Community work spotlighted at Riedel Reception

HANNIBAL, Mo. – Addie Ball has spent her senior year of Hannibal High School learning about entrepreneurship thanks to the Riedel Foundation and supporting businesses.

Ball spoke about her experience with the CEO Program, which began this school year, at the Riedel Reception on Tuesday evening at F&M Bank in Hannibal. The CEO program was first announced at last year’s Riedel Reception.

“I’m very glad that we were able to establish that my senior year before I went to college, it has really had a huge impact–more than I could have imagined it would have–socially speaking,” she said. 

Ball, and other students in the CEO Program, is one of many who have been impacted by funds awarded from the Riedel Foundation in the last year. The foundation reported a total of $337,381 grant awards to 28 different organizations in 2023.

Riedel Foundation Administrator Sarah Deien said one of their favorite ways to give is through matching grants. She reported that the Riedel trustees awarded seven matching grants in 2023 worth about $74,000.

“They don’t work for every situation, but when they do, they really increase your giving power, and double the amount of donations that you bring in,” she said.

One 2023 matching grant recipient for $5,000 was Faith Bridge, an organization also announced at last year’s reception. Faith Bridge, headquartered in Moberly, approached the Riedel Foundation for funding to help bring a Carry On program to Hannibal. 

Carry On helps kids who have aged out of the foster system.

Andie Jamerson of Faith Bridge said when kids age out of the foster care system, they start over again. Carry on helps them move into their first apartment and completely furnishes it with low cost items purchased from retailers and other stores.

“Last year when we got the grant, we were able to completely furnish six apartments,” Jamerson said. In 2023, the group established 75 furnished apartments around the state of Missouri, and 32 Hannibal youth in foster care received clothing, shoes, school supplies and hygiene items.

“We are so thankful to you for trusting us with this funding to make a difference in Hannibal, and we look forward to continuing to work with you,” Jamerson said. 

Deien announced the Riedel Foundation would fund another $10,000 for Faith Bridge in 2024.

Other matching grants included:

• $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity for construction equipment 
• $25,000 to Hannibal LaGrange University for a community outreach program
• $6,000 to Bluff City Theatre for Sprint production for school children
• $1,750 to Juneteenth Coalition for a puppetry program
• $35,000 Hannibal Nutrition Center for Meals on Wheel program for 
• $7,250 United Way Day of Caring for agency support

Deien said another annual recipient of the Riedel Foundation is the Hannibal YMCA, which was awarded $100,000 in 2023. She explained that George Riedel supported the YMCA and scouting programs. 

The funding offers scholarships opportunities for membership in order to provide membership for more people in the community.

When the trust was established, it was called the George H. Riedel Trust to benefit the Hannibal YMCA, because this was a cause very dear to Mr. Riedel’s heart. 

Riedel also focused on the economic well-being of the Hannibal business Community, especially the tourist industry. In order to represent the wider scope of support offered by the foundation, the name was changed to the George H. Riedel Foundation. 

To date, the Riedel Foundation has awarded nearly $6 mil in grants. Deien said it’s those who use the award money for the good of those in the community who are really carrying out Mr. Riedel’s legacy.

“But truly, it’s the non-profit organizations in this community that have made the Riedel foundation successful,” she said. “You do great work and you make us look good.”