Many people get time off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but for VISTA and AmeriCorps members, it’s a day on; a day for a community service project.
At the MLK National Day of Service Event (this past January 18) nearly 60 people helped pack food for the Kids Against Hunger (KAH) program at their warehouse in Sauk Rapids.
This was the first time the VISTAs and AmeriCorps members worked with KAH. They decided to work with KAH this year because it’s a great cause and it was something they could all do—indoors, said Chris Fastner, our VISTA Program Manager.
“The whole process of that day was empowering,” said Fastner. “It was a unique opportunity for all these VISTA and AmeriCorps members to come together and do something as a group that was very tangible with an immediate result.”
That day there were 11,664 meals (54 boxes) packaged, which were all taken and shipped to Haiti. 
KAH relies heavily on volunteers to help in the packaging process so that they can send food worldwide when it’s needed. According to their website, “More than 8,000 volunteers have packaged over 5 million meals since opening on March 1, 2003.”
For more information about KAH visit: http://www.kidsagainsthungercm.org or about the VISTA program visit: http://www.ifound.org/effective_volunteers.php.
To see all the pictures from the days’ event visit the MN Initiative Foundation VISTAs’ Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=126833602116.
Vietnam may be over 8,000 miles away from Minnesota, but a group of 80 people are soon going to make the long trek.
Our own Don Hickman, along with his wife and two kids are among those in the group planning to go - their daughter, Ellen, was adopted from Vietnam almost ten years ago. Hickman’s family will be helping to build houses as part of their six-day venture.
The Catalyst Foundation (the trip's sponsor) is a nonprofit based in Northfield, MN, that improves the lives of at-risk Vietnamese by working to prevent child trafficking and building houses and schools. Once the homes and schools are built, children learn to read and write and be recognized as citizens so they are better able to receive assistance.
Hickman’s family traveled to Vietnam in 2000 to adopt Ellen, so this time they want to go and return the good deed by helping in anyway possible. 
While in Vietnam, Hickman’s daughter wants to bring school supplies with to teach the Vietnamese children English. The trip is set to take place in this month and each of the families are expected to donate $3,000 to help purchase building supplies.
Hickman is hoping people are willing to donate to the Vietnam Aid Expedition to help raise the funds needed. For more information or to donate contact Don or visit the Catalyst Foundation at: http://www.catalystfoundation.org/
Kathy recently received a new chair for the office from the Anderson Center of St. Cloud.
She received the chair as a “Thank You” for participating in the Anderson Center’s Roundtable Forum - a gathering of Minnesota business leaders who are committed to excellence and business development.
The chair is eye-catching and fits in quite nicely with its wood frame, blue cushion and engraving of the Anderson Center Roundtable’s logo on the backrest of the chair.
What's the significance of a chair?
“It’s about partnership,” she said. “Having gone through their Executive Forum, I can attest to the high quality of their training.”
She went on to say: “We're proud to be a partner with the Center in supporting the growth and development of local companies that provide quality jobs. These services complement our business financing programs and community and economic development mission very well.”
The Anderson Center’s mission is to provide management and business development services that facilitate economic progress in Greater Minnesota. They work with the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations by proving scholarships to nonprofits and other small organizations so that they can attend a Center Forum.
Learn more about the Anderson Center at: www.acmbd.org.
We are incredibly excited to share news about a loan that we just closed on a few hours ago...
Larson Boat Company has been a key business in Little Falls since the early 1900's. At it's peak a few years ago, the facility employed nearly 900 people. Because of the economic crisis though, boat sales plummeted, jobs were cut and the whole company was at risk.
With the help of four other organization we helped put together a financing package that will keep the Little Falls manufacturing facility open and secure about 170 full-time jobs. (Larson also hopes to add another 150-175 more jobs over the next couple years.)
The other groups that were involved included:
- The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Minnesota Investment Fund,
- The Economic Development Authority of the City of Little Falls,
- Community Development of Morrison County and,
- The North Central Economic Development Association, Inc.
In the words of Kathy Gaaslwyk, our president: "I’m very proud of our organization for being involved in this project—it’s a great example of why we exist and why we do business loans."
And even though we share this good news, our thoughts go out to the 180 people who were recently laid off from the Crestliner/Triton manufacturing facility here in town. It sounds like some of those people will be able to relocate to New York Mills but it's still a harsh blow to a lot of families here.
And it's proof that there's still a lot of work to do to bring jobs back to our central Minnesota cities!
For more information about the Larson Boat Company project read the official news release from today, a recent article from the Morrison County Record or visit the Larson website.
Want to work at the Initiative Foundation? Here's your opportunity...We are now seeking a Children, Youth & Families Specialist to support citizen-driven early childhood community coalitions, early childhood mental health coalitions, youth engagement teams and other regional and community-based early care and education initiatives. Bachelor’s degree in community development, human services, education or related with three years experience or equivalent. Qualified candidates will be experienced organizers with human service, training and community development background. Yes, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer as well as a top-flight place to work hard, have fun, make a difference, and advance your career.View the position description on our website, and submit application (required) with your resume by February 19, 2010.
