Northwest Minnesota Foundation ~ Developing Community Assets ~ Serving 12 CountiesSPRING 2007 • Number 43

Annual Dinner Celebrates Regional Accomplishments

The George Maurer Trio

On May 3, the Northwest Minnesota Foundation board and staff hosted the annual celebration dinner, held in Bemidji this year at the Beaux Arts Ballroom on the campus of Bemidji State University. Nearly 220 people attended the event. Eric Bergeson, NMF board chair, delivered the keynote message.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “Re-Imagining the Future…and all that Jazz!” was the basis of remarks by Bergeson. He discussed how the foundation is in the process of strategic planning, involving the board and staff in goal setting for the next five years.

He said, “As a part of our planning process, we have been interviewing leaders throughout the region. What we have found is that times have changed. Demographers are projecting that for the first time in nearly 100 years, our area is likely to experience a population increase. We are blessed with several thriving manufacturing businesses. Our regional centers have already perked up. In the rural areas, if land prices are any indication, more people than ever want to live here, or at least own a piece of land here. “Things are looking up,” Bergeson went on to say, “and that means that our work as a foundation is going to change. Instead of attempting to create growth, which is difficult, we will spend more time and effort managing

Awards Presented for Excellence, Philanthropy, and Enhancing Quality of Place

growth, which is a whole lot more fun.” He added, “After years of declining population, a decline which has taken an inevitable and unfortunate toll on our institutions, economy and morale, we are now re-imagining the future…looking forward to an era of growth and building.” The ‘all that jazz’ element came in the form of the evening’s entertainment, provided by the George Maurer Trio, who played a mixture of jazz favorites and original material, to the delight of all.

The highlight of the evening was the pleasure of honoring the work of partners through the presentation of awards.

Community Philanthropy Award For the second year, the Northwest Minnesota Foundation has given the Community Philanthropy Award, which was created to recognize a component or community fund that is helping to build and strengthen the culture of philanthropy in the region. Along with an original sculpture award for display, the fund’s endowment receives a $1,000 donation from Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

(Continued on page 4)

Eric Bergeson,Board Chairman

Director Kim Wilson, (right) presented the Community Philanthropy Award to Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund Advisory Committee Members (left to right) Jeannine Windels, Gloria Kaste, Barbara Muesing, Karen Coe, Vicki Svedarsky, and Nancy Carroll

The NorthwestMinnesotaFoundation

investsresources,

createsopportunitiesand promotes

philanthropy tomake the region

a better placeto live and work.

BOARD OFDIRECTORS

Eric BergesonChairFertile

Anne SandVice Chair

Bemidji

Gary PurathSecretary

Red Lake Falls

Dean JohnsonTreasurer

Mahnomen

Terri AndersonOgema

David BergmanThief River Falls

Mark HewittPark Rapids

Roger MalmHallock

Kim WilsonFosston

Ann BeckBagley

Robert HagerGreenbush

John S. OstremA Message from the President

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The foundation has recently passed an important milestone in our service to northwest Minnesota which, I think, should not go unnoticed. For the first time in our 21-year history, our grantmaking from donor-supported component funds exceeds our traditional, discretionary grantmaking. After completing ten months of our current fiscal year, we have already made grants totaling $703,204

from our 172 endowed component funds and $452,224 in discretionary grants from project funds.

This is significant in that it affirms a decision made ten years ago by the foundation’s board of directors -- to begin serving the region as a community foundation. Patti Swanson, board chairperson in 1996, shared the board’s vision in a Resource article.

“In this role, [the foundation] gives people the opportunity to contribute and dedicate resources for charitable purposes in a variety of areas including economic development, education, health care, the environment, social welfare, cultural heritage, and many other areas,” Swanson said.

Donors generously responded to this concept and the services offered by the foundation. Today we manage over $12,300,020 in component fund assets. Of these, $11,007,499 is in permanent, endowed funds. Grants from these funds are now having a very significant impact on individuals, families, organizations, and communities as can be seen in this issue of Resource.

I would like to thank the many donors who have made the foundation’s vision a reality, and for supporting our efforts to make northwest Minnesota a better place to live and work.

