Fourteen local organizations were awarded grant funds during the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation (EHCF) annual grant awards ceremony on February 26, 2024, at the First State Bank meeting room. EHCF’s Director, Darcy Swon, announced during the event that, including the 2024 grants, the Foundation has distributed over $1.76 million through its annual granting program.

A total of $130,965.89 was granted out during the evening, with the largest amount being awarded to the City of Randall in the amount of $14,480.35 for the restoration of their community playground. Notable grants included $12,163.66 awarded to the Webster City Meals on Wheels organization, $10,000 each awarded to HERO for brick tuckpointing at the Webster City Theater, and Hamilton County Exposition for grandstand painting.

Other grant awards included:

– Upper Des Moines Opportunity – $5,000 for special projects

– City of Webster City – $5,000 for the East Twin Park Splash Pad project

– Hamilton County Animal AdvoCATes – $4,500 for cat housing

– Building Families – $4,047.05 for the BEE Connected program

– Stanhope Public Library – $4,000 for children’s area shelving and STEAM storage

– South Hamilton Music Boosters – $3,178.25 for drumline equipment

– Youth and Shelter Services – $3,000 for outreach programming

– All Cultures Equal – $596.59 for language program

In addition to the grants handed out at the ceremony, LIFT WC received $50,000 for the EHCF Challenge Grant, with the remaining $100,000 to be paid out over the next two years; and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School received a second grant distribution of $5,000 for their playground project, originally awarded to them in 2023. The final payment will be given in 2025 as part of a 3-year grant distribution.

Tiffany Larson, EHCF Youth in Philanthropy Program Chair, introduced the 2024 committee members, consisting of students from South Hamilton Community School District and Webster City Community School District.

Youth in Philanthropy committee members from South Hamilton Community School District included: Caitlin Bare, Junior; Onika Brown, Senior; and Cady Zimmerman, Senior. Committee members from the Webster City Community School District are: Delainey Bargfrede, Senior; Hank Christeson, Junior; Alondra Johnson, Jundior; Emersen Paukert, Junior; and Cody Seiser, Senior.

Larson shared that the students review all the grant applications and are responsible for awarding 10% of the available grant funds each year. In addition, students will receive $250 scholarship for each year they participate in the program for a maximum scholarship of $500.

The 2023 EHCF grant review committee members included Kendra Chizek, Emily Pruismann, Brian Holt, Lisa Ridge, David Lubbers, Trudy Anderson, Janet Lindseth, Leah Maass, Erin Hoversten-Majewski, and Ryan Rupiper.

For more information on the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation grant program and other resources, contact Swon at 515-835-0437 or via email at dswon@enhancehamiltoncounty.org.