T-R file photo Program participants Robert Grafton and Blake Judkins spend time together at the Wayward Social. Marshalltown’s Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters has received a $2,000 community grant from Alliant Energy.

Marshalltown’s Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters has received a community grant of $2,000 from Alliant Energy through its foundation. The funds will support social emotional learning mentoring component.

Mentors will be trained in Social Emotional Learning and provide weekly interaction and friendship that focuses on self-awareness. Mentors and mentees will work together to learn self-discipline, conversation skills and appropriate responses.

“When children have these skills, they do better academically and it impacts them through to adulthood,” said Lynne Carroll, Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director. “When they feel connected to their mentor, they are also likely to have healthy feelings of belonging and academic success.”

Alliant Energy has given out nearly 240 grants totaling almost $550,000 this spring.

“We know our community partners need our support now more than ever,” said Julie Bauer, Executive Director of the Alliant Energy Foundation. “In partnership with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, we are supporting Marshall County through this mentoring program to help to make life better for others.”

In addition, Alliant Energy has contributed more than $350,000 to organizations helping with emergency relief efforts in response to COVID-19. This includes donations in Iowa and Wisconsin to Feeding America Food Banks, the American Red Cross and United Way.

The company also contributed $2 million to the Hometown Care Energy Fund. The fund assists customers who need financial help to pay their bill. It is supported annually with funds from Alliant Energy and voluntary contributions from customers.

Applications for the next cycle of community grants from Alliant Energy are available Through Sept. 1.