Number of Endowment Funds

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07

NMF became a regional community

foundation in pursuit of a

goal, integral to the mission

statement, to “promote

philanthropy”.

Philanthropic Services

NMF Community Foundation Role MaturesComponent Fund Growth Making a Difference in Northwest Minnesota

Ten years ago the Northwest Minnesota Initiative Fund made a strategic, mission-driven change. It formally changed its name to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) and became a regional community foundation in pursuit of a goal, integral to the mission statement, to “promote philanthropy.” NMF would continue to deliver priority programs that respond to regional issues through grants, training for leadership and nonprofit boards and managers, as well as for business development. Still, the astonishing growth of our community foundation mission could not have been predicted.

The measure of success for NMF as a community foundation is not simply the total assets under management - $12 million - what the total represents tells the story.

It represents commitment to retain the resources that are working to enhance our region, not leaving the area forever; the $12 million invested by NMF component funds will be used within the twelve counties year after year.

It represents confidence to work together and to bring efficiency and effectiveness to the administration of many diverse programs. During a week in April, new endowment contributions totaling more than $225,000 were given to NMF component funds benefiting a humane society in Lake of the Woods County, a scholarship fund in Warroad, and education and mentoring programs in Park Rapids. More than $1.9 million has been contributed to NMF component funds so far in Fiscal Year 2007.

It also represents resources that work for the continued success of important non-profit programs and opportunities for the next generation of residents. NMF component fund grantmaking has been growing dramatically. Current assets will sustain annual grants of at least $500,000. These represent operations and special project funding for essential community non-profits. They represent educational grants to help our schools achieve a higher level of excellence in education and more than $100,000 in scholarships helping our young people have a brighter future.

Scholarships have traditionally been a priority for donors interested in education and a wonderful resource for our student population. By establishing these scholarship programs, it is likely that our youth will also realize the many opportunities that exist and bring those new skills and knowledge back to our home towns.

One sign of this is noting where our scholarship recipients attend college. The top five institutions of higher education for NMF scholarship recipients are: The University of North Dakota, Bemidji State University, Minnesota State University – Moorhead, North Dakota State University and Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. All are located in or near our region.

NMF’s role and expertise as a community foundation, the varied purposes of its component funds, and the active grantmaking of these funds all combine to truly make a difference in northwest Minnesota – this impact is helping northwest Minnesota become a better place to live and work.

Endowment Fund Balance

0

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

FY97 FY98 FY99 FY00 FY01 FY02 FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07

3

4

“...We are now re-imagining the future... looking for-

ward to an era of growth and

building.”

Eric Bergeson,NMF Board Chair

Annual Dinner (Continued from page 1)

The fund receiving the award has shown substantial growth. The fund advisory committee is a cohesive group that meets regularly, promotes the fund and the culture of philanthropy in their community. They have worked hard to achieve the mission and goals of the fund.

This year’s recipient is the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund. In February 1997, the Board of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation became one of the most visionary, progressive community foundations in the State by establishing a Women’s Fund. In its lifetime, over $270,000 has been raised and pledged to the endowment and project funds. Annually, grants are awarded to qualified programs and projects that benefit women and girls.

The Ruth Edevold Excellence in Leadership award was presented to Robin Wold. This award is given to individuals who have participated in the foundation’s Leadership Development Program and then returned to their job, their volunteer activities and their community actively using the skills they learned.

Wold attended the Leadership workshop in 1995, the Leadership 2 refresher session in 1999, and Valuing Diversity in 1998, along with completing the Individual Excellence Series of workshops and receiving her certificate in 2005.

In addition, as executive director of Hope House, she attended the Organizational Excellence Workshop and requested an assessment that was conducted in September of 2005, then addressed a recommendation from the Organizational Assessment Report.

Her organization serves as the community support program for people with serious and persistent mental illness. It has grown to provide more extensive services with Wold’s leadership. Hope House continues to work on prevention and crisis skills, including healthy lifestyle skills such as exercise, nutrition, and health education, which help to reduce or eliminate the need for hospitalization.

Wold is a great example of someone who has truly taken her career and her organization to the next level through the development of leadership skills. She credits the training she received through the foundation for helping her become more focused and able to manage her stressful workload.

The Ruth Edevold Organizational Excellence Award was presented to Mahube Community Council. This award is given to an organization or agency whose staff or board members have attended a foundation sponsored training program, participated in the Nonprofit Excellence Program, or received a grant from the foundation and as a result, made changes to significantly improve the effectiveness of their organization or services to the people of the region.

Mahube Community Council is this year’s recipient. Mahube is a private, nonprofit community action agency serving Hubbard, Mahnomen and Becker Counties. Since 1965, Mahube has operated programs designed to assist low-income families in gaining the skills they need to succeed as individuals, parents, and community members such as Head Start, Early Head Start, Child Care Resource and Referral, Energy Assistance, Weatherization, and Supportive Housing services.

Board Vice-Chair Anne Sand with Excellence in Leadership recipient Robin Wold.

Excellence Awards

Director Dean Johnson presented the Organiza-tional Excellence award to Leah Pigatti, executive director of Mahube.

“No one agency can get the job

done, it is only by partnering that success is achieved.”

LEAHPIGATTI,

Executive Director, Mahube

CommunityCouncil

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Leah Pigatti became the Executive Director of Mahube in 2000. Pigatti’s vision and leadership have brought much of the success that the organization has earned over the years, all the while keeping in mind Mahube’s mission – to work for the success of the people being served, by helping them gain the knowledge to work, live and govern themselves.

For example, since Pigatti began directing the organization, active grants grew from $9.8 million to almost $17 million. Mahube has tripled the housing program and housing staff. She was instrumental in bringing $1.7 million to serve the long term homeless, not only in her own region, but in surrounding counties as well.

In addition, Pigatti developed a partnership with the Becker County HRA to bring a permanent housing project to a city in her region. Mahube has the only Child Passenger Resource Center in the State of Minnesota thanks to Leah’s support. It is also a leader in the area of providing support to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. And this impressive list goes on.

The foundation has been a partner with Mahube in numerous grant projects and programs, including Emergency Assistance, which provides heating fuel funding, Gaining the Edge-Next Steps program, Hubbard County Crisis Nursery, Park Rapids Living at Home, and the Crisis Care Program, among others.

Pigatti has surrounded herself with excellent staff that produces quality work. She firmly believes that no one agency can get the job done; it is only by partnering that success is achieved.

As the foundation works on planning for the next five years, the strategy for programs and development will remain focused on Quality of Place. Following along these lines, last year the foundation created a new award, named the Quality of Place award. The purpose is to recognize the foundation’s partners, grantees, training participants, and loan clients who have helped to develop community assets. Through their work, they enhance the quality of places in the region. The recipients receive a specially designed plaque and select a nonprofit in our region to receive a $1,000 grant.

This year, St. Joseph’s Area Health Services received a Quality of Place Award. They are being recognized because of their work in developing and implementing a new dental education program for infants and children in Hubbard County.

Annual Dinner (Continued from page 4)

With financial support from NMF and others, a Community Dental Clinic located in Park Rapids provided a room for a Public Health Nurse to give information on dental health and other public health issues to patients and families receiving services through Medical Assistance or Minnesota Care. The concept of a hospital-sponsored, public health dental clinic was the first of its kind. There was none other like it in the state, according to Dr. Daniel Rose, the project’s innovator. The program incorporated the hospital, public health and a dental clinic, which is what made it so unique. Since being established, the program has been replicated in other communities and is serving as a model.

Overall, this project has provided dental education to over 1,000 students, including preschool through high school, in community child care settings, to 650 Women, Infants and Children program participants, and 200 new mothers. Screening and education sessions were also held in Laporte.

A foundation grant to the program was supplemented by grant funds from NMF’s Park Rapids Early Childhood Initiative, which is one of ten community coalitions working to make northwest Minnesota the best place to raise kids who are ready and able to learn.

