National Gypsum Co. has been a rock-solid presence in Fort Dodge and Webster County for generations. Although it is a significant contributor to the local economy, company leaders and workers at all levels believe National Gypsum owes a debt of gratitude to the community.

”Giving back to the communities where we live and work is a core value of our National Gypsum family,” Thomas C. Nelson, the company’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, said recently.

Locally, the company made good on that core value by giving a $25,000 donation to Linking Families and Communities . It was the largest donation the Fort Dodge based group has ever received.

Linking Families and Communities is focused on addressing early childhood issues, especially the need for quality child care programs. It serves Calhoun, Pocahontas and Webster counties.

Elizabeth Stanek, the group’s executive director, told The Messenger that the gift left her initially speechless. Later she used words like ”honored,” ”awesome,” and ”blessed”.

Just how the group will use the money hasn’t been determined yet. We are confident that the leaders of Linking Families and Communities will put the funds to use wisely.

National Gypsum Co. has proven itself to be an outstanding corporate citizen with this donation. The company has gone above and beyond with this gift to support the community. And it has made a donation to an organization that deals with one of the more vexing issues Fort Dodge and Webster County face: a shortage of quality child care. That is a matter that affects not only children and parents, but the whole community. Parents can’t go to work if they can’t find quality care for their children, and if fewer people are entering the workforce, economic growth will be stunted.

On behalf of the community, we thank National Gypsum Co. for this gift.