Friends of Pat Clark Art Collection
The Friends of Pat Clark Art Collection is committed to maintaining and displaying both the Pat Clark Art Collection and the works of contemporary local and Iowa artists; enhancing the appreciation of art in the classroom, the community, and in the gallery; and furthering the enjoyment of local and international artists. The Friends group provides quarterly rotations of its art collections in the historic Carnegie-Ellsworth Building in Iowa Falls. The Friends group seeks funding for the second year in a row to promote the third annual "Fall in Love with the Greenbelt Artisan Tour" – a county-wide tour of our natural and artistic resources in seven locations through Hardin County. The Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation supports this effort with a grant of $1,000.

Iowa Falls Historical Society
The Iowa Falls Historical Society is a charitable organization with a mission to preserve and promote knowledge of the history of the Iowa Falls area. The society oversees and maintains the Dow House, the Iowa Falls Museum, located in the Carnegie-Ellsworth Building, the Illinois Central Railroad Depot, and the Mills Railroad Control Tower. Each historical site is available to guests at scheduled times or by appointment. The IF Historical Society grant proposal involves the re-roofing of Dow House, which is one of three major historic entities that archive historical materials and media. The Dow House re-roofing project will require removal of old roofing materials and placing new sheeting, valleys, ventilation, facial, gutters, downspouts, and shingles.

Big Green
Big Green is an active organization which creates an uplifting and educational experience for the community, when it plants and identifies flower beds, trees and shrubs on public and private areas throughout Hubbard. These volunteers are diligent in their on-going development of the Hubbard Arboretum, in maintaining the Boeke Prairie, as well as in overseeing many beautiful flowers beds. Big Green’s major project for this year is to build a prairie-style gazebo in the arboretum. This gazebo will be a step-free, ground-level facility that will be the center point of meandering walkways that wind through the arboretum. The development of the arboretum serves as a significant link connecting the Hubbard Care Center to the community. The Foundation is pleased to award a grant of $2,000 to Big Green.

Hardin County Conservation Board -- Calkins Nature Area
The Calkins Nature Area is a county-operated nature center with a mission to bring environmental education to school children, as well as adults. The Calkins Nature Area is a true gem for Hardin County. The nature area was donated in 1982 to the Ellsworth College Trustees by Homer and Ruth Calkins. In 1993, the management of the area was turned over to the Hardin County Conservation Board. Their Interpretive building was completed in 1996 and has recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary. Major accomplishments include new displays in the Natural History Museum, an enclosed Butterfly House, sidewalks, a new mammal building and new animal signage. The newest attraction to the nature center is the amphitheater. The Foundation’s grant of $2,500 will help to construct a retaining wall to improve access to the center’s amphitheater.

City of Eldora – Eldora Family Aquatic Center
The City of Eldora is the recipient of a $2,500 grant for the concession stand at the Eldora Family Aquatic Center. The concession stand will serve the Aquatic Center as well as all the sports and recreation facilities at the Pool Park; it will provide summer jobs for local youth and help support the Pool Park. The Eldora Family Aquatic Center officially kicked off efforts to construct a new pool in April, 2005, by passing a 1.5 million bond issue. Local fundraising, to date, has raised $474,322 in donations and pledges and has garnered successful grants for the project exceeding $126,000 from the R.J. McElroy Trust, Alliant Energy, and Vision Iowa. Truly, Eldora’s Park and Family Aquatic Center will be a recreation destination for the families of Eldora and Hardin County.

City of Iowa Falls -- Iowa Falls Scenic Skaters
With the help of a $2,500 grant awarded to Scenic City Skaters, two new pieces of equipment will soon be added to Paradise Skate Park in Iowa Falls. The two new "Quarter-Pipes" - one a 4-foot and the other a 5-foot - will provide an increased level of difficulty for skateboarding tricks. With the addition of these challenging new Quarter-Pipes, growing numbers of skateboarding athletes and their families from Iowa Falls and surrounding communities will be attracted more than ever to this UNIQUE kind of park. Paradise Skate Park, along with its attractions, were designed by professionals to provide a safe, accessible and free facility for young people to enjoy a positive pastime in their formative years.

Eldora/NP School Parent Teacher Organization
The Eldora-New Providence Parent Teacher Organization is being awarded $2,500 to make much needed improvements to the playground at the grade school and middle school. Recent building additions to the facilities left the playground with very little in usable equipment The Eldora PTO is barely a year old in existence, but has already gathered the community support to make this project happen. This grant will help them complete the first step of a renovation that will provide a safe and engaging playground that will serve the school, the neighborhood and the entire community.

