| Claude's statue is located in the Ahrens Institute, Headquarters of the National Recreation & Parks Association, in Ashburn, VA |
Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation
In a speech to the National Recreation and Parks Association in the
fall of 1993, the late Claude W. Ahrens told the assembled “…our
obligation in life is to leave the world a better place than we found it”.
Shortly thereafter a group of community leaders instigated a
program that would honor individuals and organizations for
following that bit of wisdom.
In 1994, the first year of the program, 41 Grinnell area residents
were nominated by their peers to be recognized for doing something
to leave the world a better place. In the succeeding years over 300
people and several community organizations and groups have been
honored for their efforts.
The Grinnell Optimist Club is being honored this year as the winner
of the “Leave It Better Than You Found It” award program. The
award this year honors groups or organizations that are making a
difference in Grinnell and its surrounding communities. “We are
excited this year to honor the Grinnell Optimist Club with this award.
They work diligently to help support children and families in our
community through various projects and events,” states Julie
Gosselink, President and CEO of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens
Foundation.
The Grinnell Optimist Club organized in 2003. As its mission
statement reads, “By providing hope and positive vision, Optimist
bringing out the best in kids.” The Grinnell Optimist Club leads by
example. Some of these examples include the following:
The Club has partnered with the local police department and Blue
Bunny since 2003 to host a citywide ice cream social at three city
parks for the National Night Out program. This annual event has
been instrumental in providing a venue to heighten crime awareness,
generate support for anti-crime programs, and strengthen
neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
The Club partners with Grinnell Aviation to host the annual Fly-In at
the Grinnell airport and provides a low cost french toast breakfast,
with a portion of their proceeds this year benefiting the Grinnell
Skate Park.
The Club provides gas cards to families who have children with
serious illnesses that require multiple trips to medical facilities.
The Club and the Galaxy Youth Center co-sponsor a costume party
and activities for younger kids in the community.
The Club has been the sole sponsor of an annual field trip each fall to
Carroll’s Pumpkin Farm for students in the Grinnell MICA Head Start
program.
The Club is just one of several cooperating groups who helped staff
and donate funds to the Kites Over Grinnell event by providing kite
building materials for 3rd and 4th graders at Davis Elementary.
The Club partners with the teachers in the Grinnell-Newburg school
district by providing Optimist essays and oratorical contests as part
of the curriculum.
Organizations that qualify for the "Leave It Better" award include all
nonprofit organizations, social, civic, fraternal or community groups
who are making a difference. Previous winners of the “Leave It
Better” award include the Stewart Library Children's Department,
Grinnell Lions Club, Galaxy Youth Center, Washington Merry
Workers 4-H Club, Fairview Elementary PTO, Second Mile, Grinnell-
Newburg Dollars for Scholars and the Grinnell High School Guidance
Counselors.
When nominating an organization, one should be able to demonstrate
ways in which the organization is “leaving it better than you found it”
through its community projects, community programs, collaborative
efforts with other local groups, and/or through its local fundraising
efforts over the past year. All nominations will remain anonymous.
Nominations for the “Leave it Better” Awards are taken annually
over the summer and then announced on or about August 18th of
each year, to commemorate the dedication of the Ahrens/Paschall
Memorial Park and the late Claude W. Ahrens’ birthday. Recipients
will be honored by the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation each
year.
The deadline for all 2009 nominations was August 1, 2009.
Information for the 2010 "Leave It Better Than You Found It" award
will be released in June of 2010. Thank you.
fall of 1993, the late Claude W. Ahrens told the assembled “…our
obligation in life is to leave the world a better place than we found it”.
Shortly thereafter a group of community leaders instigated a
program that would honor individuals and organizations for
following that bit of wisdom.
In 1994, the first year of the program, 41 Grinnell area residents
were nominated by their peers to be recognized for doing something
to leave the world a better place. In the succeeding years over 300
people and several community organizations and groups have been
honored for their efforts.
The Grinnell Optimist Club is being honored this year as the winner
of the “Leave It Better Than You Found It” award program. The
award this year honors groups or organizations that are making a
difference in Grinnell and its surrounding communities. “We are
excited this year to honor the Grinnell Optimist Club with this award.
They work diligently to help support children and families in our
community through various projects and events,” states Julie
Gosselink, President and CEO of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens
Foundation.
The Grinnell Optimist Club organized in 2003. As its mission
statement reads, “By providing hope and positive vision, Optimist
bringing out the best in kids.” The Grinnell Optimist Club leads by
example. Some of these examples include the following:
The Club has partnered with the local police department and Blue
Bunny since 2003 to host a citywide ice cream social at three city
parks for the National Night Out program. This annual event has
been instrumental in providing a venue to heighten crime awareness,
generate support for anti-crime programs, and strengthen
neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.
The Club partners with Grinnell Aviation to host the annual Fly-In at
the Grinnell airport and provides a low cost french toast breakfast,
with a portion of their proceeds this year benefiting the Grinnell
Skate Park.
The Club provides gas cards to families who have children with
serious illnesses that require multiple trips to medical facilities.
The Club and the Galaxy Youth Center co-sponsor a costume party
and activities for younger kids in the community.
The Club has been the sole sponsor of an annual field trip each fall to
Carroll’s Pumpkin Farm for students in the Grinnell MICA Head Start
program.
The Club is just one of several cooperating groups who helped staff
and donate funds to the Kites Over Grinnell event by providing kite
building materials for 3rd and 4th graders at Davis Elementary.
The Club partners with the teachers in the Grinnell-Newburg school
district by providing Optimist essays and oratorical contests as part
of the curriculum.
Organizations that qualify for the "Leave It Better" award include all
nonprofit organizations, social, civic, fraternal or community groups
who are making a difference. Previous winners of the “Leave It
Better” award include the Stewart Library Children's Department,
Grinnell Lions Club, Galaxy Youth Center, Washington Merry
Workers 4-H Club, Fairview Elementary PTO, Second Mile, Grinnell-
Newburg Dollars for Scholars and the Grinnell High School Guidance
Counselors.
When nominating an organization, one should be able to demonstrate
ways in which the organization is “leaving it better than you found it”
through its community projects, community programs, collaborative
efforts with other local groups, and/or through its local fundraising
efforts over the past year. All nominations will remain anonymous.
Nominations for the “Leave it Better” Awards are taken annually
over the summer and then announced on or about August 18th of
each year, to commemorate the dedication of the Ahrens/Paschall
Memorial Park and the late Claude W. Ahrens’ birthday. Recipients
will be honored by the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation each
year.
The deadline for all 2009 nominations was August 1, 2009.
Information for the 2010 "Leave It Better Than You Found It" award
will be released in June of 2010. Thank you.
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| "Leave It Better" Award ceremony at the Ahrens Foundation offices. Pictured Left to Right are: Rich May (Optimist), Julie Gosselink (Ahrens Foundation), Joe Sumner (Optimist), Lee McFee (Optimist), and Susan Witt (Ahrens Foundation) |
"Leave It Better" Annual Awards