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With plenty of damage still to be repaired and a lot more cleanup work to be done, local businesses have united to donate millions of dollars through the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, the Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund, the American Red Cross and company-established funds. With these funds, Iowans have been able to soak up some of the damage left by the Floods of 2008. Here are some examples.

Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino/Polk County Board of Supervisors

REO Speedwagon and The Little River Band rocked out at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino for the ‘Ridin’ the Storm Out’ benefit concert, which raised more than $300,000 in ticket sales, a silent auction and donation collection sites. Nearly 9,000 concert tickets were purchased at $20 apiece, and more than 8,100 people were in attendance for the concert, which accounted for more than 60 percent of the traffic at Prairie Meadows that day. The ticket proceeds were collected for flood victims, and the Polk County Board of Supervisors pledged to match them dollar-for-dollar, which provided a total of more than $600,000 from the Polk County/Prairie Meadows partnership. The funds will be distributed to flood victims through the Home Restoration Program administered by the Polk County Housing Trust Fund. Prairie Meadows also underwrote the entire cost of the concert, including the bands, production and staff.

ING Groep NV

With extensive operations in Des Moines, ING Groep NV donated $1 million toward the Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund. The money came from the ING Foundation, the charitable arm of the company, and is far more than the $100,000 it gave for Hurricane Katrina relief and the $100,000 donated after the Chinese earthquakes this year. ING has also been encouraging its 1,200 employees in Des Moines to utilize their 40 hours of paid time off for volunteer work to help with flood relief.

Dice Holdings Inc.

With major operations in Urbandale, New York-based Dice Holdings Inc. donated $10,000 to support the flood-relief efforts of the American Red Cross Central Iowa chapter. In addition to the company’s donation, Dice employees also made personal donations totaling $1,310 to further support the Red Cross.

Hy-Vee Inc.

Hy-Vee Inc. used its national Olympic-qualifying triathlon as a way to generate and collect donations for flood victims. In total, Hy-Vee was able to collect $25,000 in donations during the triathlon, which was then matched by Western Union Co. for a total donation of $50,000 and given to the American Red Cross. Additionally, individual stores established their own fund-raising efforts within the communities they serve. One fund-raising effort that was spearheaded in the Cedar Rapids area was a T-shirt sale. The event generated more than $56,000 for the American Red Cross Grant Wood Area chapter in Cedar Rapids.

Principal Financial Group Inc.

The Principal Financial Group Foundation Inc. gave $1 million to Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund last month, and Principal employees have contributed more than $170,000 through designated community funds. Relief funds were established in affected areas where Principal operates in response to employee interest and the extreme amounts of devastation. The Des Moines area raised nearly $20,000, Cedar Falls raised more than $2,300, Cedar Rapids raised more than $7,300, Mason City raised more than $4,300 and Iowa City raised more than $2,300. Last month, the company also sponsored a special “Dollars for Denim” day where participants helped raise more than $7,000 by purchasing stickers for a minimum contribution of $1. All proceeds will go directly to the American Red Cross for local disaster relief efforts.

Wells Fargo Financial

Feeling the impact of the floods directly, with multiple operations in the Cedar Rapids area being severely affected, Wells Fargo Financial still responded with a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross disaster relief fund to help with recovery efforts in Iowa and Wisconsin. Team members in numerous locations also volunteered their time to assist with flood relief and cleanup efforts.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

The Wellmark Foundation pledged $1 million to the Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund and Wellmark Inc. has established the Wellmark Employee Natural Disaster Relief Fund. Donations to this fund also came from Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in these states: South Carolina, $25,000; Michigan, $10,000; Alabama, $10,000; Arizona, $10,000; Washington; $5,000; Minnesota, $5,000; and North Dakota, $2,000. Ray Flachbart, CEO of the Idaho Blue Plan, made a personal contribution of $100 to the fund and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association contributed $10,000. WellPoint, the Blue Plan headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., also donated $10,000 to the Embrace Iowa fund.

Xerox Corp.

Xerox Corp. made a monetary contribution of $110,000 earmarked for American Red Cross disaster relief in Iowa and the National Disaster Relief Fund.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ Greater Iowa regional financial office (RFO) has a goal to contribute $1.5 million to flood victims in Bremer, Black Hawk, Linn, Polk and Johnson counties. The contribution is anticipated to include $1 million donated and raised by Thrivent Financial members, and the other $500,000 provided by Thrivent Financial. So far, the Greater Iowa RFO has dedicated $35,000 of Thrivent’s Care in Regions funding to the RFO’s chapters for the fund raising and also donated $10,000 to Lutheran Services in Iowa, where the funds will be matched through its fund-raising efforts.

