Denny & Candy Elwell Named Iowan of the Day

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Denny & Candy Elwell, West Des Moines

WEST DES MOINES, IA (07/31/2008)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation and Cookies Food Products are honored to name Denny & Candy Elwell as Iowans of the Day for the 2008 Iowa State Fair.

Denny & Candy have given generously to various causes over the years; one of the most recent being a $1 million contribution to the Blue Ribbon Foundation. This gift allowed for the transformation of the former Iowa Tourism Building into the Elwell Family Food Center. This allowed for a more spacious area for the food competitions and displays. It is now home to the largest state fair food competition in the country. The Elwells have also donated over $4 million dollars to a variety of other organizations including Mercy Hospice, Bright Hospice House, Ankeny Sports Complex Foundation, the Ankeny YMCA, Science Center of Iowa, Kiwanis Nature Island, North High School, Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Johnston Public Library, and Grandview College. Denny's vision has also led to the creation of the third busiest airport in the state of Iowa, the Ankeny Regional Airport.

Denny & Candy's day of honor at the Iowa State Fair will be Friday, August 15. Denny & Candy will receive a night's stay at the Des Moines Downtown Marriott, VIP Parking at the Fair, special use of the Iowan of the Day golf cart, $200 in cash, tickets to the Tracey Lawrence & Blake Shelton concert at the Grandstand, and subscriptions to Iowan and Iowa Gardening magazines. Denny & Candy will be part of a special presentation on the Anne & Bill Riley Stage at 2:15 p.m. on August 15.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation began the Iowan of the Day award in 1997 to honor those Iowans who've made truly made a difference for those around them. The Foundation reviews over 250 nominations each year, and selects those that show examples of integrity, decency, hard work, and dedication to community improvement.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated over $65 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds.