It is a good bet she will be giving the second attempt more time — she wants to be with her grandchildren.

Bolar tried retirement initially more than six years ago, when she stepped down after many years of service to Iowa Valley Community College District.

It did not last.

“I came out of a short retirement — six months — to jump back in,” she said.

Bolar

She jumped back in as director of the Community Foundation of Marshall County.

But fast forward almost six years and Bolar is trying retirement again after resigning from CFMC.

She now has more time to be around her grandchildren and talk about CFMC’s past, present and future. And it is the latter which is especially promising, she said, as the organization works to be self-sustaining.

The not-for-profit organization has made a name for itself county-wide since 2005, awarding nearly $1 million in grants to a wide variety of community betterment projects  — from Boy Scout troops to the town of Clemons to the Salvation Army.

The county-wide impact it wields was exemplified in late May, when its volunteer directors handed out checks at a award ceremony totaling $102,000 for 32 projects.

“We are excited about the projects we were able to fund and the good they will do for the residents of Marshall County, now and into the future,” said Bolar.

Over its 11-year history, awards have been either program-based, such as the annual Linn Creek Arts Festival, or for capital projects. For example, Marshall County 4-H received $2,350 to renovate horse and sheep stalls at the Marshall County Fairgrounds.

And the Melbourne First Responders and the Marshall County Community Emergency Response Team received $4,000 for protective equipment.

A large part of CFMC funding comes from privately run state casinos.

Since 2004, Iowa law has required casinos to contribute a portion of their revenues to 85 county foundations, like CFMC, which in turn award proceeds to grantees within their respective borders.

Bolar was CFMC first paid director, before turning the reins over to Rev. Dylan Does of Marshalltown.

Carrie Barr of Marshalltown preceded Bolar as a unpaid volunteer director, said Joel Greer of Marshalltown, a volunteer board member.

A grant application was approved, which provided for a part-time paid director and Bolar jumped back in the world of work.

In addition to managing the casino allotment, Bolar aggressively pushed to create and develop a CFMC endowment.

The endowment was financed partially from casino funds, but importantly, donations form from individuals, organizations, and businesses.

Active with CFMC since 2011, Greer complimented Bolar for working to make CFMC self-sustaining.

“Under Bolar’s leadership the community foundation has grown significantly faster than our highest expectations,” he said. “So many families and non-profit groups, like the Marshalltown Men’s Chorus, Iowa River Hospice and MEGA-10, have placed their funds with CFMC.  We a

re growing at a rate that is likely to allow us to be our stand-alone foundation. Bettie was absolutely instrumental in helping switch our affiliate connection from the Northeast Iowa Foundation to the Greater Des Moines Foundation, which improved our yield and fund-raising relationships. Though I personally will truly miss Bettie and her calm, adept guidance, I am excited Does will bring his leadership skills and youth to get us to the next level.”