Fundraising efforts begin for Leopold Center

By Mary Adams

Center fundraising coordinator

An October 21 dinner in Des Moines will demonstrate the strong support and good will shown by the Iowa environmental and sustainable agriculture community for the Leopold Center. The dinner also will be the opening event of a major fundraising campaign by the ISU Foundation on behalf of the Center.

Spearheaded by private citizens, Iowa environmental groups, faith-based organizations, sustainable agriculture groups, and the ISU Foundation, the dinner reflects the grassroots-based support that the Center is relying on to help sustain its mission for Iowans. The ISU fundraising drive aims to help alleviate the $1 million shortfall facing the Center in FY2003 and establish a long-term endowment fund that will support the Center through difficult financial times.

The dinner will be jointly sponsored by National Catholic Rural Life Conference; Practical Farmers of Iowa; Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group; Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation; Soil and Water Conservation Society, Iowa; Conservation Districts of Iowa; Women, Food and Agriculture; Drake University Agricultural Law Center; Humane Society of the United States; Iowa Environmental Council; Niman Ranch Pork Company; and more.

The event is billed as a "Celebration of the LeopoldCenter for Sustainable Agriculture for its vision and leadership and support for a better Iowa." The dinner will be at the Hotel Fort Des Moines, with cocktails served at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and a short program at 7:00 p.m. Center director Fred Kirschenmann will be the featured speaker, and will explain the Center's current situation and the various steps that are being taken to secure the Center's financial future.

Tickets to the dinner may be ordered by calling Darlene at (515) 270-2634 or sending a $35 check payable to NCRLC, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa50310. The $35 ticket covers the cost of the celebration dinner; contributions above that amount are welcome and will be forwarded to the LeopoldCenter.

After the dinner, the Center and the ISU Foundation will send a direct mail solicitation letter encouraging the recipients to become a "Friend of the LeopoldCenter" by making a contribution of $1,000. (Of course, any size of contribution will be accepted and appreciated by the Center.) Longer-term fundraising efforts will include partnerships and collaboration with other organizations, non-profit groups, and charitable foundations on projects of mutual interest.