A helping hand in Northeastern Minnesota
The Security State Bank Foundation is a longtime, proud supporter of Angel Fund. In May, the Foundation gave Angel Fund a $500 Sponsorship check for this year’s Rock for An Angel Campaign.
Thank you to SSB Foundation for its continued support and generosity!
When Fortune Bay was petitioned to become a Rock for An Angel sponsor, their director of sales and public relations knew that donating items as they have done every year for the event wasn’t going to fly this year.
Without an event, the only option was a cash sponsorship. But instead of focusing too long on what they couldn’t do, he proposed a new, creative option – the Ticket In Ticket Out promotion to benefit Angel Fund.
“When Brian K. Anderson of Fortune Bay contacted us in response to our Rock for an Angel campaign appeal, I anticipated it being just a courtesy call,” said Angel Fund President Kelly Grinsteinner. “However, when he mentioned this new plan of using a promotional box to raise monies I was surprised and stoked — what a creative way of not only raising funds, but also raising awareness of Angel Fund and our mission. We applaud Fortune Bay for the innovative idea and are honored to have been the first nonprofit recipient.”
Between mid-February through the end of March, Fortune Bay set up a promotional box near the main entrance of the casino. Guests were encouraged to put their cash out ticket in the box or leave a cash donation to assist the Angel Fund’s efforts. Fortune Bay also generously tossed in $500 in seed money.
Earlier this month, Anderson delivered a big check (literally and figuratively) to Angel Fund Board Directors. Fortune Bay and its guests raised an amazing $2,813.39! Board members were speechless and humbled.
“This is simply phenomenal! We can’t thank Fortune Bay and its guests enough for their contributions and support,” said Grinsteinner. “The donation will allow Angel Fund to provide financial assistance and a sense of hope to several Northeastern Minnesota residents battling cancer. Fortune Bay and its guests’ rock! Because of you, area cancer patients are the real winners!”
Craig’s Crafts had one of its most successful shows yet — thanks to all who stopped at Mesabi Mall last weekend to chat with him, purchase a one-of-a-kind item and leave a tip in the jar for Angel Fund. Craig and Tina Holgate happily donated $379 from their sales and the tip jar. They sold nearly all of Craig’s items, which he estimated at 200 prior to the show. He said the most popular designs were Bigfoot and elephants, which hold a special place in his heart and memory.
From the bottoms of our wings to the top of our halos, Angel Fund thanks Tina and our favorite crafting cancer warrior! We appreciate you and your support of area cancer patients!
The Hibbing Foundation has been one of the longest-running supporters of Angel Fund, and this year is no different.
Angel Fund was recently granted $1,000 from the Carl M. and Dolores M. D’Aquila Family Fund and the Linda Forti Hibbing Foundation Fund for Hibbing residents battling cancer.
Thank you, Hibbing Foundation, for being a source we can count on each year. We truly appreciate your commitment to the Hibbing community and for being the wind beneath our wings!
Here are snippets from our recent “thank you” notes:
“I want to thank you for the generous gifting of the Walmart cards. There aren’t any words to convey our heartfelt appreciation for this expression of kindness and care. Please know that this is extremely helpful.”
“Thank you so much for your generous gift of the gift cards. They will be put to use with transportation costs to radiation appointments and doctor appointments. The food gift cards are very useful also to help purchase food she can tolerate. Thanks for thinking of our family.”
“A week ago I received two gas cards. I want to thank you so much for the generosity. It will help with future doctor appointments to the Cities. Again, thanks for all you do. What a wonderful organization!”
“Thank you so much for the gas cards you sent us. We will use them in our travels to Mayo in Rochester with thoughts of your kindness. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but God has a perfect plan for each of us.”
“I want to thank you again for the gas cards you sent me in 2018 as I was going through ovarian cancer. I am now cancer free and am continuing to get great checkups. Please accept this donation and pay it forward.”
Angel Fund is among the Round 4 recipients of the Itasca Area Community Response Fund. The $3,000 grant has been used to provide financial assistance to cancer patients in and around Itasca County.
