2019 Philanthropy Day Award Winners
Please help The Story County Alliance for Philanthropy and the citizens of Story County to recognize all that the following people/groups have done in the name of philanthropy. Join us at the annual Philanthropy Day celebration to recognize their achievements and contributions to our community:
RE/MAX Real Estate Center
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Outstanding Business Philanthropist Nominated by YSS |
RE/MAX Real Estate Center and Reggie’s Sleepout Ames go hand in hand. The team at RE/MAX have played a vital role in supporting the event for two of the three years it has taken place and their impact on those events has been significant. Reggie’s Sleepout Ames raises money to support youth experiencing homelessness through three organizations - ACCESS, The Bridge Home and YSS. In the last year, these organizations helped support 485 youth in need of emergency shelter care right here in Story County.
Sarah Laaser-Webb, REALTOR at RE/MAX Real Estate Center has been helping with the Holiday Giving for nine years and has served on the Friends Committee for seven years. Sarah brought her passion for YSS to RE/MAX when she joined their team in 2016. Sarah and the rest of the RE/MAX team first participated in 2018 and signed up as a sponsor and a participating team with less than a month to raise money. That didn’t stop them from raising over $10,000 for the event that year. When Reggie’s Sleepout 2018 had to be cancelled due to heavy snowfall, the RE/MAX team held their promise to sleep outside in support of youth experiencing homelessness. Traci and Bill Jennings, owners of RE/MAX Real Estate Center in Ames, hosted the rest of the team at their home where they set up their boxes and camped to raise awareness.
RE/MAX continued their support for Reggie’s Sleepout in 2019 with another significant financial support and a team of participants who showed up to sleep out on the night of the event. ACCESS, The Bridge Home AND YSS are all so grateful for the RE/MAX team and their efforts to support youth experiencing homelessness in our community. Thank you, RE/MAX Real Estate Center!
Sarah Laaser-Webb, REALTOR at RE/MAX Real Estate Center has been helping with the Holiday Giving for nine years and has served on the Friends Committee for seven years. Sarah brought her passion for YSS to RE/MAX when she joined their team in 2016. Sarah and the rest of the RE/MAX team first participated in 2018 and signed up as a sponsor and a participating team with less than a month to raise money. That didn’t stop them from raising over $10,000 for the event that year. When Reggie’s Sleepout 2018 had to be cancelled due to heavy snowfall, the RE/MAX team held their promise to sleep outside in support of youth experiencing homelessness. Traci and Bill Jennings, owners of RE/MAX Real Estate Center in Ames, hosted the rest of the team at their home where they set up their boxes and camped to raise awareness.
RE/MAX continued their support for Reggie’s Sleepout in 2019 with another significant financial support and a team of participants who showed up to sleep out on the night of the event. ACCESS, The Bridge Home AND YSS are all so grateful for the RE/MAX team and their efforts to support youth experiencing homelessness in our community. Thank you, RE/MAX Real Estate Center!
Story City Friends Endowment
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Outstanding Group Philanthropist Nominated by Story County Community Foundation |
A handful of Story City residents gathered together in 2014 with the vision to give back locally to their community. The Story City Friends Endowment Group was started in September 2014 and grew quickly to issue their first grants in 2015. To date they have awarded 12 grants for a total of $5,400 to eleven local non-profit projects benefitting Story City and Roland residents and visitors. These grants have impacted individuals of all ages, race, and socio-economic status. The Story City Friends Endowment Group has been a leader in demonstrating how a few individuals can come together and make a permanent, meaningful impact on their local community.
Roland-Story Community School District - Student Organizations
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Outstanding Youth Group in Philanthropy Nominated by Mary Greeley Foundation |
Humbly serving others is a core value of the Roland-Story School District. Several student organizations have demonstrated this belief in action by leading fundraising efforts and gathering more than $13,200 to support the William R. Bliss Cancer Center at Mary Greeley Medical Center over the last four years.
The National Honor Society, Student Council and athletic teams have all shown leadership to plan specific events to generate financial support and increase awareness and understanding of cancer. These tremendous events take a lot of coordination, time, effort and leadership. Over four years of giving, these student groups have consistently demonstrated their ability to be successful and generous.
Other groups that have demonstrated the core value of serving others include our local FFA, FCCLA, Science Club and Key Club along with various fine arts groups that perform for local residents. Our students understand the value of community and their need to be involved especially in a community our size.
We are grateful to the student leaders at Roland-Story for the vision and drive to accomplish these tasks, the administration for fostering this type of character value and the community for supporting the cause and investing in Mary Greeley.
The National Honor Society, Student Council and athletic teams have all shown leadership to plan specific events to generate financial support and increase awareness and understanding of cancer. These tremendous events take a lot of coordination, time, effort and leadership. Over four years of giving, these student groups have consistently demonstrated their ability to be successful and generous.
Other groups that have demonstrated the core value of serving others include our local FFA, FCCLA, Science Club and Key Club along with various fine arts groups that perform for local residents. Our students understand the value of community and their need to be involved especially in a community our size.
We are grateful to the student leaders at Roland-Story for the vision and drive to accomplish these tasks, the administration for fostering this type of character value and the community for supporting the cause and investing in Mary Greeley.
Sheila Lundt
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Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Nominated by The Arc of Story County |
A Gladbrook, Iowa, native, Sheila Lundt attended Iowa State University, graduating in 1978 with a double major in Political Science and International Studies. After considering law school, Sheila chose to remain at Iowa State and earned a Master's in Public Administration.
