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Written by Brianne Sanchez
A Century of Service
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Fourth-grade volunteers and the people Mosaic serves at an event at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church.
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Choir, woodworking, Special Olympics. To the staff at Mosaic, it seems like Homer has a new hobby every week. The Des Moines man is one of the 180 individuals with intellectual disabilities Mosaic serves through 24-hour residential living, intermittent support and employment opportunities. During the 40 years before he arrived at Mosaic, Homer lived in an institution. In the four years he's benefited from Mosaic's programming, Homer has thrived.
"Our mission goes way beyond making sure that (the individuals we serve) are healthy and have a roof over their head," says Laura Holtman, Mosaic's resource development manager. "We want to make sure they get to do the things they want to do. Every time you talk to Homer, he has a new interest. There's no limit to what he's doing."
This year, Mosaic is celebrating its 100th anniversary and its 30th in Des Moines. "A century ago, if there was a child born with an intellectual disability, they would be placed in a state institution and segregated from the community," says Carol Mau, CEO of Mosaic in Des Moines. "That was the norm."
In 1913, when the predecessor to the faith-based organization was formed in Nebraska, state institutions were in their heyday, and people with intellectual disabilities had limited options. The Lutheran pastors and community members who founded the group homes that laid the groundwork for Mosaic wanted to create an alternative to these institutional settings and help those with intellectual disabilities become a part of the community.
Advocacy and inclusion remain a major part of Mosaic's mission. The Des Moines group serves nearly 200 individuals aged 16-89 in group homes, apartments or host home facilities. The agency, with about 330 staff members, has some 170 people on its waiting list.
Mosaic will celebrate its anniversary 4-6 p.m. June 2 at the Elwell Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The event will feature community partner booths showcasing places where Mosaic residents volunteer and exhibits featuring residents' art.
Mosiac, which receives most of its funding through Medicaid, also engages volunteers to help with its mission. Groups can deep-clean group homes, do yard work or coordinate a van wash for Mosaic's 40 site vehicles. Groups also host Saturday morning bingo sessions and ladies nights. Individuals typically serve as companion volunteers and visit with Mosaic residents on a one-to-one basis. For more information, visit mosaicinfo.org
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 | | Kristi Knous, Allison Fleming, John Viars and J Barry Griswell at last year's Celebration Luncheon. |
Ways to Engage
Mingle with community leaders and supporters and find out who will be recognized with this year's Better Together Award at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines' annual Celebration Luncheon & Report to the Community. Reservations for the May 13 event at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown are $20 per person, available through desmoinesfoundation.org.
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Dress for Success leaders Joy Wilhelm, Jill Niswander, Jody White and Teresa Choi.
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Scope spring styles for a worthy cause at the Dress for Success "Passion for Fashion" show 5-7 p.m. May 4 at Drake University. Tickets are $20 or $50, available through dressforsuccess.org.
Prevent Child Abuse Iowa is capping off a month of awareness events with a benefit celebration 5:30-8 p.m. May 8 at Red Bistro. The cost is $35 and includes an extensive buffet, music by the Heartland Youth Choir and a silent auction. Learn more about Child Abuse Prevention Month events and purchase benefit tickets through pcaiowa.org.
Exercise your green thumb by helping the Salisbury House & Gardens prepare its gardens for spring 9 a.m.-1 p.m April 27. Volunteers are encouraged to bring tools such as rakes, pruners and gloves. A hot dog lunch will be served. If you want to help, contact Sheri Blair: 274-1777 x1006 or sblair@salisburyhouse.org.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa's 21st Annual Raise Your Paw Auction will be 5-10 p.m. April 27 at The Meadows Conference Center at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Visit ARL-Iowa.org to purchase tickets.
Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa is running low on donations and is urging members of the community to drop off gently used clothes, furniture, computers and housewares, including dishes and kitchen items. Donations fund Goodwill's job training programs.
Local philanthropist Douglas M. Woods is matching 50 cents for every dollar donated (up to $20,000) to the Des Moines Area Religious Council food pantry network this month for a "Challenge Hunger" campaign. Donate online here.
