A runner on a wooden bridge in a green landscape, a person holding a small white and black cat in a veterinary setting, and a bright green vintage car at an outdoor event with tents.

Impactful Iowans

Across Iowa, people are finding ways to make a difference in their communities. Whether it’s running across Iowa or hosting a classic car show for a cause, Iowa Life highlights unique efforts and the people behind them. Read on to learn more about how Iowans are making an impact.

Vintage Torque Fest

What began as a classic car show with a couple of vans has grown into Dubuque’s Vintage Torque Fest, a festival that now includes dirt track racing, minibike racing and an art show. Founder John Wells’ daughter, Hannah, was born with congenital heart defects, inspiring the idea for a fundraising event. The first few shows were to help pay for Hannah’s surgery, but after John and his wife, Kim, saw other families struggling with similar challenges, they wanted to do more. That is when the Helping Hannah’s Heart Foundation was created. Since then, the foundation has raised over $200,000 to help families pay their children’s hospital bills.

Robbie Erickson

In the small town of Maxwell, Iowa, volunteer track and cross country coach Robbie Erickson decided to run across Iowa to raise money for the school’s track team. Hosting a track meet at Collins-Maxwell would have a meaningful impact on the community, but the school lacked a timing system, making it impossible to host one. Erickson set a goal to not only run across Iowa, but also to break the fastest known time record. In support, the Collins-Maxwell Athletic Boosters launched an online fundraiser for the timing system, and the community rallied behind the cause. Erickson not only broke the record but also raised $35,000 for the school.

Midwest Pets for Life

After seeing older people repeatedly give up their pets at the local humane Society because they could no longer feed both themselves and their animals; Sandi Bartels and several others decided to take action. Midwest Pets for Life was founded on the belief that no one should have to give up a beloved pet because of temporary hardships. The organization began by providing pet food and has since added low-cost spay/neuter services, vaccinations and microchips. Funded entirely through donations, Midwest Pets for Life relies on support from the Clinton community to continue its work.

Oakridge Driver’s Education

For newcomers to the United States, daily life can feel unfamiliar. Oakridge Neighborhood, in Des Moines, is Iowa’s largest affordable housing organization, offering multigenerational wraparound services that create pathways for individuals to achieve their version of the American Dream. One of those services is driver education, offered in multiple languages. Reliable transportation is essential to finding a job and at Oakridge Neighborhood, learning to drive can be a step toward independence. Offering driver education, something many take for granted, is strengthening Iowa’s workforce and supporting families as they build new lives.

Ron Howing

Pioneer for wetland restoration in Iowa, Ron Howing has helped restore hundreds of acres of wetlands across the state. During his 50-year career with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as the wildlife management biologist at the Ingham-High Wildlife Unit, Howing always had a passion for nature and wildlife. Iowa once contained hundreds of thousands of acres of wetlands, many of which were drained over the years for agriculture. Determined to reverse that trend, Howing would purchase public land with the state funds to sell and when farmers didn’t think the land was suitable, the state would buy it to restore wetlands.

Iowa Life offers a glimpse into the people and events that have shaped Iowa into what it is today. Continue to learn more about the people, cultures and stories of Iowa with Iowa Life.