To give is to make an impact. Those impacts create places, ideas, and communities where we can thrive. Arminda G. Bishop gave to impact everything she loved. Arminda (Mindy) Bishop was born on July 19, 1919. Mindy grew up loving music and singing with her beautiful contralto voice. In 1937, Mindy received a business degree at the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. In 1958, Mindy moved to Keokuk and began employment with Hoerner Boxes, Inc., editing "The Box Score" trade magazine. Her life in Keokuk was filled with community involvement as well as, a passion for the Fine Arts. Mindy established herself as a talented musician who shared her faith by singing in Keokuk area churches and community events. She became a leader on the Keokuk Concert Board, the Keokuk Fine Arts Council, the Lee County Historical Society, the BPW Board, and the Iowa Society for the Preservation of Historical Landmarks. Arminda G. Bishop In 2017, The Arminda G. Bishop Fund was established at the Keokuk Area Community Foundation. The Arminda G. Bishop Fund will honor the life of Arminda G. Bishop by giving annual grants to Keokuk nonprofit organizations in the fields of Arts and Culture, Education, Social Services and Historical Preservation. These grants will be a ongoing gift to the Keokuk Community that Mindy cherished and assisted throughout her life.
The Eichacker Award for Philanthropy honors an individual or family for their sustained and generous commitment to philanthropy, charitable giving, and volunteer service in the Tri-State Area. The Lofton Award for Community Leadership honors an individual or family who through service and volunteerism has strengthened and sustained nonprofit organizations, charities, churches, and educational institutions in this area for a sustained period of time. The Eichacker Award was awarded to Dr. Michael and Kathy Klauser and The Lofton Award to Janice Morgan and Debbie Marion. Dr. Klauser was a founding member of The Keokuk Area Community Foundation Board of Directors and Mrs. Klauser has served on both the Hoerner YMCA and Main Street Keokuk Board of Directors. Dr. and Mrs. Klauser have also been lifelong volunteers and members of All Saints Church. Janice Morgan has served Keokuk both as a philanthropist and a volunteer. As a founding member of The Keokuk Area Community Foundation, Ms. Morgan has always been passionate about building endowments and giving grants to sustain Keokuk nonprofit organizations. Throughout her life, Ms. Morgan has held leadership board positions on The United Way of the Great River Region, The Keokuk Hospital and The Keokuk Public Library. Ms. Morgan has also been a volunteer and member of Trinity United Methodist Church. Debbie Marion has been a staple in Keokuk service and charitable organizations for many years. Mrs. Marion is one the first female members of the Keokuk Rotary Club, a 15-year board of directors member veteran of both the Keokuk Art Center and Main Street Keokuk. Mrs. Marion is also a founding member of the Keokuk Union Depot Commission and a former Board President of The Keokuk Area Community Foundation. In her professional career, Mrs. Marion was the Executive Director of the Big River United Way and was instrumental in starting the United Way Volunteer Center, which has achieved many charitable pursuits in Keokuk, including starting literacy programs for Keokuk students. Mrs. Marion is especially proud of her work with the literacy programs.
Established in 2017, The Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative is a nonprofit organization that brings people and resources together to develop, preserve quality Keokuk neighborhoods, and increase the diversity and availability of housing in Keokuk, Iowa. The Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative is an innovative collaboration between the City of Keokuk, Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce and Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission. “Within the city, we have many properties that are so far gone, that a lot of times, in a particular neighborhood, that is the house that needs to come down. We would take that house down, offer incentives for people to go back and rebuild or go through our program, so that they have a new property where there once was an eyesore.”-Tim Peevler. Each organization will assist the Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative in different ways. The City of Keokuk will help in the acquisition and demolition of rundown or dilapidated properties. The Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce will help with the promotion of the program. The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission will manage the construction side of the project. Peevler Real Estate will work with potential homeowners to decide what type of home would work best in a specific neighborhood. The Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative was awarded $35,000 from Roquette, Inc. in October of 2017, to support their efforts to revitalize existing Keokuk neighborhoods and increase the diversity and availability of housing in Keokuk. Some of the goals of the Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative are to: •
Renew older neighborhoods and housing stock.
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Offer home down payment assistance.
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Diversification of housing options and increased availability.
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Strengthen real estate markets and property values.
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Use of existing public infrastructure, lowering costs of public services.
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Generation of more property tax revenue per acre.
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Increased sustainability of existing neighborhoods and communities.
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Stimulate private investment in neighborhoods and overall community.
A Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative Endowment was established at the Keokuk Area Community Foundation to receive the Roquette gift and future gifts/donations for the Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative. Contact Tim Peevler at tdpeevler@gmail.com or visit keokukfoundation.org/kni to learn more about the Keokuk Neighborhood Initiative.
The Art Center of Burlington was founded in 1966 by a group of artists and friends. Their first show debuted at the Unitarian Church and eventually moved to its first home downstairs at the North Hill Medical Center. In 1967, the organization started the Father's Day tradition of Snake Alley Art Fair. Artists lined the alley with snow fence to hang their artwork for sale. Snake Alley Art Fair celebrated its 50th Anniversary on June 18, 2017. Located in the heart of the beautiful historic Downtown Burlington, the Art Center showcases the works of local, and regional artists with monthly exhibits in the Gallery and one-of-a-kind artwork for sale in the Artists Market. Programs Supported by the Art Center of Burlington also include: · Snake Alley Art Fair · Miracle on Jefferson Street · The Summer Art Camp · Local Artist Galleries · Children’s Art Classes The mission of the Art Center of Burlington is to nurture artistic expression and creativity in the individual and to cultivate an appreciation and understanding of art and culture in our community through education, exhibitions, and events. Art Center of Burlington strives to elevate the social culture of our community, to provide opportunities for creative expression, and to educate individuals in various forms of art. Through the generosity of the Art Center of Burlington donors, the Art Guild of Burlington Endowment Fund was established at the Keokuk Area Community Foundation in 2017 to support the general operations, classes, art exhibits and many more philanthropic and artistic programs of the Art Center of Burlington. The Art Center of Burlington is located at 310 Jefferson Street, Burlington, Iowa 52601. Contact info@artcenterofburlington.org or visit artcenterofburlington.com for more information about the Art Center of Burlington.
In 2017, The Delbert and Edythe Barnes Memorial Scholarship Fund was established at the Keokuk Area Community Foundation for Lee County, Iowa High School graduating seniors that have an interest in pursuing a career in Construction or Industrial Management at Southeastern Community College. Throughout his high school career, Reece has been an active participant in FFA and sports. Through FFA, Reece was given the opportunity to build a new shop at the school where he developed construction and electrical skills. This opportunity sparked an interest to become a future electrical engineer. Interested in learning more about the electrical profession, Reece enrolled in duel credit classes at Southeastern Community College, where he studied AC/ DC Fundamentals, Blueprint Reading, and Valves.
Reece hopes to remain in Lee County after he completes his education at Southeastern Community College. He believes his future as an electrical engineer will give him a rewarding lifelong career, allowing him to give back to his hometown of Montrose, Iowa.
In 2017, The Peggy Dickey Memorial Scholarship Fund was established at the Keokuk Area Community Foundation for graduating seniors from Keokuk High School. The Peggy Dickey Memorial Scholarship selected Keokuk High School seniors Kara Kavanagh and Daniel Rubio as the first scholarship recipients. Kara Kavanagh was awarded a scholarship to Mount Mercy University, where she will study Elementary Education. Kara was selected to be a Peggy Dickey Memorial Scholarship recipient for her high academic and leadership achievements at Keokuk High School. Some of Kara Kavanagh’s high school achievements include: • • • • • • •
Keokuk Little Feathers Keokuk JV & Varsity Show Choir Fellowship of Christian Athletes Konnections Volunteer Group Colorguard & Winterguard Soccer and Tennis Student Council, President & Secretary
Daniel Rubio was awarded a scholarship to study at Southeastern Community College, where he will pursue a career in biology. Daniel was selected to be a Peggy Dickey Memorial Scholarship Recipient for his high academic performance and his community volunteer activities. “I want to make our world better, safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable. By this, I mean not only greatly improving the quality of our natural environment, but also to impact people I meet through positive interactions by influencing them to learn, appreciate, and enjoy nature.”
Some of Daniel Rubio’s volunteer activities include: • • •
Volunteer Services for Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Services for Keokuk Animal Services Volunteer construction of Bentley’s Playground for special needs children in Tolmie Park.
