The Southwest Minnesota Foundation (SWMF), Hutchinson, has received a major gift from The Schwan Food Company, Marshall, in support of the foundation’s work in the region.

Lenny Pippin, vice chairman, president & CEO of The Schwan Food Company, announced the $250,000 funding award at the foundation’s 2005 annual banquet. The award includes:

• $50,000 for the SWMF’s general endowment. This gift represents the largest contribution to date to the SWMF’s Growing Home Circle campaign, which recognizes annual contributions of $1,000 or more to the foundation’s general endowment.

• $50,000 to establish a Southwest Minnesota Student Enrichment Endowment Fund. This fund represents a long-term commitment to student enrichment activities that enhance the educational experience for youth of southwest Minnesota, ensuring that they have the same learning opportunities as their urban counterparts.

• $25,000 for the Southwest Minnesota Student Enrichment Program Fund. This fund is the immediate funding resource for ongoing student enrichment activities, primarily delivered through the Southwest/West Central Service Cooperative.

• $25,000 for the Early Childhood Initiative in southwest Minnesota. This statewide initiative is aimed at positively impacting the development of children from birth to age five and is proving to be an effective way to engage communities and parents through grassroots coalition building.

• $100,000 challenge grant to establish the Marshall Community Foundation Endowment Fund. This award is being presented as a challenge grant to the Marshall community as a way to quickly organize local leadership and leverage local giving to establish an endowment resource.

A total of $200,000 of Schwan’s gift is endowed, which means these funds will receive dollar-for-dollar match to the SWMF’s general endowment by The McKnight Foundation.