Council Bluffs, Iowa – Iowa Western Community College announced recently it will use proceeds from the sale of land to support the renovation of an athletic facility and the establishment of a multi-million-dollar scholarship endowment.
In 2007, Omaha developer and philanthropist, John Wiebe, gifted approximately 105 acres of land to the Iowa Western Community College Foundation. The land, located just east of the Council Bluffs campus, was sold in December 2023 for approximately $9.8 million, paving the way for campus improvements and student scholarships.
The land sale resulted in the largest gift ever made to the college’s Foundation, said IWCC President Dr. Dan Kinney. “Mr. Wiebe and his family had a vision to support the growing Iowa Western campus, and that vision becomes reality with the land sale. Future generations of Iowa Western students will benefit greatly from this gift.”
The Iowa Western Foundation Board has voted to split the funds to best address the needs of the college and its students. Approximately half the proceeds will be used for upgrades to the current soccer facility on campus, including new turf, lights, and a scoreboard. The renovated facility will be named the John and Harriet Wiebe Football and Soccer Complex. The Wiebe Complex will host both soccer and football practices and will serve as the home field for the Reivers men’s and women’s soccer teams.
The other half of the proceeds will be used to establish the John and Harriet Wiebe Endowment to support Iowa Western students. The endowment will provide much-needed financial assistance to students beginning in the fall 2024 semester and continue in perpetuity- impacting countless students.
Although both John and Harriet Wiebe passed before the land was sold, the Foundation worked with family members to determine the best use of the proceeds. “The Iowa Western Foundation was grateful for the generous donation of land from John and Harriet Wiebe. We are excited to utilize the proceeds from its sale in a manner that supports the college and honors the donors”, Donna Barry, Iowa Western Foundation president.
For more information contact Molly Noon at mnoon@iwcc.edu or 712-325-3306.
