AFP PHILANTHROPY DAY AWARDS
The Central Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Philanthropy Awards celebrate the power of philanthropy and those who make it happen – the donors, volunteers, community leaders, connectors and storytellers who commit their time, energy and immense talents to improve the lives of others. The Central Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is one of over 230 chapters representing more than 30,000 members throughout the world. Our local chapter works to advance philanthropy through advocacy, education and certification programs, fostering the growth and development of fundraising professionals and promoting the highest ethical fundraising practices.
This year’s award recipients are exemplary representations of the generosity, commitment, and determination that enhance the lives of countless Iowans. Congratulations, and thank you for all you have done and will continue to do!
Learn more about AFP | See award history
Pictured: Reynolds Kramer, CEO
Outstanding Large Corporate/Foundation Philanthropy
Fareway Stores
Nominated by ChildServe
“Lead with Love” is a guiding principle at Fareway, the Boone-based grocery retailer with 129 locations in seven Midwest states. For Fareway, leading with love includes a commitment to sustainability and recycling; investment in employee wages, benefits and education; and charitable giving to the communities it serves — donations amounting to more than 1.1 million pounds of food, as well as millions of direct dollars.
Feeding America, a natural fit to serve as a charitable partner to a food company, estimates that Fareway has provided more than 935,000 meals to Midwestern families in need. Other beneficiaries of Fareway’s generosity include Variety – the Children’s Charity, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots, Easterseals Iowa, Blank Children’s Hospital and ChildServe.
Fareway CEO Reynolds Cramer and his wife, Shelia, are active community leaders. The couple chaired ChildServe’s fundraising campaign to expand its Ames campus.
Fareway also supports local communities with charitable marketing. The company has wrapped its semi-trucks in promotions for ChildServe, which nominators say delighted the children who were pictured. Fareway also wrapped a semi for Easterseals and brought the vehicle to Camp Sunnyside for a kids’ “touch a truck” experience.
“This not only increased the awareness of our organization,” said Sherri Nielsen, CEO of Easterseals Iowa, “but also was an endorsement of our mission from such a respected Iowa company. I am amazed at the support Fareway lends to so many central Iowa organizations.”
Pictured: John Currier, retail markets president
Outstanding Small Corporate/Foundation Philanthropy
F&G
Nominated by United Way of Central Iowa
The Des Moines-based annuities and life insurance firm F&G conducted its first United Way campaign in 2016, raising $77,000. Since that time F&G has increased its United Way annual giving by about 400%, and in 2022 the firm reached the million-dollar milestone.
In addition to recognition from and significant investment in United Way, F&G has made multiple other community investments. These include serving as a founding partner of the American Council of Life Insurers Impact Investment Initiative, which works to make housing more affordable and sustainable in underserved communities, and fostering partnerships with regional organizations such as the Iowa Food Bank, Polk County Housing Trust, and Rebuilding Together.
EveryStep is another beneficiary of F&G’s ongoing generosity. When EveryStep’s Cheer Box program was robbed and its van was stolen in 2021, F&G purchased the replacement van that got Cheer Boxes in the hands of grieving families for the holidays.
Building on a culture of giving, F&G has implemented an employee volunteer time off policy, as well as a gift matching program for individual charitable passions. At the company level essential needs have become a charitable focus, according to retail markets president John Currier.
“F&G’s mission is to help people turn their aspirations into reality. We believe when people’s most essential needs are not satisfied, it will be impossible to reach their aspirations,” said John Currier, President, Retail Markets at F&G. “Therefore, F&G focuses its community engagement and charitable giving to support essential needs such as food insecurity and housing, education and health and safety.”
Outstanding Individual Philanthropist
Jose Luis Hernandez
Nominated by Al Éxito
Jose Luis Hernandez admits he was surprised to see the level of poverty experienced in a first-world nation like the United States, to which he recently relocated from Santiago, Chile for his work as research director with Corteva Agriscience. The disparity was especially glaring to Hernandez in Iowa’s Latinx community. He was inspired to make a difference and found that opportunity with Al Éxito (AÉ) — the only statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Latinx youth.
