Much more than “Iowa nice”

Laura Scott

When Laura Scott moved back to the Quad Cities area after more than two decades in northern California, she’d forgotten what it was like to have strangers on the street smile and say hello.

“There really is such a thing as ‘Iowa nice,’ and that took some getting used to again,” laughed Scott, who grew up as an only child in Muscatine and returned to be with her parents as they got older. As friendly as her new neighbors were, after so long away, she wanted to get involved in her community—and get to know it—more deeply.

She began volunteering on the Quad Cities Community Foundation’s scholarship committee, where her passion for education could serve local students and the donors who generously invest in their potential. Scott is also a long-time member of the Scott Community College Foundation board of directors and volunteers regularly with P.E.O. International, which promotes educational opportunities for women. 

Seeing how the Community Foundation could open doors to her community, she branched out and joined the Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants committee. “At the time, I didn’t know half of the nonprofits we reviewed grant applications for,” recalled Scott. “It was eye-opening to learn about all the organizations out there that our community supports.”

Just like getting to know scholarship recipients and hearing their stories, the chance to read proposals and visit with grantees has made an indelible mark on Scott.

“Volunteering with the Community Foundation has helped me understand my community better—and what’s really important to me,” she said. “It’s helped me understand how I may want my money to be used to do the most good.”

And she’s seen that the generosity of the Quad Cities region runs much deeper than “Iowa nice.” “People really care about their community and doing something to benefit it, whether that be financially or helping out with their time.”

Today, Scott is finding new ways to participate in her community. She recently joined the staff of St. Paul Lutheran Church as business manager, turning years of volunteer service into a new career. “The learning curve is steep,” she said, “but St. Paul is my home church, and this felt like something I could do to give back to the community using skill sets I have.”

For Scott, giving back and getting involved, whether at the Community Foundation or other organizations around the community, doesn’t have to be complicated. “Everyone says you always get more than you give,” she said. “Well, I’ve found that to be true. I wish I had something profound to say, but I think I’m just a normal person who is trying to find what she can do to make a difference in the world.”