A recent anonymous donation helped make more grants possible (Council Bluffs, IA) – The Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund continues to provide relief for Pottawattamie County nonprofits and organizations impacted by the pandemic. The partnership between the Iowa West Foundation and Pottawattamie County Community Foundation has allowed for foundation funds to be combined with outside […]
“Welcome home.” I have been hearing those words a lot lately, and every time I hear them it warms my heart. Coming home to Council Bluffs was not a matter of convenience or luck. It was a longstanding goal. When I graduated from A.L. and headed off to the University of Iowa, I didn’t expect […]
Iowa West Foundation initiative, in partnership with local businesses, leads to more place-based art (Council Bluffs, IA) A mural titled “Riverboat on the Missouri” is coming to life by the day in Council Bluffs, thanks to an Iowa West Foundation initiative designed to create a cultural trail throughout the downtown. By partnering with local businesses […]
Sometimes one person is all it takes to get the ball rolling. Or in this case, the needle threading. Terri Ann Fetz on Shenandoah was frustrated. With more people wearing masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her world grew quieter. As a member of the deaf community, she relies on her ability to read lips. […]
Belle’s Play Garden Coming to Council Bluffs in 2021 (Council Bluffs, IA) – Council Bluffs’ River’s Edge will soon be home to another attractive amenity for area families with the announcement of an outdoor children’s playground. Named “Belle’s Play Garden” after the lead donors’ daughters, the 2,000 square-foot area will feature interactive play elements in […]
Phases 6 and 7 of BLink will be completed four years ahead of schedule More students in the Council Bluffs Community School District will be able to access the internet for free following a recently announced expansion of BLink Wi-Fi. Back in March, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenges for students and families without internet […]
Council Bluffs native Brenda Mainwaring is the first female to lead the organization Following a nationwide search, the Iowa West Foundation (IWF) Board of Directors recently named the organization’s new leader. Council Bluffs native Brenda Mainwaring was selected to serve as the next President and CEO beginning in September. With the announcement, Mainwaring becomes the […]
(Council Bluffs, IA) – The latest addition to the Mid-America Center Entertainment District, an $8.5 million indoor turf facility for southwest Iowa athletes of all ages, is officially open for business this week. Located off of 23rd Avenue and adjacent to the Iowa West Field House, the Iowa West Sports Plex adds to the sports […]
Iowa West Foundation Earns National Transparency Designation An ivory tower. These are the words people used when referring to the Iowa West Foundation in a survey conducted by an outside vendor nearly a decade ago. The phrase references a metaphorical place where people are cut off from the rest of the world. Looking back, I […]
(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $6.2 million in grants and initiatives that will make transformational impacts in southwest Iowa. Included in the funds is a $1.5 million commitment to the Southwest Iowa COVID-19 Response Fund, established in March with the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation. “For this cycle, we […]
