The good The Des Moines Area Association of Realtors Foundation recently announced that, since 2000, it has given more than $300,000 to local Des Moines charities to meet community needs. The Foundation donated $41,000 in 2012 to Central Iowa Shelter, Anawim House, Children and Families of Iowa, House of Mercy,

The good Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) recently received several awards at the 94th annual national convention in Nashville, Tenn., for outstanding state Farm Bureau activities. IFBF was honored with five awards of excellence in all program areas including education and outreach, leadership development, member services, policy development and implementation

The good Bravo Greater Des Moines recently awarded a total of $274,083 to 18 central Iowa arts and cultural organizations as part of its FY2013 Capital Campaign and Projects (CCP) Grant allocation process. The award amount and number of applicants are record-breaking for the regional arts council. Through 28E agreements

The good Inspired by her friend who lives with a disability, a 9-year-old Ankeny girl named Elizabeth Overberg recently went campaigning door to door and raised $721 for the proposed Ankeny Miracle League Field project. The Ankeny Miracle League Field is an all-inclusive recreational facility designed for children with special

The good The Iowa Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale presented a $14,079 check to Wildwood Hills Ranch last week. The money was raised at its ninth annual Charity Thanksgiving Dinner, which was operated by an all-volunteer staff serving mostly donated food. Wildwood Hills Ranch is a 400-acre, non-profit facility in

The good The National Family Partnership (NFP) recently announced the winners of the 2012 National Red Ribbon Photo Contest: “The Best Me Is Drug Free.” The nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention campaign reaches more than 80 million people every year. Students from throughout the U.S. participated by decorating their

The good Hope Ministries will host its annual Christmas Day of Hope on Tuesday, Dec. 25, a tradition the organization has held since 1915. The day will include a free lunch for community members served at Hope Café, 1310 6th Ave., plus more than 2,000 meals to be delivered to

The good The Des Moines Social Club announced a donation of $350,000 from Kum and Go in support of the capital campaign to secure the downtown firehouse as a permanent home for the non-profit arts institution. “Unlike any other initiative today, this project boldly changes the landscape of the arts

The good Iowa State University has been on a mission to help the City of Ames forward its recycling initiative. Volunteers have been searching for receptacles related to a new laboratory glass recycling effort that both meet their needs and complements current collection efforts and containers used for the City’s

The good Central Iowans donated 216,605 pounds of food (108.3 tons) to benefit the Food Bank of Iowa during the 22nd annual Combat Hunger drive last week. The donations were made from thousands of central Iowans and nearly 200 local businesses and schools. The Food Bank of Iowa will distribute