A 55-year old local foundation that has provided annual income for many non-profit organizations throughout Jasper County has made its final donations. The Geisler-Penquite Foundation has announced $16.5 million in grants to several Jasper County non-profits and Central College in Pella. Dan Skokan, the Foundation’s Board Chair, says these grants sunset the foundation and were awarded to prior long-time recipients. Those grantees are Baxter Community Educational Scholarships, Newton’s Centre for Arts & Artists, Colfax-Mingo Scholarships, Jasper County projects through the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, Iowa Sculpture Festival, Jasper Community Foundation Newton and Mingo, Jasper County 4-H, Jasper County Historical Museum, Newton Dollars for Scholars, Newton Y.M.C.A., Parke Centre/Wesley Life, Progress Industries Foundation, Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, MercyOne Newton Medical Center, and Sheepgate in Colfax. Central College in Pella has also been awarded a significant grant. The Geisler-Penquite Foundation traces back to 1969 with a $7,000 investment by the Jasper County farm family of John E. and Gertrude Geilser along with their children Cecil Geilser Penquite and her husband Loren, and Harold Geisler and his wife Mavis. Skokan says before this last $16.5 million in grants, distribution of the family’s farm holdings and investments had resulted in grants totaling nearly $9 million to 16 Jasper County non-profits and Central College.