A beloved Jefferson resident recently bequeathed a lump sum of money to one non-profit Greene County organization who is jumpstarting a fundraising campaign.
Alice Walters passed away this past June 22nd at the age of 104 and she left $2 million of her estate to various groups, organizations and family members. Greene County Community Foundation Fundraising Campaign Chair Chuck Offenburger says the community foundation received almost $500,000, or about one-fourth as part of Walters estate. She helped create the organization in 2006 that gives grant funds to worthy county projects. Walters gave a $25,000 matching grant in the inaugural year.
Now the community foundation receives its grant funding from Grow Greene County Gaming Corporation, the non-profit gaming license holder for Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Jefferson.
Additionally, there is an endowment fund that the community foundation established and can also draw up to five-percent from for more projects to be funded. The endowment was over $950,000 before Walters’ gift. The community foundation has a goal to raise $30,000 this month. Offenburger notes that the organization is hoping to find 30 volunteers to have a conversation with five people each and from those 150 conversations, they can reach that goal. Offenburger kicked off the campaign by donating $1,000 himself.
Offenburger adds the campaign has shifted in honor of Walters with the “I’m With Alice Walters.” All those who donate to the community foundation’s endowment fund will receive a lapel button with Walters picture in the middle and a line over the top that says “I’m with Alice!” and the line under her photo says “Greene County Community Foundation.”
To donate to the foundation’s endowment, checks can be made payable to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation and dropped off at Home State Bank.