Keeping NIACC First Campaign Nears 
$5 Million Goal

Keeping NIACC First, the first major gifts campaign in the College’s 80-year history, is well on its way to reaching the $5 million mark. Thanks to several more lead gifts, contributions exceeded $3.7 million, or 75% of the campaign goal, as of the end of June.

• Tom and Linda Schaefer Establish Building Trades Scholarship Fund

• Dr. John and Mary Jane Dixon Contribute $100,000 to Campaign

• Goal is to Create 100 New $1,000 Scholarships

North Iowa Area Community College recently announced a $100,000 gift to the Keeping NIACC First Campaign from Dr. John B. and Mary Jane Dixon of Mason City. Dr. Dixon retired in 1997 after practicing ophthalmology for 50 years -- 40 of them in Mason City. His wife, Jane, was a social worker for several nursing homes in Mason City.

NIACC President David Buettner (left) greets Dr. John Dixon, who with his wife, Mary Jane, contributed $100,000 to the "Keeping NIACC First" Campaign.

"I hope our contribution will encourage others to make similar gifts because NIACC is such an asset to North Iowa," said Dr. Dixon.

One-fourth of the Dixon’s contribution is creating an endowed scholarship fund in their name which will provide student scholarships forever. This fund will provide an annual $1,250 scholarship for a full-time NIACC student.

The remaining $75,000 is an unrestricted gift, which gives the College the option to use it when and where the need is greatest. Daryle Holbrook, NIACC’s Institutional Advancement Director and Campaign Manager, said it has not yet been determined how this portion of their gift will be used. "If it’s not utilized immediately, it will produce $3,750 in annual revenue for special projects or additional Dixon scholarships," he said.

Dr. Dixon said an editorial in the Globe-Gazette by the Keeping NIACC First Campaign co-chairs prompted him to make the gift. "I’ve known (NIACC President Dave Buettner) from Kiwanis, and we share an interest in cars," he explained. "When I came in to see him about the gift after reading the morning paper, I think I made his day!"

To make this gift, the Dixons transferred long-term appreciated stock to the NIACC Foundation. Doing so offered them two benefits: avoidance of capital gains tax and an income tax deduction. The limit on deductibility in any tax year is 30 percent of the donor’s adjusted gross income; any excess is deductible over the next five years.

Dr. Dixon credits his wife for making their gift possible. "Jane spent time over the years researching stocks and investing our earnings wisely," he said. "I guess we did alright."

In 1997, the Dixons gave $100,000 to the Department of Ophthalmology at Kansas University, where John completed his education. They also contributed $10,000 to Mason City High School for student scholarships.

One of the primary goals of the "Keeping NIACC First" Campaign is to establish 100 new $1,000 scholarships. The Dixon and Schaefer Scholarships bring the current total to 69.

In addition, Kary Paulson of Northwood, president and CEO of NSB Bank, has created a scholarship for business or advanced technology students; John and Mary Pappajohn have created a scholarship for students interested in entrepreneurial activities; and Jack and Gretchen McMenimen have created a memorial scholarship fund for student athletes.

Several other new awards are the result of scholarship funds which have been expanded during the campaign. These include the Helen Perkins Thompson Scholarships, the Rollo C. Keithahn Memorial Scholarships, the Angus MacNider Memorial Scholarships, the Joel Picker Social Science Scholarship, the Christopherson Medical Scholarships, and the Charles W. and Mary Jane Maxon Memorial Scholarships.

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