Leveraging Local Philanthropists – Red Oak, Iowa

Growing up in a small town, it is only fitting that one of the first articles of this blog should be about the town I call home. Though I spent my early years in the Iowa towns of Le Mars and Postville, a majority of my childhood was based in the old railroad community of Red Oak, Iowa. Red Oak was named after the Red Oak Creek, which meanders through the community on its way to the East Nishnabotna River that flows along the western edge of town. Originally named “Red Oak Junction” when the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad punched a line through towards Lincoln, Nebraska, the name of the community was eventually reverted to just “Red Oak” in 1901.

Much like many towns throughout the Midwest, the heart of the community lies within its square. Fountain square park is the main gathering place during community events like the annual Junction Days, a celebration of Red Oak’s rich railroad history. Community leaders have worked hard over the years to maintain and improve the park and they have also relatively recently obtained block grant funds to rehab the facades of the aging downtown buildings that surround the square.

Housing choice in Red Oak is extensive. Many Victorian-era houses line the hilltop above the square. Several of these have been restored to their previous grandeur. There are also a wide variety of other homes from the early decades of the community, from Queen Ann’s to Bungalows. Subdivisions of more modern ranch and two-story homes also populate the hillsides around town. Apartments, upper-story downtown units, and even condos can be found at varying price points.

As the county seat of Montgomery County, Red Oak has a stately county courthouse as one of its tallest buildings. Built in 1890, it is one of many beautiful Iowa courthouses that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town also hosts the annual county fair in July of each year. Community leaders also like to point out the presence of the Montgomery County YMCA, the Southwestern Iowa Community College, and the Wilson Performing Arts Center.

There’s plenty more that residents of the Red Oak are sure to brag about if you asked them. But things are not entirely as rosy as they sound. The population has slowly dwindled since 1980, from over 6800 to the latest count of 5,742 in the 2010 census. Eveready battery company shut the doors to their manufacturing plant and left town in 1995. This major employer left behind 280 unemployed workers and a large, dilapidated factory that was eventually torn down. Other major employers have come and left over the years as well.

But the Red Oak Chamber and the Red Oak Industrial Foundation have persevered and strive on. Much like many other small communities that have dealt with such a loss. As one employer left, they worked diligently to pull in yet another. They’ve also worked to diversify the employment base, drawing in a number of smaller employers to lessen the blow if one were to shut its doors.

The Impact of Philanthropy

One of the bright spots in the community has been local philanthropy. A major contributor

Wilson Performing Arts Center

to this effort was Charles Wilson, followed by his Wilson Trust, which has donated several millions to improvements around Red Oak. Charles Wilson’s assistance to the community is visible in a number of avenues. It can be seen in streetscape improvements to Broadway Street, the main drag through town. The funding also aided a complete renovation of the Red Coach, the main hotel serving the community. His contributions also helped to land a YMCA in the community and helped to construct the Wilson Performing Arts Center.

Montgomery County Family YMCA

There are actually quite a few in the small town of Red Oak that has contributed a significant amount to improving the community. However, not all philanthropic activities need to be monetary. Recently local company Red Oak Fabrication took a couple of tattered and wore merry-go-rounds in the city park system and restored them to their former glory through a series of sandblasting and painting.

If your community is lucky enough to have a ground swelling of support, you’ll see this level of generous donation ebb and flow like a tide. But long-committed work by sincere individuals committed to improving the community will result in steady growth over the years as the citizens witness the generous actions of others and look to see where they can help. For some communities, this generosity is made a little easier by having local trusts assisting efforts. For Red Oak, it is the Wilson Trust that generously aids in a number of activities throughout town and helps to kick-start funding efforts from others throughout the community.

The Go-Getter

Yet, many other communities, unfortunately, don’t have this advantage. The successful ones still strive on though, often creating community foundations that make the charitable giving process easier. They may also have successfully drawn the interest of a “go-getter” who is so crucial to philanthropic activities throughout a community. A person who is an extreme extrovert that knows everyone in town and everyone knows them. One that is always thinking of a way to get things done. To some, their energy is contagious, to others it is annoying. But this “go-getter”, this energetic individual that is focused entirely on the improvement of the community is necessary. They are the ones who know what persons will donate to the baseball field improvements. They’ll know who will sponsor the town’s annual celebration. These “go-getters” may also know about a company that has an interest in renovating the worn-out merry-go-rounds.

It doesn’t have to be a single person either, recruit as many of these fiery souls as you can. You can never have too many. Often you lose a leader along the way as people burn out from intensity and the workload, aspects of the job that can be overwhelming at times. Just make sure they work together well. That way they aren’t competing for their own pet projects or going to the well too often with one donor. As with many things, communication is key, teamwork is better.

Also, celebrate these movers and shakers. Let them know that the community appreciates their efforts. This helps to ensure that energy, that drives to seek greatness for the community, stays within their hearts and propels them to take the town to greater heights. Many times these people need that additional kindling for the fire in their souls.

This article may make kick-starting philanthropy in your community look easy. It’s not. Actually, it is even harder to keep it going. But garnering that community interest makes all other efforts in your community easier.