Business : Theisen’s Home • Farm • Auto announces more than $367,000 in grants

The Dubuque-based retailer's More for Your Community grant program, a partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, supports organizations addressing the basic needs of children and families.

Since 2015, Vision To Learn has been making a difference in the lives of children across Northeast Iowa. By bringing a mobile clinic to local schools, Vision To provides free vision screenings and eye exams to thousands of students.

"More than 3 million children across the country go to school every day without the glasses they need. When a child comes to school, we make sure they're provided with food, along with the books and school supplies they need. Why not glasses?" says Austin Beutner, founder of Vision To Learn. "Every child in every school, everywhere in the country, should have the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life."

Vision To Learn is one of 166 organizations across Eastern Iowa and parts of Wisconsin receiving a total of $367,117 in grants through Theisen's Home * Farm * Auto's More for Your Community program. This month, the Dubuque-based retailer announced that nonprofits in all of its 23 store communities were selected to receive funding that helps them address issues like food insecurity, housing and access to health resources.

Successful grant applicants demonstrated that their projects would serve basic needs, be matched strongly with local funds, and provide opportunities for others to give back to the community.

"This grant program is our way of supporting residents of the communities we serve in their time of need," says Chris Theisen, the retailer's president and CEO. "We are so proud to support organizations providing food, shelter, health care, safety and education to children and families in and near our store communities."

Celebrating its fourteenth year, the Theisen's More for Your Community grant program has given away nearly $3.8 million to support local nonprofits and the people they serve. Based on estimates in nonprofit grant applications, this year's grants are expected to impact more than 600,000 people.

Theisen's Home * Farm * Auto is a four-generation, family-owned business. Three generations of the Theisen family support this grant program, taking active roles in evaluating each year's many applications. They also make annual site visits to nonprofit grantees to learn about community needs and to meet the nonprofit leaders serving children and families.

The Theisen's More for Your Community corporate giving program is a partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. The Community Foundation administers the grant program, accepting

applications and making funding recommendations as part of its mission to strengthen communities and inspire giving. This year, 336 applications were received totaling more than $1.4 million. To view a list of grantees, visit dbqfoundation.org/theisens.

"Nonprofits and local businesses like Theisen's play critical roles in building strong communities," says Peter Supple, director of nonprofit relations for the Community Foundation. "We are grateful to Theisen's for facilitating the More for Your Community grant program and to the organizations receiving funding for the important work they do each day."

Visit theisens.com/about-theisens/we-give-back to learn more about the Theisen's More for Your Community grant program.

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To learn more about the Theisen's More for Your Community grant program and its partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, visit dbqfoundation.org/theisens.

About Theisen's Home * Farm * Auto

Theisen's Home * Farm * Auto serves its customers by offering top quality brands at an excellent value, focusing keenly on exceptional customer service. Theisen's currently operates stores in 24 locations across Iowa, including: Ames, Anamosa, Cedar Rapids N.E., Cedar Rapids S.W., Charles City, Coralville, Davenport, DeWitt, Dubuque, Dyersville, Grinnell, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Maquoketa, Marshalltown, Monticello, New Hampton, Newton, Pella, Tipton and Vinton. There are three stores in Wisconsin, located in Jefferson, Sparta and Black River Falls.

Opened in 1927 by Leo and Kathryn Theisen, the four-generation company is supported by the corporate headquarters and distribution center located in Dubuque, Iowa

In Vinton, those receiving grants were:

Dementia Friendly

Vinton House of Hope

Hospitality House of the Cedar Valley

Senior Snacks

Wesley United Methodist Church

Families Helping Families

Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Inc.

Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. (HACAP)

Vision to Learn