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| The Science Center of Iowa is a center devoted to lifelong learning featuring six dynamic experience platforms and where visitors can explore and experiment. By placing the power of learning in the hands of the visitor, the programmatic emphasis is not on “what” to learn, but “how” to learn. The Science Center of Iowa’s mission is to be the highest quality resource inspiring scientific exploration through interactive education, exhibits and programs. Its goal is to be a quality community resource for informal science learning where children, families, school groups and individuals come to explore science and technology. As a fully accredited museum, the Science Center has reached the highest level of national recognition. |
The ICD was founded by former Governor Robert D. Ray in 1997. The ICD’s mission is to recognize, enhance and sustain the positive qualities of Iowans in order to promote civility through character development. Through a statewide partnership with the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition, the ICD facilitates a variety of CHARACTER COUNTS! initiatives throughout the state of Iowa.
CHARACTER COUNTS! is the nation’s most widely used framework for character development. It is based on shared beliefs and consensus values called the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring & Citizenship.
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The Des Moines Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation raises funds to support the Komen Foundation mission of eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at 36.
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Jolly Holiday Lights began in 1995 as a way to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa during the holiday season. The event, which offered a number of holiday light displays, was a hit in Des Moines in its first year.
Since then, the event has grown each year and become a holiday tradition in central Iowa. Now the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa's largest fundraising event, the light park features more than 70 spectacular light displays on a 2.5-mile route that winds through Des Moines' Water Works Park. In its tenth year, the event has raised more than $1.5 million and granted the wishes of more than 330 Iowa children.
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Salisbury House Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve, interpret, and share the international significance of Salisbury House and its collections as a historic house museum for the educational and cultural benefit and enjoyment of the public, owns and operates Salisbury House.
The mansion contains authentic 16th century English oak, English flint work, and rafters that date back to the time of Shakespeare. Salisbury House is filled with original furnishings and a collection of rare objects of art, paintings, tapestries, books, and letters that belonged to the Weeks family.
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The Johnston Community School Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded to support programs that offer opportunities for students reaching beyond the scope of the school system’s regular funding limits. The mission of the Foundation is to secure, manage and provide resources for the community of learners with the purpose of maintaining, enhancing and promoting educational and personal excellence.
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4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. In Polk County, 4-H offers a tremendous variety of programming for young people. These include the 4-H club program, nutrition and health programs, adventure programs and after school programs.
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The mission of the Des Moines Playhouse is to change lives by entertaining, enriching and engaging the people of the community, region and state through producing high-quality theatrical presentations, vocational experiences and life-long educational opportunities. Founded in Nov 1919, the Playhouse is a vital cultural resource for Des Moines. The heart of the The Playhouse program is production, the audience for which exceeded 70,000 people in the 2005 season.
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Iowa Health System is a community-based organization of physicians, hospitals, civic leaders and local volunteers who share a vision of affordable, accessible healthcare.
The organization is built on a mutual understanding to translate its shared knowledge and experience into a system that works to deliver healthcare services of the highest possible quality and the lowest possible cost. Created in 1993, Iowa Health System (IHS) is the state's first and largest integrated healthcare system.
Iowa Health System operates facilities in seven large Iowa communities and Rock Island , Illinois , supports a system of rural hospitals in 14 Iowa communities and partners with physicians and clinics in more than 80 communities in Iowa , western Illinois and eastern Nebraska .
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Q99.5 KZZQ was founded as a non-profit organization in 1993 with the mission of representing Christ accurately in Iowa through music and programming that appeals to young adults, teens, and young families as they begin to make critical life decisions, while maintaining accessibility to those who do not yet understand the organization's beliefs. Q99.5 has grown to have over 20,000 listeners, and its educational reach into the music listening habits of families has been significant. The area of influence is mostly in the Des Moines metro but also reaches many smaller communities as far south as Osceola and Indianola and west to Atlantic . The organization also livestreams on the web at KZZQ.com.
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JDRF's mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. The Greater Iowa Chapter of JDRF raises more money for research per capita than any other chapter and its primary service area includes the communities located in central Iowa . Through fundraisers and individual donations, this chapter contributes $3.5 million annually to diabetes research. In addition to raising money for research, the professional staff, board and volunteers also provide support and educate the community about diabetes and its complications. Five hundred families are involved in the JDRF support network and 7,500 people participate in the Walk to Cure Diabetes.
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The American Diabetes Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of people affected by diabetes. Its vision is to make an everyday difference in the lives of people who have diabetes in Iowa . The Iowa ADA currently funds four active research grants in Iowa . The organization conducts lunch and learns at many Iowa businesses to help educate the workforce about diabetes in order to prevent the pre-diabetes factor and the cost associated to the state.
