Grants Awarded

The 415 Walnut Collective is exploring community reuse options for the historic Walnut Street Baptist Church. The collective received capacity building funding to create architectural renderings of the proposed renovations and a roadmap for the revitalization plans for community use of this historic landmark in the Walnut neighborhood.

Amani Community Services is a culturally-specific agency providing services to victims of violence. Amani was awarded funding toward the purchase of a new building. The Amani Center for Peace and Healing, located in the historic Church Row neighborhood of Waterloo, will house Amani's offices and provide community space for group therapy, yoga and other healing activities.

For more than 50 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley has provided programming to nurture the youth of the community. Otto Schoitz Foundation grant funding supports the Boys & Girls Clubs in providing a safe and supportive place for youth after school and during the summer. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley supports children in growing socially & educationally and reduces childcare barriers for families.

An award was granted to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in support of their Immigration Legal Services in the Cedar Valley. Providing free legal consultations and affordable legal representation on immigration cases, Catholic Charities advocates for vulnerable refugee and immigrant families. Catholic Charities has expert knowledge of ever-changing immigration laws and provides ongoing community education and advocacy.

This award fuels Friends of the Family's work to build a community-wide system to end homelessness in Black Hawk County. Working under a "Housing First" model, funds granted through this three-year partnership provide rental assistance and financial support for individuals & families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

This grant award supports the mission of iJAG |Iowa Jobs for Americas's Graduates. In partnership with Waterloo Schools, iJAG assists students facing multiple barriers to success in achieving high school graduation and a successful transition to continued education or a career. iJAG provides counseling, mentoring, tutoring, career exploration and post-secondary planning. In the 2022-23 school year, seniors participating in iJAG at Waterloo East High School achieved a 100% graduation rate.

Jesse Cosby Center was granted operating support for their work in providing community-based services for individuals and families that are in need of resources. Through the work of the organization's Senior Center, elderly community members are connected to financial resources, nutritious food and vital social interactions which enhance quality of life for our older neighbors. Jesse Cosby Center is an important partner in distributing financial aid and nutrition to marginalized populations.

Distributing over 7.3 million meals through member agencies, programs and partner food banks, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is an important hub of social service providers in the Cedar Valley. The organization's leadership and reach in the region effectively distributes food to those in need and bolsters the effectiveness of a wide network of agencies delivering critical services. This grant award supports the Northeast Iowa Food Bank's operations.

RIYO | Refugees and Immigrant Youth Organization is a grassroots refugee & immigrant-led youth organization that understands the unique challenges and experiences faced by newcomer communities. Through youth-led and community-driven programs, including academic assistance, leadership development and service learning, refugee & immigrant youth are connected, supported and embraced. Operating support was awarded to RIYO.

SparkWheel, previously working under the name CIS | Communities in Schools, provides support services to students at Central Middle School and George Washington Carver Academy. Using the power of one-to-one relationships, SparkWheel staff connects with students, parents, educators & administrators to ignite student success. This grant award supports SparkWheel's Waterloo program that helps students and families overcome barriers to school success.

Vision To Learn was awarded funding to increase access to vision care. Utilizing a mobile clinic, Vision To Learn brings free-of-charge vision services to Waterloo children directly at school, reducing barriers to care for youth and families. Noting that students with uncorrected vision problems are less likely to achieve reading benchmarks, Vision To Learn's services can impact academic achievement in addition to supporting the health of Cedar Valley youth.

The grant award to Waterloo Development Corporation provides funding to build the Waterloo Court Works, a multi-sport indoor tournament center located in Downtown Waterloo. Offering up to eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts, this versatile fieldhouse will host youth sports tournaments and provide indoor practice space. Construction is slated to begin in mid-2024 with the opening anticipated for Fall 2025. This exciting facility will bring visitors to the Cedar Valley and fuel economic growth in the community.

The Winnebago Council of Boy Scouts of America provides scouting activities for Cedar Valley youth. Their Scoutreach program was awarded funding to bring activities to youth who may otherwise not have access to scouting. Through a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley, youth can participate in Boy Scouts programming free-of-charge and develop leadership and resiliency life skills.

This grant award to the YWCA of Black Hawk County funds the organization's mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Through their programs, the YWCA supports youth and families by offering education, childcare, and health & wellness activities. Funding bolsters the YWCA's childcare services providing safe and engaging care for youth while supporting working families with convenient locations for care in schools and near places of employment.

The grant award to Youth Art Team fuels the organization's efforts to create connections and spark creative pursuits for marginalized youth. Youth Art Team provides mentorship, paid youth staff positions and collaboration through large-scale art projects.