By providing quality dentistry in a pleasant, professional atmosphere for Minnesota public program patients, the clinic is able to treat disease, eliminate pain, establish functions, educate and refer patients. The hope is that once exams and care are done, patients can be on a scheduled preventive and maintenance program.

The second Quality of Place award was presented to TEAM Industries. One of our region’s premier manufacturing firms, TEAM Industries, is an engineering led organization

(Continued on page 6)

Quality of Place Awards

Director Mark Hewitt, St. Joseph’s Area Health Services CEO Ben Koppelman, and medical professionals Amy Morris and RaeAnn Mayer.

responsible for total solutions in power-train product design applications. They pride themselves on being a one-stop outsourcing partner. TEAM provides power-train solutions to a variety of markets including All-Terrain Vehicles, Snowmobiles, Automotive, Golf/Utility, On/Off-road, Agricultural & Construction, and Turf & Garden care.

TEAM Industries began as the dream of founders Don and Bea Ricke who, in 1967, established Motek Engineering and Manufacturing. Motek, now renamed TEAM Industries-Cambridge, was the first of six facilities located throughout Minnesota.

It was here that Don Ricke had ideas about starting his own machine shop, and two years later, he and Bea moved the family to Cambridge to start their own business. He and two partners, whom he would buy out in 1970, ran the machine shop, while Bea ran the office and worked as building maintenance. The emergence of new technology in manufacturing and the popular demand for snowmobiles put TEAM-Cambridge in the forefront of recreational markets. The company developed a mutually beneficial relationship with Polaris, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles and personal watercraft.

With the success of TEAM-Cambridge, Ricke set out to prove that people could have good jobs and live in rural areas. In 1984, he and his son, David (now CEO) built a second facility in Audubon, seven miles west of Detroit Lakes. And in 1987, TEAM Industries-Bagley was formed and began operations at Roy Lake. In 1991, a facility was built in Bagley.

This was the Ricke vision: to create opportunities for jobs in small communities using partners that already exist in the area. The result has been a dramatic economic boost in our region. Over 200 jobs have been created in Clearwater County alone. Statistics show that the annual average unemployment rate in the county dropped from 17.6% in 1991 to nearly half as much – 9.6% in 2006, which is directly attributable to TEAM’s presence.

Annual Dinner (Continued from page 5)

The foundation has been a partner and a resource for TEAM. Through the years, several loans have been made for facilities in Bagley and Park Rapids, including the initial construction of plants in a new location and for expansion of existing plants.

Beyond that, TEAM has added to the quality of the places it has located by supporting education through special initiatives; training and education for job applicants and employees through Teamworks; by supporting Hospice and health care, such as funding a family Hospice room at the Bagley hospital; and early childhood, through support for the “WEE Care” Child Care Center. TEAM employees have helped to build the TEAM Foundation, which provides grants for these and other causes.

TEAM is also a founding industry partner with the foundation in establishing the Ingenuity Frontier project, developed to attract and

educate the best and brightest engineering talent in the region, branding Northwest Minnesota as THE place for applied engineers. Included in Ingenuity Frontier is a program partnership dear to TEAM and the Rickes – Project Lead The Way, a pre-engineering curriculum for middle and high school students. In

addition, TEAM was instrumental in founding the Highway 2 West Corridor Manufacturers Association.

The TEAM organization IS Quality of Place. It defines what a single company can do to enhance and improve communities in rural areas, and make them the best places to live and work.

Since 1993, the foundation has been recognizing the contributions of individuals and organizations in northwest Minnesota. Fifty-nine awards have been given, with an unrestricted grant from the foundation to the nonprofit of the recipients’ choice. This represents $59,000 in grant making to our partners to develop assets in our communities and improve the quality of places throughout the region.

(Continued on page 7)

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For TEAM Industries,

this was the Ricke vision:

to create opportunities

for jobs in small communities

using partners that already exist in the

area.

Director Ann Beck presented the Quality of Place award to TEAM Industries, represented by Jim Russ, Tom Hjort and Cassie Pickett

The Circle of Vision was established to recognize those people who see the possibilities of tomorrow by acting today; who believe in their communities, and, who say “yes” when asked to share of themselves and their resources. The award is presented in recognition of current gifts, planned gifts or will bequests of $100,000 or more made in direct support of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation or any of its component funds.