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Since its founding in 1910, the Mid Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America has provided to the youth of the community a unique, educational program that contributes to and addresses three goals: character development, Americanism (citizenship training) and mental/physical fitness. In 27 counties located in central and south central Iowa , the Boy Scouts serve 20,244 youth in age-appropriate programming. The organization has 462 local units sponsored by 300 chartering partner organizations led by 7,000 registered adult leaders. The mission of the organization is to prepare young people to make ethical choices by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Scouting targets six key issues currently facing American society and outlines how to make a difference in the lives of youth: building character, faith traditions, mentoring, serving others, healthy living and lifelong learning.
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Established in 1983, what is now the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association provides vital services and support to persons with Alzheimer's disease, their families and caregivers. The Chapter has dedicated itself to its mission: to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through promotion of brain health. Most programs and services are offered free of charge to residents of 58 counties in Iowa and 6 counties in Illinois . In fiscal year 2005, the Greater Iowa Chapter provided information and referral services to nearly 2,000 callers to the Association's 24/7 Helpline, educated more than 6,800 families and professional caregivers, and provided care consultation to more than 100 families. The Chapter supports and coordinates 75 support groups facilitated by greater Iowa volunteers.
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Junior Achievement of Central Iowa operates in 29 central Iowa counties,
ranging from the Minnesota to the Missouri border. Junior Achievement’s
hands-on business and economic education programs are delivered to
school-age children in grades K-12 by local volunteers within their
communities. The purpose of Junior Achievement is to educate and inspire
young people to value free enterprise, business economics and improve
the quality of their lives. Junior Achievement of Central Iowa
also is the home to 1 of 18 Exchange City operations in the country.
Exchange City is a hands-on learning program that combines an eight-week
classroom curriculum with a state-of-the-art interactive government
and free enterprise laboratory. The Exchange City experience helps
students learn and apply rigorous academic standards in math, civics,
social studies, language arts and technology in real-life roles
as citizens of their very own mini-towns.
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The mission of Rebuilding
Together is to preserve and revitalize homes and communities, assuring
that low-income homeowners, particularly those who are elderly and
disabled and families with dependent children, live in warmth, safety
and independence. The goal of Rebuilding Together is to make a sustainable
impact to existing housing stock and neighborhoods in partnership
with the community.
On Rebuilding Day in 2006, 50 households will receive services.
Since 1995, 328 projects have been completed. Rebuilding Together
is a unique provider of housing revitalization in the greater Des
Moines area at no cost to qualified low-income homeowners.
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The mission of Southeast
Polk Schools is to be an innovative, educational organization committed
to providing learning experiences of superior quality which enable
ALL students to successfully meet challenges now and in the future.
Often called a suburban school district in a rural setting, Southeast
Polk features a 120-acre campus four miles east of Des Moines on
Highway 163. On that campus visitors will find the district administrative
office, bus maintenance facility and storage warehouse, the junior
high, the senior high with two gymnasiums and an auditorium, and
the athletic complex with baseball, softball, and football/soccer
field/track. The central campus is located in the geographic center
of the district, with seven elementary schools located around the
perimeter of the district.
The Southeast Polk School Board of Education is planning to appeal
to school district residents in a referendum to approve a levy increase
and funding for a new high school and a new elementary school.
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Teen Challenge of the Midlands is a Christian, non-profit
agency that provides help for hurting people. For 25 years Teen
Challenge of the Midlands set the foundation for providing long-term
sustainable and enduring freedom from addiction or other life-controlling
problems. Teen Challenge’s success is attributed to a well-rounded,
Biblical foundation, fortified by vocational training, mandatory
GED (for those without a high school education), personal development
and community involvement. Teen Challenge of the Midlands serves
approximately 150 students per year with a goal of developing leaders
with a profound sense of purpose and destiny, a solid relationship
with God and a strong service-minded heart to bring life and positive
growth to their work, homes, schools and community.
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Since 1979, the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines has grown from
a dream of a small group of local business leaders, to the cornerstone
of the downtown Des Moines redevelopment initiative. Each year, a
quarter of a million people come to the Civic Center of Greater Des
Moines and experience the wonder, the suspense, and the joy of live
theater. The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines will serve as an outstanding
community performing arts center, accessible to all, where people
may be educated, entertained and enlightened.
The Civic Center is still a beautiful building but in the more than
2 1/2 decades since it opened, seats need refurbishing to make them
more comfortable, and changes need to be made to comply with the Americans
with Disabilities Act. Right now wheelchair seating is only available
in the front row. The Civic Center plans to provide new wheelchair
accessible seating areas nearer the center of the audience, plus improve
wheelchair access to the ticket office. The Civic Center also wants
to make improvements to the entrances and exits and to upgrade the
old marquees and signage to a state-of-the-art look using the latest
electronics and technology. Even the rigging above the stage will
be upgraded to attract and handle the more complex technical productions
demanded by modern traveling musicals and shows.
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Youth Homes of Mid-America is a 63-year-old private non-profit
children and family social service organization. It serves Iowa
children who have severe emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties.
Youth Homes of Mid-America treats youth in a variety of settings
from a campus-based residential program to in-home treatment and
counseling programs.
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