IWF Commits Another $500,000 to SWI COVID-19 Fund

(Council Bluffs, IA) – The Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund, a partnership between the Iowa West Foundation and Pottawattamie County Community Foundations, continues to grow and provide for area nonprofits and their clientele affected by the pandemic.  The Iowa West Foundation announced it has committed another $500,000 to the cause for a total of $1 million.

“The Iowa West Foundation is committed to seeing our community through during this crisis,” said Pete Tulipana, President and CEO. “Ensuring southwest Iowans have access to food and shelter remains our highest priority while we also seek to stabilize the operations of our nonprofit partners during this difficult time.”

Recent grantees who received support for operations in some capacity included:

Boys and Girl Club of the Midlands – $25,000

Children’s Square – $28,401

Heartland Child Development Center – $11,555

Lutheran Family Services – $25,000

The Performing Arts & Education Association of Southwest Iowa – $5,430

YMCA of Greater Omaha – $35,158

MidAmerican Energy also announced its foundation will donate $25,000 to support COVID-19 response here locally. The company is awarding funds to approximately 30 organizations throughout the region including local food banks, community foundations and United Way agencies addressing hunger and other urgent community needs.

“Nonprofits are really feeling a squeeze with increased demands from their communities, fundraising disruptions and challenges in getting help from volunteers due to health concerns,” said Kathryn Kunert, Mid-American Energy vice president of economic connections and integration. “We believe this donation will provide real help to meet these very real needs.”

President and CEO of the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation Donna Dostal said the team at Mid-American Energy truly has a philanthropic heart.

“Through their CARES program, they are making a tangible impact in our southwest Iowa communities as we work through the challenges causes by the COVID-19 crisis,” Dostal said. “As a community, we are grateful for their support.”

Individuals, families, corporations, and others who would like to donate to the Southwest Iowa COVID-19 relief efforts are encouraged to visit  www.ourpccf.org or call 712-256-7007. Dostal emphasized that all donations from individuals will receive a 10 percent match through PCCF.

The Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund also continues to accept applications on a rolling again with the highest priority being emergency assistance for the vulnerable population and public health infrastructure.

The universal application for relief funding can be found at both www.iowawestfoundation.org and www.ourpccf.org.

About the Iowa West Foundation
The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest. It has distributed more than $500 million to nonprofits and governmental agencies through southwest Iowa since the inception of its grant program. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s. IWRA is the license sponsor for Ameristar and Harrah’s and the license holder for Horseshoe-Bluffs Run. The Foundation targets resources into programs and projects that focus on economic development, education, placemaking and healthy families.

About Pottawattamie County Community Foundation

The Pottawattamie County Community Foundation (PCCF) is a tax-exempt public charity, 501(c)(3), that serves thousands of people who share a common interest in improving the quality of life in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Through PCCF, individuals, families, businesses and organizations can create permanent charitable funds that help their communities meet the challenges of changing times. The foundation invests and administers these charitable funds.

About MidAmerican Energy Company

MidAmerican Energy Company, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, serves more than 791,000 electric customers in Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota, and 771,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois,Nebraska and South Dakota. Information about MidAmerican Energy is available at MidAmericanEnergy.com and company social media channels.