Cedar Rapids Charities Receive $750,000 Donation Just in Time for Christmas
A couple with Cedar Rapids ties has donated a whopping $750,000 to three local charities that help women, children, and families.
Nan Parks Kocourek and Wayne Kocourek made donations of $250,000 each to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids, Tanager Place, and Waypoint.
Nan lived in Cedar Rapids for 35 years and Wayne is a businessman who, according to Virtual Globetrotting, acquired and formed Applied Industrial Materials Corporation (AIMCOR). He formed Mid Oaks Investments in 1997 and prior to that was CFO of The Susquehanna Corporation, an AMEX Company.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids intend to use the gift from the Kocourek’s as a match for the “Annual Great Futures Campaign,” which gives free annual memberships to club members who cannot afford to be involved. In a press release, they also say a Nan and Wayne Kocourek Scholarship will also be created with some of the money. It will also allow for the establishment of the Boy’s and Girls Club unit at Southeast Junior High in Iowa City in January of 2017.
Tanager Place is putting their $250,000 gift toward their capital campaign. Tanager's Behavior Health Clinic, recently relocated to 1030 5th Ave SE, allows Tanager Place to double the number of children in which they serve. The clinic is home to the only Autism Spectrum Disorder services in a single building, in the entire region.
Waypoint is going to use some of the money they received to start a scholarship fund to provide low-income families with access to quality child care. They will also build a new playground at the KidsPoint Downtown Learning Center and Preschool. Remaining dollars will be put into the Waypoint Endowment Fund.
In a press release from the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Wayne and Nan said, "We hope our gift will inspire many other members in the community to support local non-profits with a gift of their time, talent or treasure. We are blessed to be able to help support the children and families served by Boys and Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids, Tanager Place and Waypoint. All three agencies are vital to empowering those facing difficult situations.”
On behalf of the people of Cedar Rapids and these three great organizations, I add our thanks. These big dollars will do some truly big things for people in our community.
[via Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids and Virtual Globetrotting]