Dyersville Area Community Foundation: 10 Years of Giving
The Foundation celebrated 10 years of giving at its annual award ceremony by awarding more than $20,000 to Dyersville Area nonprofits. Since inception, the donor-supported program has awarded more than $56,000 in grants.
“We are so excited to be celebrating 10 years of grantmaking,” says Executive Director Nancy Dunkel. “Our annual grants would not be possible without the generosity of our neighbors and friends who have made gifts to the Dyersville Area Community Foundation (DACF) endowment to support a bright future for our area.”
Dunkel shared these reflections as grants were awarded to area nonprofits last year. The largest grant of $5,000 went to the Bi-County Ambulance for a new unit that will be dispatched to respond to emergencies in the area. Among individual communities touched by the foundation were:
- Dyersville - equipment needs at Mercy-Dyersville and Ellen Kennedy Living Center, computers at St. Francis Xavier School, playground upgrades at Commercial Park, restorations at Mt. Hope Cemetery, support for Dyersville Progress/Special Olympics, marketing program at the Chamber, and safety upgrades for Area Residential Care,
- Earlville - toddler program needs at St. Joseph’s Childcare Center
- Farley – lighting at the ball field
- Luxemburg – Fire Department tanks
- New Vienna – restrooms at the ball field
- Peosta – auditorium updates at Seton Catholic School
“We are here to help our caring citizens meet the area’s needs, says Shelia Tegeler, DACF Chair. “Our growing endowment for annual grants provides assurance that our communities will be blessed for years to come.”
The DACF Endowment has also been growing thanks to memorial donations. Gifts to the DACF Endowment bless the entire area forever. Foundation Secretary Karla Thompson keeps a supply of memorial envelopes at the Chamber office. Gifts to endowments are eligible for Endow Iowa, a 25% state tax credit.