Initiative Foundation Supports Volunteerism in Central Minnesota

The Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, has shown its commitment to volunteerism in central Minnesota with its latest round of grantmaking. The foundation also awarded several grant to support water quality management in the region.

In the area of volunteerism, the foundation provided $10,000 to Bi-County Community Action in Walker to support the efforts of at-risk youth as they rehabilitate four homes for transitional housing. The foundation also awarded $8,000 to St. Cloud Hospital's Elder Network to train and support senior volunteers to help their peers cope with mental health issues. St. Cloud Area Volunteer Coordinators received a $1,500 grant to provide partial scholarships for ten volunteer managers to attend an annual conference and share learning experiences with peers.

In the area of water quality management, the foundation awarded $5,000 to Serpent Lake Association in Deerwood to offer septic system inspections, low-interest replacement loans and stormwater runoff reduction training to shoreline residents. The Upper South Long Lake Improvement Association in Brainerd received a $5,000 grant to test drinking water wells for wastewater contamination and initiate a program to control Curleyleaf Pondweed, an invasive aquatic plant.

In total, the Initiative Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $57,500. For a complete list of grants, visit the foundation's Web site.

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