Media Room

ICCSD Receives $20,000 Gift for Virtual Learning Software from HAVlife Johnson County

The Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) accepted a $20,000 gift from HAVlife Johnson County to help fund critical virtual learning software for elementary students during a socially distanced check presentation on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. 

Due to the high COVID-19 case count in Johnson County, the school district has applied for and received a wavier to begin the school year exclusively online. More than 40 percent of students have also enrolled in full-time remote learning through at least the first trimester of the 2020-2021 school year.  

This change in traditional learning requires equipment and software to deliver curriculum to students effectively and equitably. This software is especially impactful for 30 percent of ICCSD students who fell behind due to COVID closures last spring and are not currently meeting their appropriate grade level skills for reading and math. This state-of-the-art software will cost an estimated $300,000 to install on nearly 8,500 student computers. 

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of HAVlife Johnson County to help fund licenses and access to this specialized equipment. During these remote learning times in our District, these tools are critical for the educational success of our students,” ICCSD Foundation Executive Director Susan Brennan said. 

The $20,000 gift from HAVlife of Johnson County will specifically fund Lexia Core5 Reading and DreamBox for math. Students enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade will use the software. 

“We typically help local youth by making it financially possible for them to attend extracurricular activities – however our priority is fulfilling their academic need during the ongoing pandemic. We’re grateful for this opportunity to help local students during this difficult time,” HAVlife Johnson County Board Chairperson Anne Barber-Nessa said. 

Since 2016, HAVlife Johnson County has awarded nearly $250,000 to 37 nonprofit organizations, directly impacting more than 14,000 local youth. 

For more information, please contact ICCSD Foundation Executive Director Susan Brennan at 319-430-0923 or brennan.susan@iowacityschools.org, or HAVlife Board Member Patty Grabinski at 630-504-8291 or plsgrabs@yahoo.com. 

HAVlife Foundation of Johnson County Helps Raise $40,000 for the Community Foundation of Johnson County Amid COVID-19 Crisis

A $20,000 matching grant from HAVlife resulted in a total of $40,000 that will directly support local non-profits, schools, and agencies experiencing hardships brought on by the virus. 

The HAVlife Foundation of Johnson County recently awarded the Community Foundation of Johnson County a $20,000 matching grant to support its Emergency Response Fund. Thank to generous contributions from community members that were matched by HAVlife, $40,000 was raised in less than two weeks.  

The emergency fund supports local nonprofits, schools, and government agencies experience hardships brought on by COVID-19. So far, the community foundation had awarded more than $72,000 to fifteen Johnson County based organizations, including the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, Shelter House Inc., and the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP). 

“Thanks to the generous grant and partnership of the HAVlife Foundation of Johnson County, we were able to leverage an additional $20,000 in donor support for our emergency response fund,” Community Foundation of Johnson County Executive Director Shelly Maharry said. “These additional funds were immediately put to use in the form of emergency grants made to local nonprofit organizations who are supporting the urgent needs of our vulnerable citizen in Johnson County.”

HAVlife Johnson County works to Prevent Lost Potential ™ in local youth by raising funding and awarding grants to organizations that provide art, music, and athletics opportunities for kids ages 10 to 15. 

“We typically impact youth by helping make it financially possible for them to attend sports camps, take music lessons, or attend dance classes – however, we felt a need given the current pandemic to step up and support basic necessities for members of our community. We’re thrilled to partner with the community foundation to make that possible,” HAVlife Johnson County Board Vice Chair Tyler Blum said. 

Since 2016, HAVlife Johnson County has awarded nearly $250,000 to 37 nonprofit organizations, directly impacting more than 14,000 local youth. 

To donate or learn more about the Community Foundation of Johnson County, visit cfjc.org. To donate or learn more about HAVlife, visit johnsonco.havlife.org.

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As of April 21, 2020, the Community Foundation has awarded a total of $95,500 to the following Johnson County organizations:

Iowa City Free Medical Clinic

Open Heartland

The Domestic Violence Intervention Program

Salvation Army of Iowa City Corps

Refugee and Immigrant Association

Community Crisis Services and Food Bank

Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity

Shelter House Inc.

The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa

Coralville Community Food Bank

Horizons, A Family Service Allianceasss

Free Lunch Program

Systems Unlimited

Iowa Legal Aid

Johnson County Community Emergency Response Team

IC Compassion

North Liberty Community Food Pantry

The Housing Fellowship