2023 Grant Cycle Recipients

Eleven recipients were awarded grants in 2023 by HCF through our annual Grant Cycle program.

The total amount awarded was $17,000 with details for each grant provided below.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Tom Kaufman, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Jessie Nikkel, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Lisa Hatt (CASA of the 8^th Judicial District) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $220.00

The CASA program operates with an extremely small staff and trained Volunteer Advocates.  Our Volunteer Advocates are the center of our program.  The need for Volunteer Advocates is constant and ongoing.  We currently only have two Volunteer Advocates serving your community.  This project will address the critical need for CASA Volunteer Advocates who exclusively serve the victimized children of Hillsboro area of Marion County.  The most specific objective of this program is to have sufficient trained, certified, and active CASA Volunteer Advocates to be able to serve every child that is eligible in your community.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Dawn Mackey (Marion County Core Community) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $1,000.00

We will offer our families and staff the opportunity to receive training and certification in CPR and First Aid, to enhance the safety of their families, our program, and the greater community.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Terry Bebermeyer (FACT Family Financial Assistance Program) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $1,000.00

FACT’s Family Financial Assistance Network (FFAN) gives emergency financial assistance to Marion County households that are unable to pay for basic services necessary for family health and safety.  The Hillsboro area FFAN provides emergency financial assistance for utility services, rent, health services, medications, or other critical services on a one-time basis in a 12-month period for families who request assistance, reside in the USD 410 School District boundaries, and meet the Family Financial Assistance Network program qualifications.  FFAN can also provide emergency gas cards, diapers, and holiday support.  Family assistance requests are processed for quick approval according to program procedures.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Autumn Hardy (HES After School Programming) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount: $1,500.00

The HES After School Program has existed for around 25 years.  For the last 15 years we have relied solely on community support and donations to fund our budget so that we can continue to financially support our families.  The HES After School Program not only provides financial support for extracurricular activities for PreK-5 students, but we also provide backpacks and winter gear for students when needed as well as paying for all of our 5th grade students to attend the Prairie View Ropes Course in May for a day of teambuilding, communication, and challenges.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Marisa Javier, Tom Kaufman, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Jessie Nikkel, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Ben Steketee (Hillsboro Fire Department) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $2,000.00

As Chief of the Hillsboro Fire Department, I have long held that a drone would benefit the department while fighting wildland fires, structure fires, search and rescue operations, and in many other ways.  As a member of the city workforce, I can visualize a drone coming to the aid of the police when they need help finding someone trying to elude them.  Or the Electric department when looking for a short or a downed power line.  The building department when inspecting roofing jobs.  The water Department when inspecting water towers.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Jessey Hiebert (Hillsboro Police Department) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $4,000.00

The Hillsboro Police Department will respond to Active Shooter calls using the Immediate Deployment Method.  This method simply means we deploy available resources immediately.  What we fail to have now are Rifle Rated Ballistic Vests.  The department issues body armor to all officers, but the armor is not rated for rifle rounds.  A responding officer would better serve those in need if they were equipped with rifle rated armor which would assist them in facing rifle rounds fired upon them.  The department is seeking funding assistance to purchase rifle rated armor.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Lyman Adams (Hillsboro United Methodist Church) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $2,000.00

The snack pack program provides nutritious snacks for food-insecure youth during the school year on weekdays when school is not in session (approximately 27 days) and seven days a week during the summer break.  While Trinity Mennonite Food 4 Kids program provides hot lunches for youth in the summer, there is a need for supplemental food during the day.  A daily pack includes such things as water, juice, peanut butter crackers, macaroni and cheese bowl, beef sticks, breakfast bars, fruit snacks, etc.  It is designed so that no matter their age, youth can just grab a snack when needed.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Stephanie Moss (Main Street Ministries) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $2,500.00

With this project, we, at MSM, with the support of the Hillsboro Community Foundation, hope to replace 2 of the aging freezers in our Food Bank.  The MSM Food Bank serves between 50-80 families each month, which results in hundreds of pounds of food being stored and preserved on stie each week, in preparation for distributions each Saturday morning.  After years of usage, MSM has determined that 2 of the upright freezers that the Food Bank utilizes need to be replaced with newer more reliable appliances.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Kristy Andres (MCSEC Therapy Sand Tray) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $280.00

In Hillsboro there are several students that suffer from trauma and mental health disorders.  One way to assist students with these needs is through Sand Tray play.  Students can play and act out situations through sand play and it can be effective communication and therapy.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); Aimee Hennigh (USD 410 Flexible Seating for Kindergarten) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $500.00

Our goal for providing flexible seating options would be to purchase several optional seating choices for my students in the classroom.  Many students have a hard time sitting, especially at the kindergarten level.  Other students have a difficult time focusing when they can’t move their bodies.  Others tend to be distracted when students are struggling at their seats.  Having flexible seating options would allow students to be in charge of their own learning, individualize student abilities, and provide students with the tools they need to learn.

Back Row (L to R) HCF Board Members Anthony Roy, Kim Kroeker, Nicole Suderman, Clint Corby, Cord Cunningham.

Grant Recipient (L to R); City of Hillsboro, Darrel Knoll, Kori Arnold, Ainsley Duell, Makenna Reed all from HHS Public Administration and Gov. Class (Welcome to Hillsboro Mural) and Max Heinrichs

Grant Amount – $2,000.00

The city works in partnership with Senior Government Class students each year to develop community improvement proposals.  For the 2022-23 school year one proposal was to develop a “Greetings from Hillsboro” mural for the downtown area.  The group of students developed an idea and secured a location on the south side of the bowling alley.  The sign would feature Hillsboro related items in the letters for Hillsboro which would need to be chosen by the community.  The intention is to create a new focal point for downtown and create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and residents.