The Linn County Board of Supervisors has awarded $80,000 in grants from the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust Fund to 21 non-profit organizations whose work benefits Linn County residents. The recipients were selected through an annual competitive grant process that began in November. The Board of Supervisors received more than $198,000 in grant requests with $80,000 in available funds.
The Witwer Trust was established by Weaver Witwer, a prominent Cedar Rapids grocer and landowner who died in 1979. Mr. Witwer owned and operated a food processing plant, a number of local farms, and what became known as the Me Too grocery stores.
The Witwer Trust grant cycle begins November 1 of each year. For more information about the Witwer Trust grant program, visit LinnCounty.org/Witwer.
The following organizations received Witwer Trust grant funding in 2021:
FY 21 Grant Recipients |
Organization Name | Project Name | Dollar Amount Awarded |
African American Heritage Foundation | High Quality In-House Production Capabilities | $4,000 |
Big Brothers Big Sisters | Strengthen mentor relationships | $3,000 |
Catherine McAuley Center | A Place of Welcome: Expansion of the Center | $4,400 |
Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation | Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library | $2,000 |
Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity | 2021 Women Build | $2,500 |
Community Health Free Clinic | Prescription Services | $3,850 |
Discovery Living | The Happify Experience – Improving Caregiver Physical, Mental and Emotional Health | $2,500 |
Eastern Iowa Health Center | Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank | $3,250 |
Families Helping Families of Iowa | Providing shoes for Linn County’s children in foster care | $2,500 |
Family Promise of Linn County | Diversion, Prevention and Stability for Linn County Families | $4,000 |
Horizons A Family Service Alliance | Transportation Jumpstart | $2,500 |
Iowa Legal Aid | Parent Representation Project | $4,250 |
McKinley STEAM Academy | Walking Trail | $5,000 |
Monroe Township Fire Department Association | Rescue Equipment 2020 | $3,000 |
Peer Action Disability Support | Linn County ADA Celebration 2021 | $3,250 |
Riverview Center | Linn County Sexual Assault/Abuse Crisis Prevention Project | $5,000 |
Tanager Place | LGBTQ Youth Center | $4,000 |
The Academy for Scholastic & Personal Success | The Academy Expansion Program Support: Planting Dreams | $7,000 |
Trees Forever | TreeKeepers and Growing Futures Support | $7,000 |
VALOR, Inc. (Five Season Stand Down) | Stand Down 2021 | $2,000 |
Willis Dady Homeless Services | Homelessness Prevention & Street Outreach | $5,000 |
Total Amount Awarded |
| $80,000 |