Lock and Dam #19 is a marvel of American Engineering. When it was completed in 1913, it was the largest electricity generating plant in the world. Its hundred year plus legacy not only created an economic and cultural impact for the Tri-State Area, but also gave the region a profound historical identity that will last for generations. In 2004, Lock and Dam #19 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Following the widely attended 100-year anniversary celebration of Lock and Dam #19 in 2013, community leaders established the America’s First Great Dam Foundation in 2015, and created the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam Museum. The mission of The America’s First Great Dam Foundation is to preserve and promote the history of the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam by collecting and restoring pertinent memorabilia and artifacts; creating interactive exhibits and informative displays and educating museum visitors of all ages. In 2017, The America’s First Great Dam Foundation received a grant from the Keokuk Area Community Foundation to build exhibits and programs for the future America’s First Great Dam Museum. The original Lock and Dam #19 construction photography of famed photographer Herman Anschutz will be one of the highlights of the museum. Over 2,220 original Anschutz photos were preserved, organized and documented by the America’s First Great Dam Foundation Board and Keokuk High School Leadership Program students. The America’s First Great Dam Foundation is made up of diverse Tri-State Area community volunteers and Lock and Dam #19 enthusiasts. Kathy Asbury, Phil Tracy, Janet Fife-Lafrenz, Bill Vorhies, Betty Fry, Linda Apple, Ed Kiedaisch, Jo Hamann, Meg Mills, Kirk Brandenburger and Todd Johnson all serve on The America’s First Great Dam Foundation Board of Directors. The Keokuk-Hamilton Dam Museum is located on 428 Main St. Keokuk, Iowa 52632. For more information contact Linda Apple at firstgreatdam@gmail.com.
The Jackson Township Fire Department is a Lee County volunteer force of 12-25 volunteers whose primary response area has approximately 1,760 residents, 1,684 homes/apartments, 28 square miles of land area and 1.4 square miles of water. In 2017, The Jackson Township Fire Department received a grant from The Keokuk Area Community Foundation Grant Fund to update and replace heavy old aluminum SCBA tanks with new lighter carbon fiber SCBA tanks. Replacing the aluminum tanks with carbon fiber tanks, fire fighters experienced a 50% reduction in weight which directly impacted the way The Jackson Township Firefighters performed firefighting operations. Firefighters are now able to operate longer with less fatigue and stress on their backs.
The Jackson Township Fire Department leadership has committed to sustaining carbon fiber tanks by budgeting for rotating replacement of tanks so that they are able to maintain National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards. This grant impacted not only the fire fighters at JTFA but their ability to protect the residents within Jackson Township, and our mutual aid departments in Lee County, Hamilton, Ill and Alexandria, Mo.
The Hoerner YMCA has been a Keokuk health institution for over a century. The YMCA has over 2,200 members and more than 4,000 people take classes or participate in youth programs. The Hoerner YMCA has provided more than $90,000 in scholarships to youth and adults. However, for many years, the Hoerner YMCA’s leaky roof and resulting structural damage, plus its outdated customer management software, have hindered their ability to provide a safe facility for everyone who strives for a healthy life. To address these problems the Hoerner YMCA and The Keokuk Area Community Foundation partnered to write YMCA Facility Improvement grant from the Iowa Arts Council, which is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. In 2017, the Hoerner YMCA Facility Improvement grant was successful, and the Hoerner YMCA was awarded nearly $90,000 in grant funding. The grant also funded new fire alarms and smoke detectors throughout the facility. These new safety measures provide the YMCA members with an improved level of safety by providing a modern system that can alert the members to a potential catastrophe. The Keokuk Area Community Foundation also made a commitment by awarding grant funding to ensure that Hoerner YMCA stays a modern and safe facility for all the residents of the Tri-State Area. In 2017, the Hoerner YMCA received a grant from The Keokuk Area Community Foundation Grant Fund to purchase a new Customer Service Program that allowed the YMCA to efficiently and effectively track class and program registrations, reservations, daily cash management and related reports, and a virtual cash register to track admittance and memberships. To learn more about the successes of Hoerner YMCA visit www.hoernerymca.org.
During times of crisis or difficult circumstances, coping with everyday tasks can be overwhelming. Young House Family Services delivers high quality, effective services that help families achieve safety, stability and well-being. One goal of Young House Family Services is to provide therapy assistance to families and individuals with extreme financial needs. These therapy sessions have improved behaviors and academics in the classroom, reduced out-of-home placements for children and improved the stability of the family unit by treating and supporting parents. Young House Family Services received grant funding from The Keokuk Area Community Foundation Grant Fund to provide therapy to children, adolescents and adults who do not have health insurance, or have high deductibles /co-pays. High deductible/co-pay costs can prevent students and adults from receiving the mental health services needed to cope with the generational poverty that continues to rise in Lee County.
