10 The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation

www.gcrcf.org

William Quarton

Heritage Society

William Quarton Heritage Society as of Dec. 1, 2010

I

If you have remembered the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation in your estate plans, or if you have established an endowed fund at the Community Foundation, you are eligible to become a member of the William Quarton Heritage Society.

We will not list your name without your permission. Please contact us at 319.366.2862 or info@gcrcf.org for more information.

Anonymous (8) Robert W. and Elizabeth M. Allsop Anna O.* and William G. Anderson Gary L. and Alice Anderson Thomas J. and Sarah E. Anderson Marian J. Arens Carl and Topsy Aschoff Jean H. Ashby* Daniel R. Baldwin Lorna M. Barnes Helen (Skippy) Bell Bob V. Bengtson Peter F. Bezanson* Barbara Bloomhall and William A. Bloomhall, Sr.* Bill and Jan Bloomhall Wilma J. Blosser Katheryn Boatman Scott and Joann Bogguss Barry and Gilda Boyer Jean Brenneman Ruth L. Hastings Brown* David H. and Rose Marie Burke Steven and Joanne Carfrae Richard* and Judith Chandler Ivan and Mary Bess Chester Barbara Christiansen Larry H. Christy Lee and Jay Clancey Loren L. and Patricia A. Coppock Paul and Sara Corbin John P. Curran Tom and Beth DeBoom Dr. and Mrs. Robert K. Dennis Ann Dorr Tiffany A. Earl John R. and Cheryl G. Elliott John M. Ely, Jr.* and Polly Ely* Norman and Floy* Erickson Peggy Fashimpaur Kahr John P.* and Jean W. Ferring

Robert C.* and Marjorie H. Fletcher Rick and Donna Flynn William B. and Jo Anne F. Galbraith Les and Katrina Garner William and Harriet Gasway Dean and Laura Gesme David and Kathleen Good Rose and LaVern Gordon Gary Grant Joan Greenblatt Kathy L. Hall Ortha R.* and Ken* Harstad Mary Lou and Donald Hattery Ted and Tish Healey Kay and John Hegarty Jason and Susan Hellickson Clifford A. Hendricks Kate Hladky Jim and Ann Hoffman Lee R. Horn Barbara J. and Ralph E.* Hughes Sher Jasperse and Daryl Julich David and Mary Johnson G. Richard and Jackie Johnson Kenneth L. and Mildred M.* Johnson Mildred Joslin and Edward Kemp* Mary and David Junge David and Sherri Justice Vyrl* and Martha Justice Joseph M. Kacena* George* and Louise Kalous Suzanne Rosenbaum Katz Merry and Bob* Kelley Frank and Geri Kintzle Thomas and Clara Kleiman G.T. (Jerry) Knox Peter and Ingrid Kolln David and Chris Kubicek Ted and Margaret Kubicek Robert and Caroline* Kucharski

Lawrence and Kimberly Kudej Sheryl Chehak Lamb* Robert J. and Sue B. Latham Karen Ann Laughlin James* and Susan Lavenz Robert and Carol Lehman Thea and Roger* Leslie Christopher and Jane Lindell Norman G.* Lipsky and Belle M. Lipsky David Mahlke George and Janelle McClain Bruce and Judy McGrath Jo* and Larry McGrath David and Ruth McGuire Nancy Green McHugh Frank and Cheryle Mitvalsky Mike and Ann Mohnsen Tara and Bob Moorman Paul and Jennifer Morf Craig and Deborah Mrkvicka Bill and Cathy Munsell Virginia Myers* Kay and Duane Nesetril Greg and Debbie Neumeyer William and Cheryl Nordstrom John and Christine North Ron and Sue Olson Sarah H. Olson and Tyler Olson Dave and Anne Parmley Richard and Marion Patterson Jay and Bonnie Petersen Ann and David B.* Pickford James A. and Monica M. Piersall Mike Plotz Wendy* and Randy Portz William B. Quarton* and Jean A. Hunnicutt William and Janis Quinby Curt and Sigrid Reynolds Mary E. Rickey Louise G. Roalson Dr. and Mrs. William John Robb Jack and Jackie* Roland Gary Rozek

Judith Whetstine and Bob Rush John M. and Wilma Ann Wallin Sagers Mr. William D. Severa Larry D. and Claire J. Sharp Paul R.* and Rebecca F.* Shawver Laurie and Robert Silber Marilyn and Dayton* Sippy Drew and Jo Ann Skogman Gary and Robin Skogman Kyle and Susan Skogman LaJuana Skogman Duane Smith Dyan and John Smith Ellen Smith Marty and Julianne Smith Al and Sara Sorensen Sue and Gary Speicher Eleanor Streletzky Robert Synhorst Julie and Byron Tabor Fred and Bev Timko Kathleen Toborg Sara and Dale Todd Terry Trimpe James and Susan Turner Robert Untiedt Michael and Marla Valliere Josie Velles R. Ray* and Barbara Weeks Maxine and Ted* Welch Guy H. Wendler Susanna Wendler William P. and Gayle* Whipple Dorothy J. White and Robert Dean Metcalf* Peggy Boyle Whitworth Esther and Myron Wilson Robert and Charlotte Worley Jason and Leslie Wright Corrine and Robert* Yaw David Zylstra

*Deceased

COMMUNITY 11

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 214 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

324 3rd Street SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401

1

GCRCF Celebrates with Open House The Community Foundation welcomed more than 300 guests to its new permanent home at the Torch Press on Aug. 31, 2010, with a celebratory open house and ribbon cutting by the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

1

GCRCF board of directors, staff and Brad Hart, board chair of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce cut the ceremonial red ribbon at the open house.

2

2

Georgine Stapleton and Donna Koch.

3

Brad Hart of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce congratulations Les Garner, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, on the new home of the Foundation.

3

7.250M.1110CG