SCHOLARSHIP AWARD (Due in April, Awarded in May) – One Scholarship is given to a local high school senior who will be attending a college in the state of Iowa.  Volunteers are needed to evaluate the applications and essays.

Graduating seniors at an accredited high school within the Waterloo Community School District planning to attend an Iowa college or university are encouraged to apply for the $1,000 Waterloo Jaycees Scholarship. Qualified students must have demonstrated experience in service to others throughout the community as well as involvement in extracurricular activities. While a minimum GPA of 2.5 is required, the selection process focuses more on community service. The Waterloo Jaycees offer this scholarship to promote voluntarism and community service in youth, and to foster an attitude of service that will grow into adulthood.

Students must submit a personal essay, transcript and resume along with the application form. Deadline for application is in April each year. Applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria (listed in order of priority):
1. Overall quality of written essay
2. Record of community service
3. Academic achievement

Waterloo Open Golf Scholarship:
Each year, the Waterloo Open selects a graduating Waterloo High School senior or seniors to receive a scholarship. With the help of the local golf pros, the recipient(s) are nominated and selected based on their success on the golf course, in the classroom, and in the community. The recipient(s) should be an individual who has been an outstanding golfer and a role model for younger golfers, as well.

SANDBOX DRIVE (May)—The Jaycees build and deliver sandboxes to houses and then fill them with sand.  Volunteers are needed to help build the sandboxes and deliver the sand on a Saturday in May.  Local businesses supply the building materials, sand, and delivery trucks.

The Waterloo Jaycees have been delivering summer fun to children since 1964 through our Annual Sandbox Drive.

Taking place yearly in May, the Waterloo Jaycees hand build and sell sandboxes as a fundraiser to help implement projects throughout the year. The cost of each sandbox is $50 which includes the construction, sand and delivery. Each sandbox is 5’ x 5’ in size and new orders come with two wheelbarrows of sand. Community members can also purchase wheelbarrows of sand to fill previously purchased sandboxes or for other outdoor needs at a cost of $5 per wheelbarrow. Delivery is limited to the Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Evansdale city limits.

Each year Aspro Inc. generously donations the sand and delivery vehicles to the Jaycees and local building supply stores donate a portion of the lumber to help make this annual event a success.

FIREWORKS FESTIVAL (July)—This event takes place on the first Saturday of July in downtown Waterloo.  It is the second largest evens for our chapter and requires a separate committee to plan.  Several members are needed to serve on the planning committee. Community volunteers are also needed the night of the festival to check ID’s, sell beer tickets, handle the beer garden, and clean up after the event. 

WATERLOO OPEN (July)—This golf tournament is the largest professional golf tournament in the state of Iowa and spans over 4 days with more than 700 professional and amateur golfers participating.  The Open also requires a separate planning committee of Jaycees.  In addition volunteers are needed to work in concessions and merchandise areas and provide other miscellaneous assistance over the weekend.

CANOE CEDARLOO (Canoe Race) (AUGUST)—This event occurs on a Saturday morning.  It begins at Gateway Park in Cedar Falls and finishes at the Waterloo Boathouse.  This 7.5 mile race is the oldest and longest sanctioned running canoe race in Iowa.  A committee is needed to plan the event and arrange for sponsors, vendors, and to secure permission and insurance for the event.  Volunteers are needed to register canoeists, time races and help with medal presentations.

GIFT OF GIVING & KID’S HELPING KID’S PROJECT (Dec) – Held the first Saturday in December, this event is one of the most popular.  Jaycees and community volunteers help approximately 90 at-risk children shop for Christmas/Holiday gifts for their family members, wrap the gifts and then they share breakfast.  Volunteers are needed to help kids shop, wrap gifts, and prepare breakfast.

Kids Helping Kids is a program created by Blain’s Farm & Fleet which teaches children the importance and beauty of giving to others in need. Through this program, parents register their children to win gift cards at Blains. Then, on behalf of the winning children, Blain’s Farm & Fleet donates a matching dollar amount to charity. Since 2004, the Waterloo Jaycees have assisted Blains Farm & Fleet through choosing a worthy organization in our area and then using the matching dollars to purchase items from Blains that will benefit that organization. Some of the organizations that have received these gifts since the Jaycees have been involved are:

• 2004 Children of Military families over seas
• 2005 Cedar Valley Hospice, The Eucalyptus Tree program
• 2006 Department of Human Services, Foster Care Program
• 2007 Salvation Army Women’s Shelter
• 2008 Aspire
• 2009 Family and Children’s Council
• 2010 YMCA of Black Hawk County, Childcare Center
• Children of Military families over seas
• Cedar Valley Hospice, The Eucalyptus Tree program
• Department of Human Services, Foster Care Program

Thanks to Blains Farm and Fleet for letting us to help with this heartwarming cause.