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Donors & Supporters

The Homestead wouldn’t exist without the generous support of our many individual and corporate donors. Their contributions help us to expand our services, engage in special projects and meet our mission of providing innovative solutions for people with autism.

A partial list of our donors/supporters can be found below. If you’re interested in donating to The Homestead, please visit our support page.

Aviva Charitable Foundation (formerly Amerus)

The Aviva Charitable Foundation is a long-time supporter of The Homestead’s programs and services. They have supported the Youth Home in Altoona, the Campus and Farm programs, and the Children’s Autism Project (a clinic setting for intensive Applied Behavior Analysis treatment). In 2012 Aviva awarded The Homestead $10,000 to help purchase and install technology to enhance services and improve efficiencies for individuals with autism served in our Campus Program.

Better Homes and Gardens

A corporate sponsor of our 5,000-square-foot greenhouse, providing initial support to construct this facility.

Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

The Community Foundation is a donor-driven public foundation whose purpose is to improve the quality of life in Greater Des Moines through philanthropy.  The Community Foundation works to improve quality of life for all by connecting donors with their passions, fostering links between community organizations and convening local leaders to promote the common good.

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines is a lead supporter of the Children’s Autism Project in Altoona, providing a grant in 2011 of $25,000 to support services for children, families and other professionals in our clinic setting for intensive Applied Behavior Analysis treatment.

Leopold Center

Provided financial support to help The Homestead develop an innovative apple orchard which explores the organic orchard management and serves as a model learning program for commercial and hobby growers.

Mid-Iowa Health Foundation

Since 1894, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation has pursued its mission to serve as a catalyst and partner for improving the health of vulnerable people in greater Des Moines.  In 2010 the Foundation partnered with The Homestead by providing important seed money of $30,000 to cover start-up expenses for our Altoona Children’s Autism Project (autism clinic), including remodel of the space for specific use with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. Most recently, Mid-Iowa Health Foundation has awarded $30,000 to help fund start-up costs for The Homestead’s second Children’s Autism Project to open in Clive in 2013.  This important funding will enable expansion of ABA services to support more children and families with autism in the Des Moines area.

Polk County

Through its Community Betterment Grants, the Polk County Board of Supervisors has been supportive of The Homestead over the years.  Examples of some of the funding needs supported through the Community Betterment Grants include:  teaching and therapy room supplies and equipment to work with children in our Children’s Autism Project, expenses related to our application for accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and additional iPads and software to aid in communication and social skills development for children with special needs served in the Children’s Autism Project.

Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino

Prairie Meadows has provided financial support to help The Homestead for many years through their Community Betterment Grants.  In 2013 Prairie Meadows awarded $15,000 towards helping expand our successful Children’s Autism Project by opening a second center in Clive. This important funding will enable expansion of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to support more children and families with autism in the Des Moines area. Past grants have enabled The Homestead to develop an apple orchard, purchase vehicles, fund our Youth Home, fund research for children, fund our Children’s Autism Project in Altoona and provide an Autism Video Services Enhancement Project for our campus residential program.

Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is a not-for-profit organization managed by the Racing Association of Central Iowa. As an Iowa corporation, it provides millions of dollars annually toward community betterment, funding organizations such as United Way, Variety Club, Easter Seals Camp Sunnyside, local government, public and parochial schools. Prairie Meadows has partnered with more than 500 different charitable or nonprofit groups for the purpose of community betterment since 1996.

The Principal Financial Group Foundation

Giving back to the community is a part of The Principal® and the Principal Financial Group Foundation’s corporate culture and a direct extension of their core value of integrity. The Principal® and the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc., have embraced corporate responsibility by making philanthropic investments in the communities where their employees work and live.

Since 2000 nearly $90 million in financial support has been awarded to organizations focused in the following areas: health and human services, education, arts and culture, civic, community, and the environment.

The Homestead appreciates the financial support received through the Principal Financial Group Foundation, which most recently includes funding for our Autism Clinic (Children’s Autism Project) and assistance with expenses related to the accreditation process through CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).

Variety – The Children’s Charity of Iowa

Variety, The Children’s Charity of Iowa is a nonprofit organization committed to serving special needs children. Variety was instrumental in providing support for the Autism Clinic and in 2011 awarded a grant to purchase a new minivan to help transport children with autism who reside at The Homestead’s Youth Home.

Variety supports agencies that provide care, treatment, activities and shelter to critically ill, underprivileged, handicapped, abused, at-risk, and other deserving children.

15th Anniversary Event Sponsors

Thank you to our generous supporters who sponsored our 15th Anniversary Celebration.  The event was a success because of their support and commitment.

  • Color FX
  • Casey’s General Store
  • Brooks Lodden, P.C.
  • LaMair-Mulock-Condon Co.

O’Donnell Family

The O’Donnell and Friends Golf Outing is held each summer. This group consists mostly of the O’Donnell family and their close friends.  More than 100 individuals golf and volunteer to make a special summer event.  Each year they select a local non-profit organization to support with the proceeds of their annual golf event. In the summer of 2008 they chose The Homestead as one of the recipients.  This is not your typical family golf outing. These great friends raised $32,832 that The Homestead used to purchase a new tractor and other farming equipment.