More than $90,000 was awarded to 10 area organizations at the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation annual grant awards held on February 21, 2023, in the First State Bank meeting room.

EHCF’S Director Darcy Swon informed those in attendance that, by the end of 2023, the Foundation will have granted out over $1.54 million in grants through its annual granting program.

A total of $90,877.37 was granted out during the night with the largest amount being awarded to the South Hamilton Community School District in the amount of $24,000 for their Early Learning Playground.

The Webster City Daycare received $20,000 for their childcare center renovation to expand capacity to meet the need for childcare services.

The Hamilton County Fair Foundation’s application was for monies to put towards their Hamilton County Event Center expansion project. They received $16,000.

St Thomas Aquinas School received $10,000 for their playground renovation project. The EHCF also committed to provide them an additional $10,000 to be paid out over the next two years for a total of $20,000 for their playground renovation project.

Other grant awards included:

• South Hamilton Music Boosters – $6,637.74 for musical instruments and equipment;
• Meals on Wheels – $6,500 for program expenses;
• Stanhope Development Group – $5,000 for their “Bring the Stanhope Depot Home” project;
• Webster City Vocal Boosters – $1,300 for garment bags and hangers for new choir robes;
• Hamilton County Development – $950 for the Explore Hamilton County for their tourism project; and
• Hamilton County Crimestoppers – $489.63 for social media marketing to raise awareness of the tip submittal program.

Tiffany Larson, EHCF Youth in Philanthropy Program Chair, introduced the 2023 committee members: Amanda Ostrem (senior), Cady Zimmerman (junior) and Onika Brown (junior) from South Hamilton High School. Webster City High School students included: Shelby Brim (senior), Aiden Feltz (senior), Carly Appel (senior), Delainey Bargfrede (junior) and Cody Seiser (junior).

Larson shared that the students review all the grant applications and are responsible for awarding 10% of the available grant funds each year.

The 2023 EHCF grant review committee members consisted of Kendra Chizek, Emily Pruismann, Travis Barrick, Brian Holt, Kyle Swon, Lisa Ridge, David Lubbers, Trudy Anderson, Janet Lindseth, Leah Maass, Erin Hoversten-Majewski and Sara Trueblood.

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.