A scholarship fund has been established with a gift of $100,000 to honor the life of Dorrance H. Johnston. As a part of the Warroad Area Community Fund, it is the 14th scholarship or education-related fund that is supporting students in the Warroad area. This represents the 17th Circle of Vision award.

Dorrance H. Johnston, a 1926 graduate of Warroad High School, attended the University of Minnesota and earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1931. He graduated in the midst of the Depression and was unable to obtain work in his field.

Dorrance returned to Warroad and worked as a commercial fisherman and mink rancher. He used the knowledge he attained in engineering throughout his personal and professional life.

The scholarship fund honors Dorrance’s life, his passion for engineering, and the desire to help other engineering students attain their goals.

William S. and Margaret W. Marvin have become the second benefactors to reach the

Annual Dinner (Continued from page 1)

$1 million mark in donations to the foundation or one of its components. To recognize this contribution, the Bill and Margaret are included as members of the Circle of Vision Leadership Society. Sadly, Margaret passed away at the age of 90 this past winter. Bill is in Warroad, surrounded by his large and loving family.

The original sculpture award representing this gift will be displayed in Warroad at the William S. Marvin Training and Visitor Center.

The Marvin’s recent gift to establish the Warroad Swim Program Fund supports programs, projects and activities associated with or supplementing the Warroad Public Schools swim program or the Warroad Outstanding Warriors Swim Club. Due to funding cuts to education, the swim program was in jeopardy. The Marvins felt it was imperative to fully fund the swim program to provide Warroad with instructors and coaches, along with the resources needed to help it thrive.

The generosity that inspired these gifts is a tremendous contribution to the Quality of Place in the region. The foundation’s success is a result of philanthropic endeavors and its future progress will brighten the future for all of us.

The past year was saddened by the loss of Arnold Lund, our first Circle of Vision Leadership Society recipient. Arnold was a long time partner and generously gave back to his Baudette community, especially in the area of business development and for the humane society.

NMF greatly appreciates each gift to the foundation and its family of funds. Giving at this level is truly transforming communities.

Circle of Vision Leadership Society

Circle of Vision Awards

The generosity that inspired these gifts is

a tremendous contribution to

the Quality of Place in the region.

Circle of Vision RecipientsAnonymousMaggie Adams Roseau Hospital & HomesH.C. “Bill” Baer, Jr & Jessie BaerCourage North/ The Helleckson FamilyFrancis DrivoldLyle H. EngelstadRobert F. & Marian Foley

Gaylord A. GundersonMark & Peggy HewittSam & Peggy JohnsonLeonard & Rosemond KuceraArnold F. Lund, Sr.Eldor & Stella OmdahlRed Lake Band of Chippewa IndiansElsie Semrau

Employees of TEAM Industries/TEAM FoundationLuVerne TrogstadOle & Ruth Tweet

Circle of Vision Leadership SocietyArnold F. Lund, Sr.William S. & Margaret W. Marvin

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Success of Bemidji Leads!Spurs New Center for Community StewardshipWhat makes communities successful has

changed dramatically over the past decade. Evidence shows that now more than ever before, successful communities can be built. It has become clear that assets leading to community success are, in fact, not inherited. The characteristic assets of a successful community can be created and developed.

The Center for Community Stewardship in Bemidji was created to address this very issue. The Center for Community Stewardship helps to jump-start the success of a community by empowering its most powerful asset – its leaders.Case Study: Bemidji Leads!

In 2003, Bemidji was a community without direction. There was little cooperation, and though it was growing, opportunities seemed to be slipping away. It was a community without a rudder.

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) responded by funding a grant project that helped to launch Bemidji Leads! The Joint Economic Development Commission (JEDC), in partnership with the Headwaters Regional Development Commission (HRDC), organized the project. The premise was that Bemidji was at a crossroads in its development as a regional center. The community needed to respond to growth pressures by doing more than just managing its current resources.

