Bill Barnes: Building local philanthropy
Across the street from Barnes Foodland in DeWitt sits the new home of the LincolnWay Community Foundation (LWCF).
Thanks to a generous donation from Bill Barnes, the new space at 615 10th St. will provide a public location for the Foundation as well as a resource for area nonprofits to convene and hold meetings.
“Before we sold the store two years ago, my family was in business for 66 years,” said Barnes. “We're in the grocery business and our customers are local. We benefited from them, and it's our turn to give back our customers.”
Barnes’ donation will provide $12,000 for 10 years to support utility assistance, marketing, staff time, and a physical presence in the community—something LWCF Executive Director Pat Henricksen never thought she’d see in her lifetime.
“I had no idea that I'd be around for this,” said Henricksen. “This provides a space for us as well as nonprofits in our area.”
The move comes after a series of changes for the Foundation. This summer, LWCF became an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD). CFGD will provide investment, accounting, grantmaking, training and administrative support and philanthropic expertise, allowing LWCF’s local board to focus on setting priorities, attracting donors and supporting local nonprofit organizations from its new location.
To celebrate its new space, LWCF and The Froeschle Agency will be hosting a DeWitt Chamber Revive After Five on November 15 at the Foundation’s new office. Details are available at www.dewitt.org.
The Foundation has a history of serving Clinton County since the late 1970s when a group of passionate and committed DeWitt residents joined forces to reopen a local opera house. Soon after, this group formed the DeWitt Area Foundation, which would later become LWCF. The Foundation will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.
To learn more about LWCF, visit www.dbqfoundation.org/lincolnway.