By Steve Dinnen
If you live in or near Des Moines, or have ties to the community, there’s a pretty good chance your phone will ring, or a letter will arrive, asking for financial support for a number of charitable organizations that strive to make this town a better place to live.
Drake University is at the top of the current capital campaign chart, with its $225 million “The Ones: Drake’s Campaign for the Brave & Bold” that was rolled out last fall. That came right around the time that the Des Moines Art Center launched an effort to raise $11 million. And they were joined by Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO), which has a $15 million campaign underway. Urban Dreams is in the midst of a $1 million capital campaign. And the Des Moines Area Religious Council is looking for $5.6 million.
The Art Center (75 years) and DMMO (50 years) tied their campaigns to anniversaries. Urban Dreams and DMARC are raising money for new buildings. DMARC, which operates food pantries in the area, said it has maxed out on its current facilities and wants a former grocery store on Army Post Road to give it more room for food preparation.
Others certainly will follow. They’re all worthy causes.