It started with scholarships. Hernandez stepped up to the plate in the wake of COVID-19, when AÉ found it especially challenging to raise funds for the Mary E. Campos Scholarship. He leveraged his connections, including those outside of Iowa, and grew AÉ’s network exponentially. He also served as a peer host and scholarship reviewer. Hernandez’s fundraising efforts led to 16 Latinx youth realizing their college dreams — and the scholarship program continues to thrive today. Furthermore, Hernandez has remained extremely active with Al Éxito and currently serves as its board vice president.
Among the other organizations that have benefitted from Hernandez’s caring service are Central Iowa Shelter & Services, the Corteva Food Security Network, YMCA Supportive Housing, Meals on Wheels, and Habitat for Humanity.
Hernandez says his experiences with service have kept him motivated.
“Helping build the AÉ network clearly opened my eyes that when there is a good cause out there, founded on good intentions, integrity and genuine serve to others, magic will happen,” he says.
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
Doug West
Nominated by On With Life
Amplifying impact: An outstanding volunteer fundraiser not only gives generously, but successfully motivates others to do the same. And whether you’ve tuned in to Iowa Public Radio and heard the announcement of a matching donation opportunity from Douglas and Deborah West, or you’ve had the good fortune to working alongside Doug West on a volunteer board, amplification of impact is a motivating trait of West’s that consistently shines through.
West, who was recently named one of the 2023 “Sages over 70” by the Business Record, has had direct involvement with more than $40 million of fundraising benefitting organizations across Central Iowa. Working with Des Moines Performing Arts, Ankeny School District, Iowa Public Radio, Ankeny First United Methodist Church, and On With Life are among some of West’s most memorable philanthropic experiences, he says.
On With Life is an organization with which he connected later in life under challenging circumstances: referral for the Ankeny-based organization’s Parkinson’s program in 2018. The program was so beneficial to West in the wake of his diagnosis, he says he couldn’t turn down the invitation to join its board and help amplify On With Life’s impact.
Nominators say West has an innate ability to teach and inspire by asking good questions, challenging the status quo and leading with grace.
“Doug ‘teaches’ in ways he probably doesn’t know,” wrote nominator Jeff Fleming, John and Mary Pappajohn Director of the Des Moines Arts Center. “Each organization learns much from his business savvy and his overall outlook on life.”
Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy
Brenlyn Knutson
Nominated by EveryStep
From the tender age of 7, Brenlyn Knutson has been inspired to help those less fortunate. And true to her vision, she has become a statewide leader in alleviating the problem of period poverty — helping remove barriers caused by lack of access to expensive period products like pads and tampons that sidelines girls and women at school and in the workforce.
At age 13, the Johnston middle school student founded the nonprofit Give Grace Give Hope. Today the organization supplies 56 sites, including EveryStep and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa’s “Smart Girls” program, with approximately 12,000 period packs containing 252,000 period items each year. Its signature event, the Period Packing Party, is held annually on International Women’s Day and engages as many as 500 volunteers in the important work.
Knutson’s mother, Melissa Knutson, says her daughter has struggled with her own health and that has inspired her deep empathy. In addition to her schoolwork and leadership of Give Grace Give Hope, Knutson also volunteers at her church and sells handmade bracelets to benefit the Animal Rescue League.
Ultimately, Knutson says she is compelled to help others because she considers it a central tenet of community life.
“It is always memorable when I deliver period products, and people tell me how much it helps them,” Knutson says of her service. “It makes me feel good to be able to help, especially when they call us again for more supplies and we are able to deliver them.”
Student Artists
Under the direction of Christian Vandehaar, Bondurant-Farrar High School art instructor, and with the support of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, these five students were selected to create this year’s National Philanthropy Day awards. Each piece is inspired and embodies the philanthropic spirit of the recipient. Read more