The program, now expanded to become the Center for Community Stewardship, put out a call to action, challenging leaders to come together as stewards of Bemidji’s future. The leaders were encouraged, trained and inspired. With the guidance of the Center, these stewards helped the community agree upon a “shared destiny,” and developed an action plan of 17 destiny drivers to get there. Bemidji Leads! was born.

The Center believes success is about real change and real action, and Bemidji Leads! has done just that. The results have been incredible:

After 15 years of struggle, Bemidji Leads! •breathed new life into a regional event center effort, and today the community is moving forward to make the $50 million center a reality.

There are new clusters of economic •innovation in Bemidji spurred by Bemidji Leads! creating jobs for Bemidji in the knowledge economy.

With the Bemidji Leads!’ dream of becoming •a regional center that looks like Itasca State Park, more than 10,000 trees were planted to reforest Bemidji last year, and 10,000 more will be planted every year for the next ten years.

These are but a few examples of the tangible success stories for which this movement has been responsible. The results have been dramatic enough for Governor Tim Pawlenty to call Bemidji Leads! “spot on,” and Senator Norm Coleman has said Bemidji is a national model.

Bemidji is not alone. Center for Community Stewardship staff also helped to initiate Progress Park Rapids, and begun work in other communities.

NMF has been instrumental in helping to develop the process used by the Center by awarding Community Planning grants in the initial stages for both Bemidji Leads! and Progress Park Rapids, which is also beginning to see the same culture-changing results.

Experience shows successful communities share two common traits: they’ve found a way to harness their community’s energy and passion, and they’ve come to realize that the only sure way to community success is for the entire community to work together.

For more information about the Center for Community Stewardship, call (218) 444-4732 or go online at www.centerforcommunitystewardship.com.

...success is about real

change and real action, and Bemidji Leads! has done just

that.

Business Development ActivitiesBusiness Development ActivitiesBusiness Loans

Two loans were recently made from the Revolving Loan Fund totaling $250,000:

Roseau County Ford, Inc., RoseauFor new business start-up. Mid-Central Medical, St. VincentFor expansion of medical equipment

manufacturing.

Housing Loans were made from Fannie Mae funds to the Headwaters Housing Development Corporation and the Beltrami County HRA for the development of affordable housing totaling $600,000.

Microloans Business counseling and loans are available to help entrepreneurs develop small business and self-employment opportunities. Six loans were recently made totaling $110,000:

Rejuv Salon and Spa, Inc., Crookston Mobo Hobo Catering, Thief River Falls C&M Concessions, Warroad Michael J. McManus, Bemidji D&D Thomforde Garden Center, Crookston North Country Food & Fuel, Inc., Waskish

Technical Assistance Seven businesses from Bemidji, Crookston and Bagley received $5,681 in outside consulting for management and technical assistance.

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The first Bemidji Pioneer Women’s Expo will be held Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007 at the John Glas Fieldhouse on the campus of Bemidji State University. The Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund will participate as an event sponsor, host a seminar on the topic of Leadership and sponsor two booths for nonprofits that serve the needs of women in the area.

This day-long event will include more than 100 vendor booths, food, entertainment, breakout sessions, door prizes and featured speakers. Advance tickets at $5 each are available at the Pioneer office, 1320 Neilson Ave. S.E., by calling (218) 333-9200 or on the Web at bemidjipioneer.com (click on Women’s Expo). Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets at $4 each. Tickets at the door will be $7.

Renee Rongen will present the keynote address at 11 a.m. Rongen is a nationally known speaker from Fertile, Minn. Her presentation will be entitled “Life’s Your Legacy ... LIVE IT!”

