It would be hard to measure the far-reaching effects of the Grant Award Program in the tri-state area, because each agency and organization we touch in turn touches the lives of hundreds more. Just a few of these charitable organizations include the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Habitat for Humanity.

But if all of that sounds a little run-of-the-mill, ask the kids at Camp Courageous of Iowa about the lights on their new ice-skating rink/basketball court. Or think about the medals and ribbons we bought for the winners of the Iowa Special Olympics and the 4-H Club. The list goes on, with Grant Award Program funding benefitting organizations seeking to help sufferers of cystic fibrosis, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes, and providing assistance for child and spousal abuse prevention, and elderly services. And realizing that the quality of many people’s lives is enriched by some of their best friends, we have also made contributions to enhance the facilities for the residents of the Dubuque Humane Society.

So while a lot of what we contribute develops communities technologically and materially, we still haven’t forgotten the importance of reaching out to everyone among us who needs a helping hand.