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Good to Know
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines is holding two professional development events in May. Learn about the power of presenting human interest stories at an interactive session May 14 led by Erin Hurley, CEO 3R PR & Marketing, Inc. Ellen Nelson of Funding Solutions, Inc. will present a session May 21 on how board and staff members can work together to leverage networks for success. Both workshops are $35 and run 3-5:30 p.m. Find details and register at desmoinesfoundation.org.
The Iowa Women's Foundation is accepting grant proposals for projects that promote leadership opportunities for Iowa women and girls or advance their economic security. Projects must begin on or after Jan. 1, 2014. The application deadline is May 31. Grant guidelines are available through iawf.org.
The urban card, a savings card that offers members discounts at 50 locally owned businesses in Greater Des Moines, has partnered with several local nonprofits to share a portion of proceeds from each card sold. The organizations include The Des Moines "I Have a Dream" Foundation, Young Variety, Rebuilding Together, GDMLI Class of 2013 benefiting Amanda the Panda, and Children & Families of Iowa. Ten dollars from
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The Stelter Company
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each $29.95 purchase goes directly to that nonprofit organization.
The Stelter Company recently launched "Social by Stelter," a new division aimed at helping nonprofit organizations market through social media by targeting, attracting and connecting with key donors.
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 | | Dawn Martinez Oropeza |
Faces of Philanthropy
Dawn Martinez Oropeza has joined Latinas/Latinos al Exito as executive director. Oropeza, who is the organization's first salaried leader, was a former arts education/community programs coordinator with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs... Jeanine Simnick is the new director of development at ACLU of Iowa... United Way of Central Iowa recently hired Brianne Fitzgerald, Joani Matalone and Scott Valbert as corporate relations managers and Derek Lippincott as marketing project manager... Anawim Housing recently named Chantell Harris manager of Baker Creek Housing and Cynthia Latcham as Shelter Plus Care housing manager.
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Lisa Mehle
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Two organizations recently expanded their boards of directors. Children and Family Urban Ministries welcomed four new board members: Carolyn Jenison, Ballet Des Moines; Tony Lengeling, Aviva USA; Karen Miller, Manpower; and Jackie Mueller, Wells Fargo. Central Iowa Shelter & Services has named Lisa Mehle of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to its board.
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Success Stories
Strategic America Inc. won a national 2013 PR News Nonprofit PR Award for its pro-bono press release promoting the donation needs and mission of the Central Iowa Shoes That Fit program. In two days, Shoes That Fit received 400 additional donation items and an influx of financial contributions. The support helped the program meet its goal to distribute 8,614 items to children at 55 schools.
The Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation recently donated 106,000 toothbrushes, plus toothpaste and floss, to the I-Smile Program, which helps connect Iowa children in need with dental care and services.
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Central Iowa was named a 2012 Ten Star Chapter for performing specific activities designed to increase professionalism within fundraising and public awareness of the importance of philanthropy.
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Grants
The Alzheimer's Association, Greater Iowa Chapter recently received a $12,000 grant from Community State Bank to help provide services for the 69,000 Iowans affected by the disease.
Children and Family Urban Ministries (CFUM) recently received a $30,000 grant from Nationwide Insurance Foundation for its out-of-school programs. CFUM also received $25,000 from the Kiwanis Basketball Jamboree, including $10,000 in matching funds from Ronald McDonald House Charities. That grant will be used for kitchen renovation in the building where CFUM serves more than 45,000 meals a year.
Des Moines Staples associate Lincoln Dix awarded Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa $5,000 through a new Staples giving program called 2 Million & Change, which offers employee-directed grants to organizations focused on education or job skills.
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Don't Forget!
Want party pictures from your organization's event in dsm's rsvp section? The details on how to do that, including deadlines, are on our website, dsmMagazine.com. Follow the instructions there and we'll do the rest.
Email us at dsmeditor@bpcdm.com with innovative ideas you've implemented, board and staff appointments, capital campaigns, events and other news (plus photos and links to your videos!). The deadline for the next issue is May 5.
Get the word out about your upcoming event by listing it on our community calendar. Go to dsmMagazine.com, click on "calendar" and then "add event" and follow the instructions.
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Brianne Sanchez is a freelance writer and is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Drake University. A former journalist for The Des Moines Register, she's also the project manager at the Des Moines "I Have a Dream" Foundation. In her free time, she serves on the TEDxDesMoines planning team.
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