Save The Date

Grants

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Grants

Caring CommunitiesChildren & FamiliesLifetrack Resources .......................... $10,000To provide support for families in Greater Minnesota whose children have hearing loss

Minnesota Department of Human Services .................................. $1,285For training children’s mental health professionals and others working with young children

Northwoods Coalition for Battered Women .................................... $24,900For children’s program services

Red Lake Nation Chemical Health Programs .................................... `$1,000For David Parnell presentation

Early Childhood InitiativeMinnesota Department of Human Services ..................................$1,285For training children’s mental health professionals and others working with young children

Healthy Lakes & Rivers Partnership ProgramBeltrami Soil & Water Conservation District ............................................... $4,000For LAWA voluntary septic system inspection project

Hubbard County Soil and Water District ......................................$4,000For Potato Lake shoreland restoration and vegetation mapping

Natural ResourcesPromotion & PreservationGiziibii RC & D .....................................$25,000To create an awareness among private woodland owners about land management

Independent School District #390 ...................................... $9,000To assemble and coordinate a volunteer group of students to assist in water quality testing

TrainingIndividual EffectivenessPeacemaker Resources...................... $1,350For conflict resolution and mediation training

Organizational EffectivenessLakeland Public Television .......................... $925for Combining Board Members and Staff Members for Integrated Strategic Planning

Lakeland Public Television ................... $1,450For Local Programming: Is Lakeland Public Television Meeting the Needs of its Viewers?

Grants totaling $208,966 were awarded from February – April 2007

STAR Teams Youth Leadership Training ............................................... $1,050$150 grants were made to the following STAR Teams for follow-up projects: Bagley, Bemidji, Red Lake, Schoolcraft and St. Philips

Component FundsBackstrom Family Charitable Fund .........$300To Campus Childcare Center for a donation in memory of John Seitz

Bagley Early Childhood Initiative Fund ..................................... $1,757Bagley Community Education/ECFE for Healthy Children, Healthy Communities

Bagley Education Endowment and Project Fund ..................................$1,200Bagley General Scholarship Fund (2)

Bemidji Area Arts Endowment & Project Fund ................................... $2,750Bemidji State University Department of Music for the 2007 J.S. Bach harpsichord concert; to Bemidji State University Department of Visual Arts for Jeff Oestreich workshop, lecture, exhibit; to Bemidji Symphony Orchestra for Russian Works Concert

Bemidji Community Theater Fund ....... $2,250To Bemidji Community Theater for “Kiss Me, Kate” Musical Everett Wilimek Endowment ................... $500 for Violin StudiesTo Headwaters School of Music & Arts for Violin Lessons and Suzuki Camp

Frederick Marshall Fund ........................ $1,350To Headwaters School of Music & Artsfor Upgrade Communication EquipmentNorth Star Arts Fund ........................... $1,850Headwaters School of Music & Artsfor 2007 REM Arts Classes

Bemidji Area Early Childhood Initiative Fund ................................... $19,935For coalition programs and activities benefiting children ages 0-6 in the Bemidji area

Bemidji Lumberjack Foundation Fund All School Reunion Fund To Bemidji Area School Dist, #31 for All School Reunion grants ......................................$5,072 Buck Robbins Scholarship Fund ...............$150 General Scholarship Fund (4) ............... $2,250 Beltrami Electric Scholarships, Deerwood Bank Scholarship, Paul Bunyan Telephone Scholarship

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Grants (Continued from page 1)

Heidi Bitzer McClure Memorial Scholarship ...............................................$1,000 K.E. “Red” Wilson Athletic Fund (2) ..........$1,500 First National Bank Bonspiel Fund ............... $500 To Bemidji Area School Dist. #31 for physical therapy services and youth baseball support Security Bank USA Lumberjack Scramble Fund ....................................... $10,000 To Bemidji Area School Dist. #31 for physical therapy services and youth baseball support John F. Breen Scholarship Fund (2) ....................................................$2,000 Ray F. Breen Scholarship (3)......................$3,000 Blackduck Area Community Fund Academic and . Character Scholarship Fund ......................... $500 Charles “Nick” Peterson Memorial Scholarship Fund ......................................... $100 Clearwater County Humane Society ..................... Endowment Fund ......................................$1,000 To Humane Society for general operating support

