The Wolf Creek Players received a $5,000 grant through the Tama County Community Foundation for ongoing theater expenses. Pictured during the award ceremony on April 21 are Richard Arp, Reta Callahan, Deb Kloster and TCCF Board President Sara Forrester. –Contributed photo

A pocket park, a book vending machine, athletic equipment, ongoing theater expenses, and an annual festival are just a sampling of the projects selected in 2022 to receive grant funding from the Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF).

TCCF held its 2022 grant awards celebration at the Wieting Theatre on April 21, announcing the distribution of $143,471.35 to 32 projects of organizations serving Tama County through its 2022 grant cycle.

“Congratulations to Tama County Community Foundation’s 2022 grant recipients! We are proud to partner with these organizations as they serve the needs of our county and work to create stronger communities for all,” said Sara Forrester, chair of the TCCF governing committee.

Grant recipient organization, project the grant will fund, and grant amount is listed below by funding area.

Arts & Culture

North Tama Community Schools received a $6,820 grant and a $5,850 grant through the Tama County Community Foundation for a basketball equipment upgrade and a book vending machine at the Elementary. Pictured during the award ceremony on April 21 are Patty Calderwood, Terry Shay and TCCF Board President Sara Forrester. –Contributed photo

City of Traer, Winding Stairs Festival – Equipment, $1,995

STC Music Boosters, Music Stands, $12,500.60

Wieting Opera Housing Company, Wieting Stage Lights, $5,500

Wolf Creek Players, Ongoing Theater Expenses, $5,000

Community Betterment

City of Chelsea, Fire Department – Air Packs, $15,000

City of Chelsea, Library – Sidewalk Railing, $7,422

City of Gladbrook, Fire Department – K12 Saw, $1,500

City of Toledo, Fire Department – Fire Safety, $8,000

City of Toledo, Police Department – Body Cameras, $4,392.50

Dysart Community Betterment Corporation, Vision Dysart Committee – Main Street Pocket Park, $7,500

Tama County – Auditor, Tama County Tourism – Marketing 2022, $4,250

Toledo Library Foundation, Fantasy/Science Fiction Book Enhancement Project, $2,000

Education & Youth Development

Al Éxito, Al Éxito Tama: Student Success Tama, $4,150

Crayon Corner Learning Center, Floor Registers, $1,500

Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Girl Scout Leadership Experience in Tama County, $1,000

North Tama County Community School District, Athletic Department – Basketball Equipment Upgrade, $6,820

North Tama County Community School District, Elementary – Book Vending Machine, $5,850

Our Sacred Space, Inc., Day Camp Summer 2022, $1,352

Pied Piper Preschool and Child Care, Chain Link Fence, $5,000

Tama County 4-H, Agriculture Awareness – Goats and Poultry, $1,050

Environment & Animal Welfare

Tama County – Auditor, Conservation – Improvements at T.F. Clark Park, $4,500

Tama County Humane Society, Spay and Neuter Funding, $4,500

Tama County ISU Extension & Outreach Office, Gardening with Seniors, $4,239.25

Health

Child Abuse Prevention Services, Inc., Adolescent Sexual Health, $1,250

Gladbrook Peace United Church of Christ, Church Defibrillator, $1,200

Iowa River Hospice, Day of Care, $6,500

Human Service

Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support, Tama County Victim Housing Services, $3,000

Central Iowa Residential Services, Inc., Tama Opportunity Center (TOC) and Client Needs, $2,000

Families Helping Families of Iowa, Program Support for Tama County Children in Foster Care, $2,500

Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Feeding Communities, $8,000

The Compassionate Friends (Marshalltown), Newsletter, $1,000

Traer United Presbyterian Church – Traer, Christian Hands Across Traer (CHAT), $3,000

Decisions on grant awards are determined by a local committee, which consists of volunteers from Tama County. Committee members include: Gloria Fonseca, Sara Forrester (chair), Dixie Forcht, Darvin Graham, Mary Ann Gregory, Melanie Kemper and Chris Schafer.

Grants are awarded through TCCF’s competitive grant process to projects in the program areas of arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, health and human service. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Tama County in order to be considered for funding. The 2023 grant cycle opens November 1, 2022, with an application deadline of January 15, 2023. The grant guidelines and application can be found at www.tamaccf.org.