The Pella Community Foundation Board of Directors approved 33 Board Directed grants to 29 different local non-profit organizations totaling $82,450. Over its 28 year history, the Foundation has awarded $1,176,000 in grants.

Jim Brandl, President of the Foundation said, “Once again we were able to fund grants which touch a broad cross-section of people within our community. This year’s grants will help provide summer sack lunches to area children, allow both Pella middle and high school students to help in the preparation of Meals from the Heartland, provide funds for mini-grants for area school teachers though the Excellence in Education program, and support adult educational programs at both Central College and Pella Historical Society & Museums.”

In addition to these grants the Foundation will choose it’s first Impact Grant recipient later this month. This $25,000 grant is intended to play a key role in providing significant funding for projects that strengthen Pella by addressing major initiatives and promising opportunities.

This year’s board directed grant recipients include:
Bethany Christian Services of South Central Iowa, Marion County Mentor Gym Night – $1,200
Central College, enhancing the Pella Community through music education – $3,500
Children & Families of Iowa, health and safety items for Pella residents – $1,000
Crossroads of Pella, website – $2,500
Crossroads of Pella, sexual abuse prevention program – $2,000
Pella Dollars for Scholars, scholarship to PHS & PCHS Students – $2,000
Excellence in Education, mini grants to teachers of Pella and Pella Christian – $5,000
Families First of Pella, father-daughter dance – $2,000
Food Bank of Iowa, fighting childhood hunger backpack program – $2,500
Habitat for Humanity of Marion County Iowa, 130 Brook Circle – $2,500
Historic Pella Trust, Tuttle Cabin sidewalk and landscape – $2,500
JUMP for Kids (Journey Up Mentoring of Pella), kids korner tent and chairs – $300
Lake View Camp and Conference Center, come to the table – $2,500
Mobility Worldwide – IA Leighton, purchase of forklift – $3,500
Pathways Pella, parenting education – $2,000
Pella Community School District, Pella Christian High School, Pella Christian Grade School, Take Action, Stop the Bleed – $9,500
Pella Amateur Radio Club, skytracker science – $2,500
Pella Area Quilters’ Guild, community caring quilts – $1,000
Pella Christian Grade School, emergency evacuation backpacks – $950
Pella Christian High School, five disc golf baskets and tee boxes – $2,600
Pella High School, Meals from the Heartland – $2,000
Pella Early Learning Center, smart socks – $2,300
Pella Historical Museum and Tulip Time, Forging our Future – $10,000
Pella Historical Museum and Tulip Time, celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage – $800
Pella Historical Museum and Tulip Time, leading the way at Tulip Time – $800
Pella Middle School, Meals from the Heartland – $2,000
Pella Opera House, adult storytelling sessions – $1,000
Pella Regional Health Center, English to Spanish for better health – $3,000
Peoria Christian School, playground and learning equipment – $2,000
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, mental health and wellness day – $2,500
Second Reformed Church, summer sack lunches – $1,000
Second Reformed Church, mobile block party – $1,000
The Well Resource Center, community betterment ministries tool enhancement – $2,500