We thank the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation and United Way of 1000 Lakes. Below is the full press release found at: https://uwlakes.org/blog/response-fund-rnd4/
MARCH 10, 2021|IN NEWS, COVID-19|BY KASIA KOLLER
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, the Itasca Area Community Response Fund has been helping the greater Itasca area navigate the crisis by providing grants to local nonprofits.
The Response Fund, a collaborative effort between the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation and United Way of 1000 Lakes is just one of several COVID-19 response efforts undertaken by the two founding organizations. United Way, among other activities, also instituted a summer meals program in underserved communities in summer 2020 and launched a volunteer recruitment initiative. The Community Foundation has enhanced its crisis funding for individuals, the Sharing Fund, by expanding the parameters of the program to address pandemic-specific needs. This includes funding for telehealth and other expenses caused by pandemic-related circumstances. The response fund has been perhaps the most wide-reaching initiative, having distributed $193,000 in grant funds to nonprofit organizations throughout the greater Itasca area.
For some organizations, response fund grants are a lifeline, allowing them to keep their staff employed and continue serving the ever-changing needs of the community. Other grants delivered virtual engagement opportunities for children and older adults, provided protective equipment to staff, volunteers, and clients, and in some cases, seeded new initiatives.
“As the pandemic unfolded, we saw basic needs such as access to medical care and transportation continue to grow. While we’ve been working on solutions for these issues, the current crisis has highlighted the need to act now to address them,” said Leah Oslin, Executive Director of the Forward Health Foundation, a previous Response Fund recipient. “The grant will allow us to help us fund the launch of the Essentia Health Community Care Paramedic Program in the Deer River Area, bringing medical and mental health care right to our patients, no matter how remote.”
Round 4 Response Fund recipients include:
Angel Fund ($3,000): Funds will allow the Angel Fund to continue providing assistance and support to cancer patients in and around Itasca County.
Itasca County Family YMCA ($10,000): Funds will allow the YMCA to continue serving the health and educational needs of people of all ages during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legal Aid of Northeastern Minnesota ($4,000): Funds will help the organization increase its capacity to provide legal help to low-income clients in the face of an anticipated wave of post-moratorium evictions.
Moose Lodge 2023 ($5,000): Funds will help cover operating costs in the wake of shutdowns and cancellations.
Northern Community Radio ($4,000): Funds will help cover the cost of equipment needed for staff to effectively work remotely and connect with the communities they serve.
Project Care ($1,500): Funds will help cover the cost of cleaning supplies and protective equipment, allowing Project Care to keep staff, clients, and volunteers safe as the clinic provides in-person care to patients.
The Reif Center ($4,500): Funds will help the Reif Center provide accessible programming to combat social isolation in older adults, including low-cost digital performances and free virtual BINGO games.
Support Within Reach ($5,500): Funds will help Support Within Reach build capacity as they continue the work of providing sexual violence advocacy and building awareness.
The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation and United Way of 1000 Lakes cover the costs of administering the fund, so that 100% of available funds are given to the community. In partnership with representatives from other area funders, they make up an advisory board that makes allocation decisions.
The Community Response Fund was created in April of 2020 just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to reach Itasca County, and since then, has provided crisis assistance grants to 30 nonprofit agencies that serve Itasca County and surrounding communities. Gifts from individual and major donors supported the Fund, which was designed to expand local capacity to address immediate and emerging needs as efficiently and effectively as possible. To learn more about the Response Fund, including a more extensive review of the Fund’s history and a complete list of grant recipients, visit uwlakes.org/community-response-fund.
About United Way of 1000 LakesSince 1963, the United Way of 1000 Lakes has partnered with local nonprofits to identify critical issues, create partnerships, and raise funds to help people in the Itasca Area. Mobilizing the caring power of the communities it serves, the organization’s mission drives work to create a happier, healthier community. They accomplish this by inspiring collaboration, fundraising, and volunteerism. Learn more at uwlakes.org.
About Grand Rapids Area Community FoundationThe Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation has been connecting donors’ charitable intentions to community needs for over 25 years to make our Greater Itasca Area a better place to live. We invite you to become part of the great work we do and include us in the conversation with your financial or estate planner to answer the question, “What good do you want your money to do?” For more information, visit our website at www.gracf.org or schedule a visit by calling (218) 999-9100.