Sheila began her professional career in the Webster City in 1980 but she returned to Ames when she accepted a position in the finance department four years later. In 1987, Sheila joined the city manager's office where she ultimately retired from her position, as assistant city manager, twenty-five years later. In retirement, her drive to continue serving the community—now as a volunteer, evolved into her second career. The Ames Foundation welcomed Sheila to their board in 2013 and she quickly assumed the role as board president. While on the board, Sheila served on the Ames 150 committee and was instrumental in helping the foundation secure over $220,000 to help with the tree replanting project to commemorate the 150 anniversary of Ames.
During Sheila’s tenure, the Ames Foundation was also one of the strongest supporters of a privately-funded initiative, to raise over $2 million dollars, for the Ames Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground at Inis Grove Park. Sheila immediately acted, agreeing to serve as one of the initial steering committee members. Since that time, she helped develop park concepts, worked with the city on regulations and enacted a stalwart fund-raising campaign. Sheila’s efforts alone produced more than $600,000 by securing donations from the Amemiya Estate, First National Bank, US Bank, and numerous others. Sheila saw the Miracle Park’s vision come to reality when Ames community members gathered to celebrate the ground-breaking in July.
Beyond Sheila's work for the Inclusive Playground and Miracle Field, her impact can be seen throughout the community. Sheila has served on the Story County Mental Health/Criminal Justice Task Force, the Central Iowa Emergency Services Chaplaincy advisory board, volunteered with Heartland Senior Services, and served on the Public Policy Alumni Board at Iowa State University.
As one supporter wrote, “Sheila is a true citizen of Ames and Story County, she has a heart of gold that wraps everyone around her in warmth and enthusiasm. I think of Sheila as a mentor for volunteerism and I only hope I can emulate her service in the future.”
When not serving the Story County community, Sheila is a dedicated fan of Iowa State athletics—having never missed a home football game in over thirty years, and an avid gardener.
Sheila began her professional career in the Webster City in 1980 but she returned to Ames when she accepted a position in the finance department four years later. In 1987, Sheila joined the city manager's office where she ultimately retired from her position, as assistant city manager, twenty-five years later. In retirement, her drive to continue serving the community—now as a volunteer, evolved into her second career. The Ames Foundation welcomed Sheila to their board in 2013 and she quickly assumed the role as board president. While on the board, Sheila served on the Ames 150 committee and was instrumental in helping the foundation secure over $220,000 to help with the tree replanting project to commemorate the 150 anniversary of Ames.
During Sheila’s tenure, the Ames Foundation was also one of the strongest supporters of a privately-funded initiative, to raise over $2 million dollars, for the Ames Miracle League Field and All-Inclusive Playground at Inis Grove Park. Sheila immediately acted, agreeing to serve as one of the initial steering committee members. Since that time, she helped develop park concepts, worked with the city on regulations and enacted a stalwart fund-raising campaign. Sheila’s efforts alone produced more than $600,000 by securing donations from the Amemiya Estate, First National Bank, US Bank, and numerous others. Sheila saw the Miracle Park’s vision come to reality when Ames community members gathered to celebrate the ground-breaking in July.
Beyond Sheila's work for the Inclusive Playground and Miracle Field, her impact can be seen throughout the community. Sheila has served on the Story County Mental Health/Criminal Justice Task Force, the Central Iowa Emergency Services Chaplaincy advisory board, volunteered with Heartland Senior Services, and served on the Public Policy Alumni Board at Iowa State University.
As one supporter wrote, “Sheila is a true citizen of Ames and Story County, she has a heart of gold that wraps everyone around her in warmth and enthusiasm. I think of Sheila as a mentor for volunteerism and I only hope I can emulate her service in the future.”
When not serving the Story County community, Sheila is a dedicated fan of Iowa State athletics—having never missed a home football game in over thirty years, and an avid gardener.
Ruth Harris
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Outstanding Philanthropist Nominated by The Mary Greeley Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County |
Ruth Harris and her husband, Eugene, called Story County home for more than 60 years. The couple raised four children while operating Harris TV and Appliance in Ames. The Harris’ are highly respected and well-known within Ames, and even though Ruth now resides in a retirement community in West Des Moines; her philanthropy still benefits many organizations within Story County. She remains committed to serving the area which embraced her family and local business for countless years. Ruth is a strong proponent of affordable education, health and wellness programing, youth services and the cultural arts--all these amenities make Story County a more vibrant community. The Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation, Boys & Girls Club of Story County, Iowa State University--through gifts within the College of Engineering, Athletics and the Ivy College of Business, Reiman Gardens, the Iowa State Center, Youth & Shelter Services, Ames Historical Society and Bethesda Lutheran Church are among the many non-profits Ruth continues to support annually.
At 90 years young, Ruth is a devoted Cyclones fan and continues to attend home athletic events—loudly cheering for her beloved Iowa State Cyclones. Ruth Harris’ legacy is rooted in love and gratitude for what she and Gene received from the community, and in return, she continues to generously give back year after year. Her children, and nine grand and 12 great-grandchildren are supportive of her sustained investment in Ames and Story County. Ruth’s life-long kindness and philanthropic spirit serve as an inspiration to all who know her.
At 90 years young, Ruth is a devoted Cyclones fan and continues to attend home athletic events—loudly cheering for her beloved Iowa State Cyclones. Ruth Harris’ legacy is rooted in love and gratitude for what she and Gene received from the community, and in return, she continues to generously give back year after year. Her children, and nine grand and 12 great-grandchildren are supportive of her sustained investment in Ames and Story County. Ruth’s life-long kindness and philanthropic spirit serve as an inspiration to all who know her.