Greater Eldora Youth Sports Program
A grant of $1,500 is being awarded to the Greater Eldora Youth Sports Program. The Greater Eldora Youth Sports Program was formed in 2006 to revitalize the K-6 youth sports program and provide recreation opportunities to the youth of Eldora. One of their biggest needs is that there is no scoreboard at the Pool Park baseball diamond. This grant will be combined with local contributions and the money the kids have raised themselves to install a new scoreboard.

IF-A Community School District – Cadet Castle
A massive community effort has just taken place in Iowa Falls to reconstruct a large, magical playground known as Cadet Castle. (The former "castle" was destroyed by an unknown arsonist in June, 2006.) More than 12,000 volunteer hours of labor over 5 days in April, plus generous in-kind and cash contributions are all evidence of the widespread community support that this project received. HCCEF is pleased to award a $2,500 grant to IF-Alden Community School District to assist in purchasing some of the building materials needed to restore this structure. These upgraded materials include a plastic composite lumber which will make Cadet Castle as safe and maintenance-free as possible for the next 25 years.

Bethany Lutheran Church - TeenServe
Teen Serve is an ambitious, county-wide project that involves a Bridges of Life work camp to be held in Iowa Falls and the surrounding area. A cohort of youths from various states will work in Hardin County to improve the homes of elderly and disabled residents of Hardin County. This project is organized through the Bethany Lutheran Church. To promote this project, the Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation will provide $1,500 to sponsor the participation of up to 10 youths from our county.

Steamboat Rock Schoolhouse
The Steamboat Rock Schoolhouse Committee is an ambitious group of citizens committed to maintaining their National Historic Registry schoolhouse building. This building is used as a cultural, recreational, and community gathering spot as well as the quarters for several retail businesses. The Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation is pleased to support their efforts by granting $2,220 to fund quartz infrared portable heaters in rooms being used, so that they are not totally dependent on their inefficient boiler for heat. A projected heating cost savings of 50% is expected, allowing the building to remain open and to operate fiscally.

Greenbelt Humane Society
For the second year in a row, we are pleased to support the Greenbelt Humane Society with a grant of $1,500 to provide a new bathroom and pet-washing stand. With more than 3,000 people visiting the Humane Society each year, the grant provides the means to add these critically needed improvements. The Greenbelt Humane Society’s mission is to prevent animal cruelty, provide relief to suffering animals, and extend humane education into the Hardin County area. It is one of only 800 "No Kill" facilities in the United States, working to save its animals and provide a safe environment and homes for animals. From 2005 to 2006 there was a 30% increase in adoptions, with more than 130 adoptions. The physical operation has had over $6,000 in upgrades in the last two years, including a new furnace, roof repairs, brick re-pointing, new windows, dropped ceilings, paint on the front exterior, and new storm doors.

Hardin County Agricultural Society
The Hardin County Fairgrounds is home to many events throughout the year that appeal to all 18,000 residents of Hardin County Their main event is the Hardin County Fair which focuses on agricultural education through the 4-H and FFA programs that serve over 400 members. Attendance at the Fair continues to increase and is over 10,000 patrons for the 5-day event. One of the goals of the Hardin County Agricultural Society is to improve the amphitheatre’s seating and flooring. Total cost of this ambitious project is approximately $92,225. For the second year in a row, we are pleased to award a grant to assist the society’s efforts to provide the necessary seating in the grandstand This year’s award is in the amount of $4,000.

Iowa Falls Chamber/Main Street
The Iowa Falls Chamber/Main Street Organization provides the leadership to unite everyone interested in furthering the excellence of the Iowa Falls community. This year’s grant award project will help promote Iowa Falls and Hardin County by using a creative and valuable tool. Three sets of lighted, retractable banners with professionally designed panels will make visual statements in a bold way. The nine separate panels will tell multiple stories about the area and will showcase the community at numerous sites around the state: the Legislative Night in Des Moines, the Bank Club Market Place, at trade fairs, bank clubs, and at the Iowa State Fair. All information would go to specifically targeted audiences. The banners will be used liberally and frequently to spread the word about the area. Local institutions, organizations and businesses will use them at events they attend, as well as at events they sponsor. This year HCCEF awards a $1,500 grant to go toward the purchase of these 3 sets of lighted, retractable banners.

Market Square Commission
The Market Square Commission has helped restore Ackley’s history since 1995. With the help of a $50,000 Iowa D.O.T. grant, the commission restored and preserved the historical Ackley Depot. The Depot’s meeting room is used by many local organizations and hosted an arts festival this past fall. With donations of 50 chairs from the Ackley Fire Department and 4 tables from the city, we are pleased to fund their grant of $152 to purchase the additional 4 tables for their meeting room.

