Urbandale Foundation Gives Money for Childrens' Camp

PRESS RELEASE:

The Endow Urbandale Community Fund has awarded a $6,500 grant to the Urbandale Community Action Network (UCAN) to provide funding for the Making aConnection (MAC) summer program.

The Endow Urbandale Board selected UCAN to receive its first grant to help fund this nationally recognized summer program for at-risk children living in Urbandale.

“The program’s successis impressive, and this grant will help it continue in the summer of 2012” said Steven Lytle, president, Endow Urbandale Board of Trustees.

The Endow Urbandale Community Fund was established in 2001 to enhance Urbandale’s quality of life by targeting needs in the areas of education, youth development, community betterment,cultural amenities, the arts, and health and human services.

“Until now, we have been growing our Endowment Fund and re-investing the income each year, awaiting the day when we could begin to make an impact on the community” said Lytle.

Urbandale’s , in conjunction with teachers from and the put together the MAC program two years ago.

The program reaches out to at risk children during the summer months. The Parks and Recreation Department and Police Department have been nationally recognized for their involvement in this program.

Zach Maertens, a Karen Acres fifth-grade teacher says about the program: “We teach sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, manners, how to act in public, speaking etiquette and phone etiquette. The goal is to turn these kids into leaders.”

The grant was based on new contributions to the Endow Urbandale General Community Endowment Fund through Dec. 31, 2011.

Lytle explained, “This is only the initial portion of the grant to UCAN. The grant will be increased at the rate of 50 cents for each additional dollar donated to the General Community Endowment Fund through Jan. 31, 2012, up to a maximum grant of $15,000.”

Donations should be made payable to Endow Urbandale Community Endowment Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 42201, Urbandale, Iowa 50322.