“A Rising Tide Lifts ALL Boats”

If you’ve followed Home Sweet Des Moines for a hot minute, you may have noticed that we LOVE
giving back to organizations in our community. After all, “a rising tide lifts ALL boats”.

We have been blessed for the past eight years to serve hundreds of families in their journeys to their
next step in homeownership, whether that’s purchasing a new home or selling a previous home.
One way that we show our gratitude is to share our time and money with various nonprofit
organizations in the Des Moines community.

If you are looking for ways to give back, we encourage
you to check out your favorite causes and assist… every little bit helps.

Here are some of our favorites (and those suggested to us by our friends and clients), in no
particular order:

 Helping underserved youth thrive:

o Pi 515 (Pursuit of Innovation) – This organization’s mission is to challenge, inspire
and teach technology skills to students with potential – empowering refugee and
underserved youth to achieve success, garner influence and gain stability in their
families and communities.

o KIAP Foundation – The KIAP Foundation dedicated to funding martial arts training
for underserved youth, with the belief that the principles gained during consistent
martial arts training enable those recipients to grow their lives for the long-term. You
may not know this, but I have trained in martial arts for almost 30 years, so I’m well
aware of the positive impacts of this training. (Full disclosure: I act as secretary on
the KIAP Foundation board).

 Housing Initiatives:

o Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity – Habitat for Humanity brings people
together to build homes, communities, and hope. Through volunteer labor and
donations of money and materials, GDM Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple,
decent houses alongside our homebuyer families. By the way, we donate $50 from
every sale to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity and volunteer annually, so
when you use our services to buy or sell a home, you’re helping this wonderful
organization.

o Anawim Housing – This organization is the largest provider of Permanent Supportive
Housing in Iowa, managing over 536 housing units and providing stable housing to
380 individuals who have experienced homelessness and live with a mental illness,
substance use disorder, physical disability, or more.

o HOME, Inc – This is the oldest private nonprofit housing organization in Des Moines.
Their mission is to meet individuals and families where they are in their housing
journey.

o Polk County Housing Trust Fund – This organization provides strategic leadership,
expertise, and resources to strengthen communities in Polk County through
affordable housing.

 Mental Health Initiatives

o NAMI Iowa – NAMI Iowa serves as a catalyst around advocacy, education, support,
and public awareness so that all Iowans affected by mental illness can lead better
lives.

o Mindspring Mental Health Alliance – This organization supports individuals, families,
and communities with mental health education and advocacy.

o Puppy Jake Foundation – This organization is dedicated to helping military veterans
through the assistance of well bred, socialized, and professionally trained service
dogs.

 Human Needs:

o DMARC: DMARC’s mission is to work together to meet basic human needs for the
greater Des Moines community through their Food Pantry Network and Interfaith
Engagement.

o Al-Anon Des Moines – This organization is a fellowship of relatives and friends of
alcoholics who believe their lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking or
alcoholism.

 Wildlife and Animal Initiatives:

o Furry Friends – This nonprofit organization seeks to assist all area animals in need
through a variety of programs including adoptions, spay and neuter, community
outreach, and humane education. Additionally, the organization has partnered with
WestPet Animal Control to provide housing, reunification, and adoption programs for
stray animals in the Des Moines metro area

o Iowa Bird Rehabilitation – This is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization whose
goal is to recover, rehabilitate, and release injured wild birds in Iowa.

Thanks for joining us on this year’s journey. Jessica, Narda, and I wish you all a wonderful holiday
season filled with life, love, laughter, and gratitude.