July 3, 2003

Soil and Water Conservation District Creates Endowment in Community Foundation.

The Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation District has created the first conservational endowed funds within the Community Foundation of Johnson County.

As part of an original bequest by local residents, Ruth and Ken Wagner, to the Soil and Water Conservation district, local commissioners voted to establish an endowment. The fund will help the integration of soil and water resource in agricultural communities and the development of farm management, and practices that help sustain agriculture.

"This fund works cooperatively with individual landowners and shares the cost of establishing land management practices that improve our rivers and streams. When you drive past farmland that features terraces, grassed waterways, contour buffer strips or wind breaks, you are viewing the direct results of our programs," said district commissioner, David Parsons.

"This type of endowed fund by the Johnson County Soil and Water District is one of the reasons the Community Foundation of Johnson County was established," stated Mike Stoffregen, Executive Director of the Foundation.

"Smaller groups and organizations typically do not have the expertise to professionally manage their endowment funds. The Community Foundation helps groups not only manage their funds, but also helps build their endowment programs as part of the Foundation marketing efforts," Stoffregen added.

The Community Foundation of Johnson County, established in October of 2000, continues to build community endowment programs for Johnson County through gifts and donor legacies. Applications for fall grants are now available at the Foundation office, located at 325 East Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa.

For questions or additional information, please contact Mike Stoffregen at the Community Foundation office, (319) 337-0483.