Renewal Community Inc.
The New Providence Roundhouse, historically significant for being the first round gymnasium/auditorium built in Iowa, continues to be a viable, useful facility for New Providence and the surrounding communities. Not only is it a popular place for family and community gatherings, and the facility for Hardin County Home Educators, it has provided a venue for the Roundhouse Players Community Theatre Group. The Roundhouse has provided a place and opportunity for children and adults to experience all that is involved in a theatrical performance. Renewal Community’s project - with the help of an HCCEF grant of $3,700 - is to purchase a professional sound system to make the theatrical presentations a more rewarding experience for both the audience and performers.

Ackley Public Library
The Ackley Public Library is requesting funds to purchase the Follett Library Manager, an automated software program that will allow the library staff to better manage its collection. Automating the collection will assist in record keeping and will allow the staff to spend more time with library patrons. With a circulation of 26,000 items, five internet stations, and approximately 2,139 patrons, the Ackley Public Library is providing equal access to educational and recreational material and serves the community through civic and cultural activities for all ages. The Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation is awarding $3,000 to the Ackley Public Library.

Friends of the Alden Public Library
The Friends of the Alden Public Library purpose is to support, promote, and enhance the Dr. Grace O. Doane Alden Public Library through special programs and projects, such as an Annual Halloween Party, Holiday Workshops, and Summer Readings Programs. The library’s grant request is for the purchase of a new microfiche reader and scanner. The reader will allow patrons to access historical materials that are stored in the library’s collection. A Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation grant of $2,500 is awarded to help meet this goal.

Friends of the Eldora Public Library
The Friends of the Eldora Public Library is receiving a $1,000 grant to promote books and reading with preschool children. The Eldora Library will use this grant and local contributions to partner with the Dollywood Foundation to touch the lives of all the registered preschool children in the Eldora Library district by providing them with a new book every month. The reading program will be promoted to approximately 221 children under the age of five and their families in the Eldora 50627 zip-code. The Eldora Kiwanis Club is helping to organize the program and order the books.

Hardin County Circle of Life
The Hardin County Circle of Life Committee was organized in 2005 as a collaboration of 11 non-profit agencies which provide services to all of Hardin County’s citizens. The Committee seeks money to promote wellness by sponsoring a Senior Information Fair for the 21% of Hardin County citizens age 65 and older. The Fair will focus on issues of critical importance to seniors such as insurances, advance directives, maintaining health, grandparenting, and financial security. Approximately 400 individuals are expected to attend this information fair, which is scheduled for June 1, 2007. To further this goal, a grant of $750 is awarded to the Circle of Life Committee.

Hardin County Emergency Medical Services
The Hardin County Emergency Medical Service Council is made up of emergency first- responders, operating out of fifteen agencies in the county. The council’s purpose is to coordinate and assist these agencies with the required training and licensure requirements to provide emergency medical services in the State of Iowa. Every citizen of Hardin County counts on the services of the Hardin County Emergency Medical units for medical response, rescue and transportation. It is very important that those First Responders and EMT’s have the training needed to be licensed and certified. We are very pleased to support the services of the Hardin County Emergency Medical Council by awarding a grant of $4,000 to provide a First Responder course and an EMT-B course for 20 members in 2007.

Ackley -- Cougar’s Den Childcare and Pre-School
The Cougar’s Den Childcare and Pre-School opened in March 2003, as a result of a unique collaboration between the City of Ackley and the Ackley/Geneva School District (now the AGWSR School District). The building is owned by the city and the school leases the building to provide high-quality, affordable childcare and early childhood education for approximately 90 youngsters in Ackley and surrounding communities. Recognizing that play is a vital part of each day, the center is requesting funding to help add safe, educational, and quality playground equipment for the facility. To supplement their fundraising activities of a pork loin dinner and golf tournament -- which raised over $5,000 -- the Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation is granting $2,500 to their effort.

ISU Extension -  4-H Youth Garden Program
The Iowa State University Hardin County 4-H program is introducing gardening to children in Eldora-New Providence grades 3-6 during their After-School Program. The request is the smallest of our grants awarded – but it will have a tremendous impact on the lives of young people as they gain personal knowledge and experience with their environment. In partnership with the Hardin County Extension Service’s 4-H program, the Eldora-New Providence After-School Program, entitled, Tiger Pack, has been awarded a $140 grant to introduce gardening to 30 students. Participants in the program will be able to exhibit something from their garden at the Hardin County Fair.

Riverbend Child Care
For a second year, the Hardin County Community Endowment Foundation is pleased to partner with Riverbend Child Care as they continue to provide quality child care and pre-school for children from 6 weeks old to 12 years of age. Riverbend Child Care provides flexible hours, which allows many part-time workers and Ellsworth college students to find affordable child care locally, when they need it -- without a full-time contract being required. Riverbend Child Care is awarded a $2,500 grant to add the final 2 pieces of playground equipment to complete their playground equipment project. A tarantula climber and a Twin Rider are 2 new additions meant for children ages 5 - 12 and will provide another reason for parents to choose Riverbend Child Care for after-school care when their children reach school age.