Grants Awarded

Sherburne County Fair Board—Strategic Planning: $5,000 to support the strategic planning efforts of the Sherburne County Fair Board.

Region Nine Development Commission: $37,500 through the McKnight Clean Energy Rural Collaborative project.

Center for Rural Policy & Development: $5,000 for organizational support.

Community Action Respecting Elders—Succession Plan: $15,000 to support CARE’s succession planning efforts.

Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation: $25,000 for annual organizational support.

Wadena Development Authority: $10,000 to support efforts to promote businesses during a summer 2025 construction project.

City of Milaca: $10,000 to support the Milaca Junction addition.

The United Way of Bemidji Area: $1,000 on behalf of Denae Alamano in recognition of service as an Initiators Fellow mentor.

Southwest Initiative Foundation: $1,000 on behalf of Sarah Johnson in recognition of service as an Initiators Fellow mentor.

Three Rivers Community Foundation

• Ivan Sand High School: $2,000
• Rogers High School: $8,000
• Zimmerman High School: $5,000
• Spectrum High School: $2,000
• Elk River High School: $8,000

Black Oak Getty Community Foundation

• Sauk Centre Archery Boosters: $3,600
• Sauk Centre School District—Community Education Technology Enhancement: $2,000
• Sauk Centre School District—Robotics: $2,000

Tollefson Scholarship

• Pine City School District: $15,000

Mary Jean Tillman Healthcare Scholarship

• Little Falls Community Schools: $5,000

Irene Myres Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Pequot Lakes High School: $1,200

Dorn Family Fund

• Delano High School: $1,100

LeBlanc Legacy Scholarship Fund

• Central Lakes College Foundation: $500
• St. Cloud State University Foundation: $1,000

Powell Family Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Elk River School District: $1,500

Gull Chain Preservation Endowment Fund

• Gull Chain of Lakes Association—2025 Disbursement: $21,300

ZES Scholarship Fund

• Zimmerman High School: $500

Sacred Heart Area School Endowment Fund

• Sacred Heart Area School: $2,700

Staples Knights of Columbus Scholarship

• Staples & Motley Dollars for Scholars: $2,900

Kurpius Dollars for Scholars Fund

• Staples & Motley Dollars for Scholars: $3,800

Minnesota Pioneer Park Endowment Fund

• Minnesota Pioneer Park—2025 General Operating Support: $1,000

Braham Area Education Foundation

• Braham Area Schools—Title 1: $600

Memorial Hospital Foundation

• Isanti County Commission on Aging—Operating Support: $10,000
• Tusen Tack—Saving Lives with AED Machines: $3,000

Patriot Foundation

• Pequot Lakes School District: $10,000

Royalton Education Foundation

• Royalton School District—Care Closet: $1,000

Lakes Area Medical Development Fund

• Lutheran Social Service—Health-sustaining Meals for High-risk Seniors in the Lakes Area: $5,000

Onamia Early Childhood Endowment Fund

• Mille Lacs Health System—Story Time Fun at Onamia Depot Library: $1,100

Lakes Area Manufacturers Fund

• South Dakota School of Mines—Scholarship for Jayde Jordahl: $1,000
• University of Advancing Technology—Scholarship for Alexa Tuchtenhagen: $1,000
• Central Lakes College, Staples—Scholarship for Mathew Melberg: $1,000

The Bruske-Johnson Scholarship Fund

• Isle School District: $4,000

Pillager Education Foundation

The following scholarships were awarded to the Pillager School District:

• Pop-up On-site Daycare: $2,500
• Book Club Books in Fourth Grade: $520
• Motor Matters: $678
• Mathematics Intervention Resource: $641
• Author Workshop: $900
• Book Club Books in Fourth Grade: $520
• Hands-On Math: $600
• Fourth-grade Book Clubs: $520
• Math Manipulatives for Independent and Small-group Learning: $1,000
• Book Club Books in Fourth Grade: $520
• Fine Motor Activities in Elementary Art: $623

Paula and Chad Becker Fund

• Christ the King Catholic Church—Church and School Operations: $10,000
• Never Surrender, Inc. —ALS Support and Research: $4,000

Crow Wing Environment Protection Fund

• Crow Wing County Lakes & Rivers Alliance—General Operating Support: $3,700

Thrive Fund

• Milestones—2025 Disbursement: $6,800

Alternative Sources of Energy Fund

• Milaca Scholarship Foundation: $4,200
• Milaca School District—Science Dept: $1,400

Land and Waters Preservation Trust

• Whitefish Area Property Owners Association—2025 Operating Support: $14,600

Beverly M. Pantzke Scholarship Fund

• Little Falls Community High School: $24,000

Mark Wood Foundation

• Lincoln Elementary Mentorship Program: $5,700

Paws and Claws Animal Shelter

• Paws and Claws Rescue & Resort—2025 Operating Support: $1,700

Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship Fund

• Royalton Schools: $1,600

Betty Ford Menzel Scholarship Fund

• Crosby-Ironton High School: $3,100

Shawn Grittner Memorial Fund

• St. Cloud Technical and Community College Foundation—Shawn Grittner Memorial Fund Scholarship: $1,100

Lake Region Conservation Club

• Hillman Area First Response Team—Operating Support: $550
• Sullivan Lake First Responder—Operating Support: $550

H. Eugene Menzel Scholarship Fund

• Aitkin High School Scholarships: $2,900

Betty and Larry Nelson Family Fund

• School Sisters of Notre Dame—Province of Africa: $200

Fregin Foundation

• Little Falls Community High School: $1,100

Skolmate Fund for the Welfare of Animals

• Morrison County Animal Humane Society—Operating Support: $3,150
• Paws and Claws Rescue & Resort—Operating Support: $3,150

Wadena Fire Recovery Fund

• Immanuel Lutheran Church—Wadena Fire Recovery Support: $3,500