KJWW Engineering Consultants

Illinois-based KJWW Engineering Consultants contributed more than $2,500 in employee donations for Midwest emergency relief. The company’s community involvement committee coordinated a weeklong drive that extended into branch offices in Chicago, Naperville, Ill., Des Moines, Madison, Wis., St. Louis and Rock Island, Ill. A portion of the $2,522 donation went to each office’s local American Red Cross chapter.

Greater Than Goods

A new online store, Greater Than Goods, has launched and is selling “Greater Than Any Storm” T-shirts to raise awareness as well as funding for Iowa disaster relief. For every shirt sold, Greater Than Goods will donate $5 to the Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund. The online company is a business unit of Sigler Cos. Go to www.greaterthangoods.com to buy a shirt.

Federal EmergencyManagement Agency

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division will receive $3.3 million in U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency grants for Iowa flood relief.

Qwest Communications International Inc.

Qwest Communications International Inc. donated $15,000 to the Red Cross. Also, on July 10, a combination bake/book/burger sale was held in the company’s 900 Keosauqua Way building in Des Moines to support Iowa recovery victims. The sale raised just under $3,000, with more money still coming in to Embrace Iowa.

Bankers Trust Co.

Bankers Trust Co. and an affiliated foundation, the John Ruan Foundation Trust, pledged $50,000 to the Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund. The money, earmarked for the Cedar Rapids area, is going to the private-sector effort to help Iowa communities affected by flooding.

Raymond James Financial Inc.

St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Raymond James Financial Inc. donated $30,000 to the American Red Cross’ Central Iowa chapter to aid flood victims in the Des Moines area. The firm donated a total of $100,000 to American Red Cross chapters in Iowa and Illinois.

Mid-Iowa Health

The Mid-Iowa Health Foundation contributed $50,000 to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation’s 2008 Flood Relief and Recovery Fund to address the mental health needs of Polk County residents affected by the floods. Counseling services or more intensive treatment services are available with the hope of preventing long-term mental health effects.

Iowa Credit Union

More than $460,000 was raised for the Iowa Credit Union Foundation’s disaster relief grant program and nearly 900 credit union members received $500 grants to help with immediate needs. The foundation received monetary aid from 47 members of the Iowa Credit Union League and in addition, 18 credit unions, credit union foundations and companies from across the country have contributed. Several Iowa credit unions added to their original contribution and some doubled theirs.

MH Equipment Co.

MH Equipment Co., a material handling provider, and its His First Foundation donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross Central Iowa chapter and $10,000 to the Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund.

The Samueli Foundation and the NHL Anaheim Ducks

The Samueli Foundation and the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League contributed $10,000 to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation’s Flood Relief and Recovery Fund.

Indianapolis Colts’ Dallas Clark

Dallas Clark, a tight end for National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts and a former Iowa Hawkeye, asked fans to contribute $20 toward disaster relief in exchange for his autograph when he appeared at Jordan Creek Town Center. He signed autographs for more than four hours, netting over $18,000 for Iowans affected by flooding and tornadoes.

Iowa Health System

Iowa Health System, together with Waterloo’s Allen Health System and Cedar Rapids’ St. Luke’s Hospital, contributed $400,000 to provide direct economic aid to more than 200 employees across the state who were affected by floods or tornadoes. Also, Iowa Health System’s Consolidated Services team made nearly 20 extra deliveries to provide emergency supplies to keep the hospitals functioning during the flooding.

Kum & Go LC

Kum & Go LC and the KG Foundation have pledged a $100,000 contribution to the Embrace Iowa 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund. Kum & Go also is selling Embrace Iowa logo pin-ups in 250 stores for $1, with proceeds going to Embrace Iowa. The sale of the pin-ups will continue through mid-August.

The Des Moines Area Association of Realtors

The Des Moines Area Association of Realtors made a $50,000 contribution to the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation’s Flood Relief and Recovery Fund.

West Des Moines United Methodist Church

West Des Moines United Methodist Church held a benefit concert featuring Bob Pace and The Blues Groove, along with artists from the Des Moines area. Nearly 300 area residents attended and donated more than $9,000 that will go directly to residents of the Birdland neighborhood.

Meals From the Heartland

Meals From the Heartland will be taking flood donations in a form other than money. Sept. 1 through Sept. 9, the organization will be collecting school supplies at Hy-Vee Hall. All of the school supplies collected will go to flood victims.