The South Tama United Fund has, for years, been an important part of supporting local nonprofits in the southern part of Tama County. For many of those years, the Fund has worked in partnership with the Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF), and now has become a fund of the TCCF.

This does not change the original intent of the fund, as it will still grant to nonprofits in south Tama. As part of TCCF, the new South Tama United Endowment Fund and its donors will receive additional benefits as you can read below. The South Tama United Endowment Fund with the Tama County Community Foundation allows us to support organizations benefiting the communities of Chelsea, Montour, the MeskwakiSettlement, Tama, Toledo and Vining. By making this gift, you give us flexibility to fund charitable programs and projects in the community. Your donation can help a person with a disability to become more independent, provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, provide recreational outlets to youth, provide mental-health counseling, and more.

Some of the nonprofits that have benefited from South Tama United Fund are the following: American Red Cross-Iowa River Chapter; Central Iowa Residential Services, Inc. (CIRSI); Compassionate Friends; Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support (ACCESS); Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts; Iowa Legal Aid; Center Associates; Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA); Mid-Iowa Workshops, Inc.; South Tama Recreation; Tama Opportunity Center; Tama County Council on Aging and more.

Because the South Tama County United Endowment Fund is a permanent fund with the Community Foundation, the donated dollars are invested; and only the income from the fund is granted out. Local contributions will help carry out the mission of the Community Foundation, specifically in South Tama County now and forever.

Gifts to permanent endowment funds of the Community Foundation that benefit Iowa charitable causes are eligible to receive a 25% state tax credit in addition to the federal deductions for charitable gifts through the Endow Iowa program.

Please consider giving this year. Even a small donation of a dollar a week will be of great help. Please look at the donation form that is associated with this article, fill it out, mail a check to Tama County Community Foundation, 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Online gifts can be made at www.tamaccf.org. Gifts via credit cards can be made as well.

For more information, please contact Mary Fasse-Shaw, Tama County Community Foundation Development Associate at mfasseshaw@tamaccf.org or by calling her at 641-751-5251.