Clearwater Health Care Fund CHS Hospice Family Room Project Fund ........................................ $15,000 For the Hospice Family Room at Clearwater County Memorial Hospital CHS Hospice Fund ................................ $3,600 For a office and medical equipmentCrookston Early Childhood Initiative Fund ...............................................$1,809To the Crookston School Dist #593 for early childhood screeningFosston Education Foundation Endowment and Project Fund ..........................................$1,160To the Fosston Community Library Arts Association for author visit and the school district for conferenceHeadwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Fund ............................................... $398For support of Churches United, House of Hospitality, and Battered Women’s Shelter

Lake of the Woods Early Childhood Initiative Fund ......................................... $2,000To Lake of the Woods School District for parent education Laporte Education Endowment and Project Fund ............................................ $1,000Scholarships (2) Laporte-Benedict VFW Scholarship Fund .....................................$250 Tonia Johannsen Memorial Fund (2) ......$1,000 Leonard J. Kucera Memorial Scholarship Fund (2) ....................................................... $1,000 Luther Younggren Memorial Scholarship Fund ........................................ $1,500 Mahnomen Education Endowment and Project Fund ......................................... $2,750Scholarships (5) General Ike Isaacson and Major Bruce Isaacson Scholarship Fund ......................$250 Leslie Hanson Scholarship Fund ..............$500

Milton Hockel Natural Resources Scholarship Fund ....................................$500 Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center Fund .................................... $750To Northwest Minnesota Foundation for directors and officers liability policy

Ole and Ruth Tweet Family Fund ..................... $500For the Challenger Mosaic Poetry Project Park Rapids Area Community Fund Heartland Homes Endowment and Project Fund .................................. $3,182 To Heartland Homes, Inc for Heartland Homes Community Program Kitchen Project Park Rapids Early Childhood Initiative Fund .................................. $1,704 To Mahube Community Council for Gym Connections

Red Lake Falls Education Endowment and Project Fund

Kris Fontaine Memorial Scholarship Fund (3) ........................ $1,500Kyle A. Myhre Memorial Fund (2) ...... $1,000Lester Norris Dale, MD Scholarship Fund ................................. $400

Roseau Area Community Fund Marian Foley Memorial Fund (2) .......$2,000 Marvin LaRue Memorial Fund ..............$500 Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Education Foundation Endowment and Project Fund Lyle H Engelstad Scholarship Fund..............................$1,000 Warroad Area Community Fund Edward and Agnes Brandli Scholarship Fund (2) ........................... $400 Jennifer Grove Memorial Scholarship Fund .................................$500 Justin Knebel Memorial Fund ..............$250 Katie Jo Olafson Memorial Scholarship Fund .................................$300 NAPA Ride to Reading Fund (2) .......$6,305 To Warroad School District for AR compatible books and assorted assessments Warroad Early Childhood Initiative Fund ................................$10,000 To Warroad School District for #690 for the Strengthening Preschoolers Through Collaboration Warroad Education Endowment and Project Fund ................................. $500 Presidential Freedom Scholarship Warroad Farmer’s Union Oil Company Scholarship Fund ................................. $500

~ Northwest Minnesota Foundation ~ www.nwmf.org ~CONTACT US: 218-759-2057 ~ 800-659-7859 ~ FAX 218-759-2328 ~ nwmf@nwmf.org

4225 Technology Drive NWBemidji, MN 56601

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. Postage

PAIDBemidji, MN

56601Permit No. 36

Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

Organizational Excellence Organizational Excellence I 9:00-4:00 ~ July 20, 2007Beltrami Electric Community Room, Bemidji

STAR Advisor TrainingNon-Coercive Discipline: Building Personal Responsibility Through Self-Discipline8:30 – 5:00 ~ June 28 and 29Holiday Inn, Bemidji

Leadership Development Update:NMF has initiated a process to improve its longstanding adult leadership program and make it even more responsive to the needs of the region. For the past 18 years, NMF has offered Leadership I to northwest Minnesota residents. Five years ago, Leadership II was included to help alumni to further develop leadership skills. Since establishing guidelines and criteria and gathering feedback, the new program is moving forward in the design process. The pilot will be delivered late October 2007 by invitation. The program is scheduled to be launched in Spring 2008 after reviewing the pilot and making any necessary adjustments. Please watch this space for further developments.