IOWA – Disability Rights Iowa (DRI) today announced it has received a second $25,000 Capacity Building Grant from the Principal® Foundation, a global nonprofit organization committed to helping people and communities build financially secure futures, renewing crucial support for the agency’s statewide advocacy efforts. The Capacity Building Grant provides DRI with additional resources to continue implementing its Strategic Plan and to expand the agency’s ability to provide additional impactful disability rights advocacy and resources to all Iowans with disabilities over the next year. Currently, DRI offers services including self-advocacy resources, individual legal and systems advocacy, referrals, technical assistance, outreach, training, and monitoring of facilities.
Last year, this grant was used to provide innovative advocacy skills training to staff for the purpose of providing enhanced advocacy and assistance to Iowans with disabilities. This year, DRI plans to use the grant in a similar way, continuing to grow its advocacy and resources for all Iowans with disabilities. Catherine Johnson, Executive Director of DRI shares that “receiving this grant for a second year reaffirms the importance and impact of our advocacy across the great State of Iowa. Over the past year we have seen first-hand how much the needs of our community have increased. This funding provides us with additional resources so that we are better able to respond to the community’s growing needs in a timely manner.”
With recent legislative changes and budget cuts to disability services, DRI has seen the everyday impact on Iowans with disabilities, with requests for services steadily increasing each month. Knowing the need is only going to continue increasing, DRI maintains the goal of creating maximum change for the maximum number of Iowans with disabilities. DRI plans to do this in part by identifying and addressing statewide issues impacting the largest numbers of Iowans with disabilities, like their ongoing work with the Children’s Behavioral Health Settlement and on the Boys State Training School lawsuit.
“Disability Rights Iowa provides critical legal assistance to Iowa’s disability community,” said Jo Christine Miles, director, Principal® Foundation, and Community Relations, Principal Financial Group®. “This renewed grant reflects our continued commitment to supporting organizations that expand access and strengthen advocacy. We are proud that this funding will help DRI support Iowans with disabilities in breaking down everyday barriers and accessing the resources they deserve.”
For more information about Principal® Foundation, visit https://www.principalfoundation.org/
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About Principal® Foundation
Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal Foundation”) is a duly recognized Section 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so. Established in 1987, Principal Foundation works with organizations that are helping to shape and support the journey to financial security by ensuring access to essential needs, fostering social and cultural connections, and promoting financial inclusion. Principal Foundation supports a diverse community of 85 charitable organizations across the globe. For more information about Principal® Foundation, visit https://www.principalfoundation.org/ – 5509489-052026
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