The children, adolescents and adults served by Young House Family Services have also been assisted and supported with finding the necessary resources to move forward and regain their sense of empowerment to become productive and hopeful citizens of Lee County Iowa. Young House Family Services has facilities in Burlington, Mt. Pleasant and Keokuk, and provides a wide range of counseling and behavioral health services to over 4,000 children and families every year throughout Southeast Iowa. Learn more at younghouse.org.
For over 160 years, Holy Trinity Catholic Schools of Fort Madison has provided a positive educational experience which enables students to acquire life skills for future endeavors, while grounding them in the beliefs of the Catholic faith. Over the years, the original Holy Trinity Catholic School buildings have aged leaving multiple safety concerns. Inadequate handicap accessibility, an inefficient cafeteria and needed upgrades in technology were immediate concerns. To continue providing educational and religious standards for children, staff and community members, a new safe, high-quality learning facility was the very best option for the community and a capital building campaign was initiated. In 2017, The Lee County Charitable Fund awarded Holy Trinity Catholic Schools a sizeable grant to assist in achieving their educational goals. The initial goal of the Capital Campaign started as just a renovation and refurbishment of the existing buildings. However, due to the cost associated with these updates, it was determined that these needs would be best met by demolishing and constructing a new elementary building in its place. With a new goal in place, The Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Capital Campaign focus established a five-year campaign that will allow donors to spread their contributions over five years. Holy Trinity Catholic Schools are backed by strong support from five area parishes and led by a committed school board, an established foundation board, solid alumni and community supporters and all others who continuously support the fundraising activities.
This project impacts the entire Holy Trinity Catholic Family and many Lee County residents. This Family is defined as students, faculty/staff, community supporters, business supporters and alumni. Once the school is built, Holy Trinity Catholic Schools plan to continue an Annual Fundraising Campaign to be established to provide a steady stream of income coupled with segmented campaigns throughout the year.
In the last couple of years, there has been a lot of excitement at The Donnellson Public Library. First and foremost, after a successful Library Building Fund Drive, The Donnellson Public Library has moved into a new building. The new building provides a large library circulation, free classes and technology for many Southeast Iowa residents. To attract tourists and Iowa history and photography enthusiasts, The Donnellson Public Library also received the original photography of famed Iowan photographer Richard Proenenke. In 2017, the Donnellson Public Library received grant funding from the Lee County Charitable Fund to purchase two new Apple iMacs, 6 HP G2 Desktops, and a Bizhub color copier. Over 5,000 people a year are projected to use the new technology.
The new technology will assist job seekers, Central Lee Students and promote the library in new exciting ways. The state of the art Bizhub color copier in particular, has assisted many patrons and staff to create attractive and colorful flyers, brochures, and resumes. Recently, a woman who lost her daughter at age 21 to cystic fibrosis used the new technology to print photos for a memory book. New workstations were also purchased to aid student Science Fair Projects with making colorful display boards and supporting documents. The Donnellson Public Library is a free public library with internet access for everyone. To learn more about The Donnellson Public Library, visit www.donnellson.lib.ia.us.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serve 319 young girls in Lee County from all racial, ethnic, religious, socio-economic backgrounds and abilities. In 2017, both The Lee County Charitable Fund and Lee County Youth Services, Inc. awarded grant funding to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois for the Leadership and Character Building program. The Girl Scout Leadership and Character Building program is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program that has been in existence for 106 years and is considered to be the best all-girl program in the Tri-State Area. One of the missions of the Girl Scouts is everything they do is designed with and for girls. The single-gender environment creates an inclusive, safe space, to explore their potential without the distractions or pressures that can be found in a co-ed environment. Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois never turn a girl away who does not have the resources to participate in Girl Scouts. The Leadership and Character Building Program grants assisted the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois to provide 127 members identified as low income $2,965.00 in financial assistance for program events, uniforms, books, camperships and membership dues. During the Leadership and Character Building Program, Girl Scouts learned valuable leadership lessons that included: • • •
Girl-Led Decisions: Girls make decisions and choices about what they do and how they do it. Learning by Doing: Girls have opportunities for hands-on activities followed by reflection and discussion time Cooperative Learning: Girls share work towards a common goal, as well as knowledge and skills, in an atmosphere of respect and cooperation.
The hope is that the Leadership and Character Building Program will help Girl Scouts to have high academic achievement, supportive adult relationships, passion for community involvement and healthy lifestyles. Contact the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois at girlscoutstoday.org.