Thank you for your interest in our Trunk-or-Treat event. Please review the available slots (see link below) and click on the Sign Up button to provide winter essentials for students who live at Marion Village, Squaw Creek Village, and students referred to us by Marion Independent. Please make sure to include the Student # on the item. Items can be dropped on Wednesday October 16th between 9 am - 6pm or Thursday between 10am-12pm. Our office is located at 1298 7th Ave in the lower level of the Carnegie building - you may enter on the East side. Thank you!

We are also accepting donations of NEW winter gear such as Hats, Gloves, Underwear, Socks, and Blankets.

                            

   Dr. Kristie Fisher began her term as President - Kirkwood Community College in October of 2023, making a return home for her. She is just the sixth president in the nearly 60-year history of the institution. She is a graduate of Kirkwood and was a first-generation student. Dr. Fisher previously worked at the college in various positions over the course of her career, including as Vice President of Student Services for nearly a decade. Before assuming the role of president at Kirkwood, she served as president of the Iowa Valley Community College District. Prior to Iowa Valley, Fisher worked in a leadership role for ACT Inc. She is currently a member of the State of Iowa Workforce Development Board, the Iowa Innovation Council, and the Eastern Iowa Airport Commission.    

During a 10-week closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen Besler (’00 DDS) realized there was something else calling to her outside of her Cedar Rapids dental practice. A desire to engage in humanitarian causes.

A combination of principles of her faith and experiences as a provider allowed her to take a leap and leave her practice behind and enter the world of being an active humanitarian.

Within three weeks of her last day in private practice, she came upon an opportunity to assist an international non-profit to help celebrate their 25th anniversary. It was sparked by listening to a podcast series by actor Rainn Wilson, who famously starred in “The Office” on NBC.

“I had this feeling that I would find the answer to my own desired path while listening to others share their stories and I was correct,” says Besler, “I was so compelled by listening to Rainn Wilson, who is a long-time board member for the Foundation, and the founder and CEO of the Mona Foundation, Dr. Mahnaz Javid, that I reached out to her immediately.”

Besler said she felt an instant connection while talking to Javid and it made partnering with the Mona Foundation an obvious choice. And the causes they support fall right in line with how Besler wants to make an impact.

The Mona Foundation works to support and provide access to education for children worldwide. The Foundation strives to eliminate barriers to education, empower women and girls, and foster ethics and service in individuals who can then uplift themselves, their families, and communities.

“The focus on empowering children, mainly vulnerable girls, in developing countries through education instantly pulled at my heart strings,” says Besler, “As I started down this path with the Mona Foundation, I realized many of the skills I gained from dental school and private practice are propelling me forward on this new path.”

Javid recently returned from a trip to India where she and an award-winning documentary producer filmed a documentary following a young girl who benefited from receiving her education through a partner organization of the Mona Foundation.

“I am excited to be given the opportunity to share our new documentary and the cause of the Mona Foundation at multiple venues throughout the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor area soon,” says Besler, “For anyone interested in this great cause, I encourage you to visit MonaFoundation.org.”

The documentary titled, “Light and Air” celebrates 25 years of the Mona Foundation and debuts Sept. 29.