Regional Highlights

Morrison County | New Space Helps Young Adults With Soft Skills

Young people with disabilities may struggle to achieve independence after they age out of school. Thanks to a grant from the Royalton Education Foundation, an Initiative Foundation Partner Fund, they can now work on essential life skills—like folding laundry, making beds, and home maintenance—in a mock apartment at the school. The apartment includes space for young adults to practice leisure and hobbies. Royalton special education teacher Jolene Cherne says practicing these skills builds self-esteem and prepares them for the workforce.

Todd County | Bridging Cultures: WAVE Center Helps Newcomers

Long Prairie newcomers now have an added layer of help in their native language at the WAVE/Saludos Center. The mostly volunteer staff identified translation services as a need when helping newcomers, primarily Latinos, with everything from finding childcare to navigating vehicle licensing. An Initiative Foundation grant supports interpreting and translation services for clients navigating a new place and culture.

Wadena County | Wadena: Open for Business During Construction

A large road construction project on highways 10, 71 and 29 will disrupt Wadena travel this summer. An Initiative Foundation grant is paving the way for a Wadena Development Authority (WDA) project to help affected businesses. The WDA is developing plans to encourage local spending and bring tourists to the area through marketing, live entertainment and special deals. Access to businesses will be maintained, but patrons will likely have to navigate gravel surfaces, temporary sidewalks or detours.

Cass County | Fresh Website, Data Help Food Shelf Grow

The Walker Area Food Shelf has a fresh website and solid client data with support from an Initiative Foundation grant. With new data-collection technology, staff have gleaned more client information that has helped to grow the donor base by 40 percent while also attracting $60,000 in new grant funding. Staff call the refreshed website a “game changer” that has boosted donor confidence in the organization.

Crow Wing County | New Owners Continue Assisted Living Legacy

Husband and wife duo David Shilo and Felicia Fehn recently purchased Senior Class Community in Pequot Lakes and graced it with a new name: Caring Hearts Senior Community. An Initiative Foundation loan supported the purchase of the 15-unit facility. Built in 2004, the senior-living facility features a deck and commons room frequently used for parties, live music, barbeques and craft events.

Mille Lacs County | New Communication Board Levels Playing Field

A new communication board at the Milaca Elementary School playground is helping children with speech impairments better communicate with classmates and staff. Initiative Foundation-hosted Rum River Community Foundation provided a grant to help purchase the board, which includes images of more than 50 nouns and verbs. Sonia Hammill, pediatric occupational therapist, calls the board a valuable tool that helps students communicate needs and wants they cannot verbalize.

Benton County | CARE Plans for Future Senior Support

Community Action Respecting Elders (CARE) has been serving Foley-area senior citizens with chore services, food programs, respite care and more for 20 years—15 of those under the leadership of executive director Connie Cardinal. A Compeer Financial grant, administered by the Initiative Foundation, is helping the organization with succession planning. Jen Kipka has been hired as assistant director and will learn the ropes over the next year to ensure their vital work continues.

Sherburne County | Grant Helps Compassion Connection Streamline

Amy and Kevin Drehmel are passionate about the Compassion Connection, a nonprofit they created eight years ago to serve Becker-area foster and adoptive families. Supported by dedicated volunteers, the organization has served hundreds of families and thousands of children. A 2024 Initiative Foundation grant helped the organization hire a consultant to develop a business plan for its expanded services and streamline its accounting practices, guided by the belief that every child is one caring adult away from success.

Stearns County | Loan Helps Veterans Facility Solidify Finances

An Initiative Foundation loan is helping Sauk Centre’s Eagle’s Healing Nest continue its mission to support soldiers, veterans and their families by providing food, housing and support services. The loan, in partnership with United Prairie Bank and Minnesota National Bank, helped the Nest navigate financial hardship by replacing a contract for deed with a mortgage. “The place and what it was doing for veterans seemed too important to fail,” said Executive Director Shawn Kor.

Wright County | New Dance Studio Energizes Downtown Waverly

A once-vacant downtown Waverly building is now full of life and movement, thanks to a remodel by its new tenant, Persevere Dance Project. With support from an Initiative Foundation loan, Kasey Dumonceaux relocated her studio, fulfilling her dream of teaching recreational and competitive dance to children, youth and adults. She and her father, Mark, added sweat equity by renovating the space and bringing it to life.