DUAL COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARDS

LEE COUNTY, IOWA —The Keokuk Area Community Foundation (KACF) and North Lee Community Foundation (NLCF) were recognized with two major community awards on consecutive evenings this past week, underscoring their longstanding impact across Lee County.

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On Thursday evening, the Foundations received the LCEDG Impact Award at the annual Spirit of Keokuk Awards, held at Meyers Courtyard in Keokuk. The following evening, they were presented with the Community Impact Award at the Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner at McAleer Hall in Fort Madison.

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Both awards were presented by Lee County Economic Development Group Executive Director Emily Benjamin, who recognized the Foundations’ ongoing leadership, grantmaking, and scholarship support benefiting communities throughout Lee County.

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Together, KACF and NLCF have distributed millions of dollars in grants and scholarships to local students, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community initiatives. Their work supports education, healthcare, workforce development, historic preservation, and quality-of-life improvements across the region.

Executive Director Roger Ricketts accepted the awards on behalf of the Foundations, joined by Chief Communications Officer Leah Carroll and board members Kerry Klepfer, Jason Hutcheson and Chuck Holmes.

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“We stand with and are continually inspired from those who are the Founders of The Community Foundations; George Eichacker, Joe Kowzan, Dick Lofton, Merlin Hellman and many others; their legacy and ours is to do as much good as we possibly can for all those who live and work call Lee County their home,” said Ricketts. “I am constantly and always inspired by the quiet generosity of many folks in Lee County who give financially of their dollars and also their heartfelt investment of their time and their labor for the good of all of us who call Lee County our home.”

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The recognition reflects decades of partnership between donors, volunteers, nonprofit organizations, and civic leaders working together to strengthen Lee County communities.

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In addition to scholarship and grantmaking efforts, recent initiatives have included support for major community infrastructure projects such as the Meller Family Health Center, as well as ongoing investments in youth programming, nonprofit capacity building, and community development efforts.

The Foundations expressed gratitude to the Keokuk and Fort Madison Chambers, Lee County Economic Development Group, and the many community partners who continue to collaborate in advancing opportunity across the county.

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For more information about the Keokuk Area Community Foundation and North Lee Community Foundation, visit keokukfoundation.org or northleecf.org.

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