Mardag Foundation Supports Needs of Minnesota Families, Children and Seniors

The Mardag Foundation, St. Paul, supported the diverse needs of families, children and seniors throughout Minnesota as part of its April 2004 grants.

The foundation awarded a $35,000 grant to the Minnesota Humanities Commission for transitional operating support for the Family Literacy Program, which promotes literacy in the home by working with schools, child care providers, social service providers, and health professionals to help parents increase their own literacy skills and those of their children. In 2003, the Commission suffered the loss of all its state funding, totaling one-third of its overall revenue. This grant from Mardag will provide funds to help stabilize and maintain the Family Literacy Program while the Commission diversifies its revenue.

Resources for Child Caring, Inc. received $100,000 from Mardag to help the agency complete its capital campaign to purchase and renovate the former St. Jude’s Medical Research campus and facilities in Little Canada. The renovated facilities will help Resources for Child Caring meet its diverse space needs, which include staff offices, confidential meeting space for clients, classrooms for its education and training department, and appropriate warehouse and loading dock amenities for Red Leaf Press. As the child care resource and referral agency for Ramsey, Washington and Anoka counties, Resources for Child Caring helps parents select and pay for child care. The agency also works closely with providers and teachers through education, training, and the publication and distribution of quality early childhood resources. 

The foundation also provided capital funding to Women's Resource Center of Winona, which received a $28,000 grant to help finance the renovation of the building that houses the Center’s programs and offices. Founded in 1978, the Center works to prevent sexual and domestic violence and assault and assist victims. Programs include adult advocacy, advocacy for children and teens, and community education. 

Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, Inc received $20,000 in start-up funding from Mardag to support the Serving Elders in Diverse Communities Initiative which will assist minority and immigrant service agencies in building capacity to address current and future needs of frail elders. Through this initiative, the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging expects to help minority and immigrant elders remain in their communities and reduce nursing home use and depression within this population.

In total, the board of directors of the Mardag Foundation approved 22 grants totaling $836,155 at its April 2004 meeting. For a complete list of the grants, visit the foundation’s Web site (select “News”).

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