Established in 2011, Angel Fund is an all-volunteer 501C (3) nonprofit that aims to provide financial assistance to Northeastern Minnesota residents battling cancer. The 13-member board of directors collectively runs the nonprofit and they come from diverse career fields: banking, marketing, nursing, business owner and more.
Current Angel Fund directors are:
- Shannon Petroske, President
- Meghan Hodge, Vice President
- Nicole Freeman, Treasurer
- Kari Kilen, Secretary
- Angela Zavodnik
- Katie Finch
- Rossie Senich
- Kelsey Unger
- Bobbi Jo VonAlman
- Stephanie Villella
- Morgan Seopa
- Amber Bretto
- Charlene Metzer
- Kelly Grinsteinner, Emeritus
The Angel Fund Board organizes and hosts a few fundraisers each year in addition to volunteering at other events that benefit the fund. Since inception, the fund has provided assistance to more than 1,600 patients.
Angel Fund got its start in the fall of 2010 when a Hibbing Chamber of Commerce group called Women’s Innovative Network (WIN) hosted a Girl’s Night Out pajama party. Money raised at this event was placed in a fund to provide financial assistance to local patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
In the spring of 2011, several women structured an organization to oversee the funds and create ongoing fund-raising projects to perpetuate the financial gifts. To this end, the group formed the Angel Fund Board of Directors, created bylaws and established its 501C (3) status under the umbrella of a local foundation to ensure credibility of the fund.
Within the first year of the fund, it expanded to include ALL individuals with ANY FORM of cancer – not just breast cancer. In 2016, Angel Fund was granted its own 501C (3) status and has since operated as its own nonprofit.
