Veridian 'Sparks the Spirit' for Giving Tuesday

Veridian is awarding $38,000 to 20 nonprofit organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska to Spark the Spirit of giving  in celebration of Giving Tuesday. Our employees nominated their favorite local nonprofit organizations for a chance to win up to $5,000 in the annual giving campaign. Public voting from November 1-11 determined the amount of funding awarded to each organization. 

“The holidays are often a time of increased need, and many in our communities are facing an additional, unique set of challenges this year," said Renee Christoffer, Veridian's President and CEO. "Spark the Spirit is one way to give and a reminder for all of us of the importance of giving locally."

The top-voted organizations in each region, including Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, the Des Moines metro and Omaha/Council Bluffs, received $5,000 each. Organizations that received the second and third-most votes in each region were awarded $2,500 and $1,000, respectively. The two organizations receiving the least votes in each region still received $500 each.

Checks were presented to 20 organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska in celebration of Giving Tuesday, November 29. Recipient organizations in each region are listed below.

Waterloo/Cedar Falls
Better Together Animal Rescue - $5,000
NAMI Black Hawk County - $2,500
Oelwein Community Kitchen - $1,000
Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity - $500
Exceptional Persons, Inc. - $500



Cedar Rapids/Iowa City
Deafinitely Dogs! - $5,000
Freedom Foundation - $2,500
Four Oaks - $1,000
Willis Dady Homeless Services - $500
Trees Forever - $500



Council Bluffs/Omaha
Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue - $5,000
The Blue Bucket Project - $2,500
Omaha Girls Rock - $1,000
MICAH House - $500
MilkWorks - $500



Des Moines Metro
Des Moines Refugee Support - $5,000
Animal Rescue League of Iowa - $2,500
Children's Cancer Connection - $1,000
Ankeny Service Center - $500
Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity - $500