The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation (GPCF) will host a charity fundraiser on May 5th, 2012 at the new Iowa Transportation Museum. The event, “A Worthy Journey” will celebrate spring and community and promises a good time for all who attend. Chef Scott Gruhn of the Mayflower Community will provide wine and hors d’oeuvres and the Prairie Jewel Dixieland Band will be the evening’s musical entertainment.  There will be a silent auction and the evening will culminate with a lucky person winning a vehicle or cash in a raffle drawing. Click here to download our Auction Booklet!

GPCF has partnered with both Steve Link Ford and Wes Finch Auto Plaza so that the grand prize winner gets to choose a vehicle with a MSRP of up to $28,000 from either dealers’ lot or a cash option of $25,000.  Julie Augustine, chair of the committee that is spearheading this event said that the foundation wanted to offer an event that showcases partnerships and collaborative efforts of the people of our county and it was exciting to see two local car dealers rising to this challenge.  "The winner get to choose from a wide selection of vehicle offered by both dealers so what’s not to like about that," Augustine said.  She added “we are only selling 500 tickets so your odds of winning are pretty good.”

Tickets are $100 and only 500 tickets will be sold.   A second prize of a $450 Schwinn bike donated by Craig Cooper of Bikes to You and a third prize of a pair of train tickets valued at $350 for a passenger train ride from Cedar Rapids to Newton will also be awarded. Proceeds from the raffle will be used to further the good work and initiatives of the Foundation.  The raffle reverts to a 50/50 drawing if 350 tickets are not sold. Second and third prizes will still be awarded with $5,000 as the minimum first place prize.

The foundation is in the process of soliciting and collecting donations from local businesses in Poweshiek County for the silent auction. Hawkeye game tickets and a print donated by Tilly Woodward are amongst the many cool items that have been collected thus far.  The items for the auction will be available for viewing between 5:30pm- 7:00pm the day of the event and the raffle drawing will be held at 7:00 pm. that evening.  Winners need not be present to win.

You can purchase your tickets from any of the foundation’s board members or by calling the Foundation Offices at 641-236-5518. Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation board members are Patti Amador- Lacson, JT Anderson, Julie Augustine, Brandon Davis, George Drake, Heidi Durbin, Shannon Fitzgerald, Chris Hansen, Al Henderson, Austin Jones, Marilyn Kennett, Nancy Maly, Bob Mann, Thomas Marshall, Martha Pinder, Jack Robertson, Don Schild, Perry Wehrle and Catherine Wilson.

GPCF in collaboration with the Claude W. & Dolly Ahrens Foundation provides services to many nonprofits organizations including fund management, donor education, marketing, and administrative support. The organizations that we have partnered with include Communities for Literate Iowa Kids; Community Education Council; Grinnell Area Arts Council; Grinnell High School Alumni Association; Grinnell Historical Museum; Grinnell Newburg Dollars for Scholars; Grinnell Newburg Education Excellence; Grinnell Regional Medical Center; Imagine Grinnell; Iowa Transportation Museum; Kids Against Hunger; the Mayflower Community and Poweshiek County Empowerment.

Click here to download the official raffle entry form.

The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation, located in Grinnell, Iowa, assists donors in efficiently and effectively supporting non-profit organizations that make life better for people in the area. Through the Foundation, donors are able to make long-lasting positive contributions without being burdened by administrative or legal complexities.

Donors can choose the organizations, programs and projects they wish to help with their gifts or they can rely on the Foundation's Board of Directors to direct their funds to the most pressing needs of the community.

By establishing a charitable fund, donors can create a permanent legacy, enjoy the tax benefits that come with giving, and have the satisfaction of doing good for something they care about.

The National Standards Seal by our name indicates official confirmation from the Council on Foundations that we have met the most rigorous standards in philanthropy. It affirms our commitment to financial security, transparency and accountability.

The Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation (GPCF) received $132,703.04 in donations, including matching gifts, during Give Grinnell Week, Nov. 14-18.

President F. Austin Jones said that this far exceeded the foundation’s goal of $50,000 in a one week time period. The foundation recently received two challenge grants to help stimulate local giving: one grant from an anonymous donor matched dollar-for-dollar all gifts to the GPCF Administrative Funds that covers foundation operating costs; and the second grant from Jewel Kintzinger and Burtwin Day matched gifts to non-profits with matching funds directed to the Administrative Funds. "These matching gifts offered community members the opportunity to double their giving and our community came through with flying colors,” Jones said. “Our community support was overwhelming and it is one more reason that we are the envy of many communities in Iowa.”

New donations to Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation and the non-profits served totaled $93,844.71 and pledge payments received during Give Grinnell Week were $36,958.33. Some community members fulfilled their pledges to the Community Fund during this week and gave a total of $1,900 towards this fund. The Community Fund is a relatively new fund at the foundation created for unrestricted community needs. Donors to this fund have pledged to give $100 a year for 10 years. To date, the foundation has over 300 donors to this fund and will need another 700 individuals to help them reach the goal of building a million dollar endowment for community needs.

The non profits that received donations during GIVE GRINNELL WEEK include Communities for Literate Iowa Kids; Community Education Council; Grinnell Area Arts Council Endowment; Grinnell High School Alumni Association; Grinnell Historical Museum Endowment; Grinnell Newburg Dollars for Scholars; Grinnell Newburg Education Excellence Endowment and Mini-Grant/Operating funds; Imagine Grinnell; Iowa Transportation Museum Endowment; Kids Against Hunger; Mayflower Human Needs Endowment Fund; Poweshiek County Empowerment; Community Fund, the Connie Marshall Administrative Endowment Fund, and Second Mile Building Campaign.

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