Although April is National Volunteer Month I thought this would be a nice piece to share now. Getting out of the house and helping others might be just the thing for beating those mid-winter blues!
The Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration (MAVA) recently released results from their November 2009 survey: The Status of Minnesota’s Volunteer Programs in a Shifting Environment.
The survey found that:
- nearly 60% of organizations reported an increased reliance on volunteers compared to a year ago.
- over 50% reported an increase in volunteer hours of service.
- 44% of respondents reported increased numbers of inquires from potential new volunteers.
- 52% reported volunteers were more likely to have strong work skills.
Respondents shared hundreds of strategies for volunteer programs to respond to the current times. The survey included responses of 280 Minnesota nonprofit and governmental organizations. For the full survey report go to: www.MAVANetwork.org/shiftingenv.
Are you looking for volunteering opportunities in central Minnesota? Contact one of our HOP participants or check the United Way's website for more ways to get involved in your community!
Pepsi-Cola will be awarding more than $20 million in 2010 for your fresh ideas!
Their Pepsi Refresh Project invites people, businesses and nonprofits to submit their creative ideas for "moving the world forward" by improving their local communities and neighborhoods. Ideas can be submitted in one of six different categories:
- Health
- Arts & Culture
- Food & Shelter
- The Planet
- Neighborhoods
- Education
Ideas can be submitted at any time (up to 1,000 will be accepted every month) via the refresheverything.com website and then the public's votes decide which ideas get funded.
Bernick's Beverages and Vending, the Central Minnesota Community Foundation and United Way of Central Minnesota will be hosting an informational meeting about the project on Monday, January 25th, 2010 from 3:30 - 4:30 at the St. Cloud Library.
For more info watch their video on YouTube, download the news release or visit www.refresheverything.com to submit your idea and vote!
We recently said "goodbye" to a few special people...
MaryAnn Schefers started working at the foundation in September 2002, and worked in both our donor services and finance departments throughout the past seven years.
Today she starts a new adventure in Pine City working in the accounting department at Pine Technical College. Curt Hanson, who probably worked the most with MaryAnn, had this to say:
"MaryAnn could be a poster child for the “typical central Minnesota farm kid,” in that she thrives on hard work, is reliable and very conscientious, and solves problems rather than pointing them out and complaining about them. Pine Tech made a good choice."
We will miss her dedication, attention to detail and great sense of humor!
Thank you, MaryAnn!
*********************
In December we recognized a few foundation friends who "retired" from our board of trustees. Gloria Contreras Edin of Inver Grove Heights and G. George Wallin, PhD. of Big Lake had both served since 2000. Jim Anderson, of Crosslake and Key Largo, Fla. had been a Trustee since 2007.
In recognition of their service to the foundation, all three were invited to select a charity of their choice to receive a $1,000 grant. They selected:
- Perseverancia (Cold Spring), to support opportunities for Latina leaders, in recognition of Gloria Contreras Edin,
- Saron Lutheran Church (Big Lake), for the hospitality committee, in recognition of G. George Wallin, PhD., and
- Kinship Partners, Inc. (Brainerd), to support a youth mentoring program, in recognition of Jim Anderson.
To learn more about their contributions to the board, read the news release from last week or to meet our current board members, visit our website.
Valspar Corporation (headquartered in Minneapolis) has helped us out for the last 12 years by supplying area nonprofits and communities with FREE paint and coatings. Some of last year's projects included:
- Audubon Center of the North Woods, Sandstone: Interior and exterior paint for wildlife barn, office, dining hall and outdoor structures used for activities and classes.
- City of Big Lake: Interior paint for the food shelf expansion and new senior center.
- Crow Wing County 4-H, Brainerd: Interior and exterior paint stage and new electrical room in the 4-H building at the fairgrounds.
- City of Little Falls: Exterior painting to preserve a historic barn by the Pine Grove Park.
- Long Prairie Hockey Association: Exterior and interior paint for the exposition arena which is used for hockey, 4-H presentations, trade shows and community gatherings.
- Minnesota Pioneer Park, Annandale: Exterior paint for Big Woods building and Finnish Apostolic Church at the history museum.
- The Refuge Network, Cambridge: Interior paint for addition to a home for women and children fleeing domestic abuse.
- St. Cloud Housing & Redevelopment Authority: Exterior paint for “Paint the Town” event, painting low-income homes in northeast St. Cloud area.
- Sebeka School District: Interior paint for students who will paint murals on high school walls.
Applications for this year's program are due to the Foundation office by March 5th. For more information on the program and how to apply download the fact sheet/application or the official news release that we just sent out today.
HAPPY PAINTING!
Many people get time off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but for VISTA and AmeriCorps members, it’s a day on; a day for a community service project. 
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