Initiative Foundation Supports Diversity, Strategic Planning with Latest Grants

The latest round of Initiative Foundation grants focused on diversity, strategic planning and conference sponsorships for those working in the areas of early childhood, economic development and responsible fatherhood.

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Onamia, received $2,500 from the Little Falls-based foundation for renewed support of a second annual regional economic summit that will encourage partnerships between Native American and non-tribal businesses serving the reservation community. The foundation also awarded a $1,500 grant to Child Care Choices, Inc., St. Cloud, to purchase educational children's books for early childhood professionals attending the Children of Multiple Cultures Conference.

The City of Walker was formally selected to the foundation's Healthy Communities Partnership program, which involves local citizens in planning and building better communities. The city received $10,000 from the foundation to provide leadership training, staff assistance, and funding to a volunteer leadership team as they guide local efforts to create citizen-driven plans for the future of their community.

Other recipients of recent grants from the Initiative Foundation include:

• Becker Furniture World Foundation, $1,000 for 2004 Awards Event, selected by the Outstanding Youth Initiative Award winner Jessica Johnson.
    
• Boys & Girls Club of Elk River, $500 to update a strategic plan developed through the Initiative Foundation's Healthy Organizations Partnership program.
     
• Boys & Girls Club of Leech Lake/Cass Lake, $1,000 for 2004 Awards Event, selected by the Outstanding Volunteer Award winner Randy Finn.
     
• City of Upsala, $1,100 to develop a community center design and business plan that will project operational costs and revenues.
     
• Cuyuna Lakes Trail Association, Crosby, $1,000 for 2004 Awards Event, selected by the Outstanding Community Award winner Cuyuna Range.
    
• Family Pathways, Wyoming, $1,000 for 2004 Awards Event, selected by the Outstanding Enterprise Award winner Nemadji Research Corporation.
     
• Minnesota Fathers & Families Network, Minneapolis, $500 for the Minnesota Fatherhood & Family Services Summit, a conference for organizations working to promote fatherhood responsibility and positive family relationships.
     
• Minnesota Technology, Inc., Minneapolis, $2,500 to provide training in time management and productivity for manufacturing employees in Sebeka.
     
• Pine River-Backus Family Center, $500 to update a strategic plan developed through the Initiative Foundation's Healthy Organizations Partnership program.
     
• Rivers Council of Minnesota, Sauk Rapids, $1,000 for 2004 Awards Event, selected by the Outstanding Nonprofit Organization Award winner Rivers Council of Minnesota.
     
• Rum River Health Services, Inc., Princeton, $2,000 to support a strategic planning process.
     
• University of Minnesota Foundation, St. Paul, $1,000 for 2004 Awards Event, selected by the Outstanding Environmental Initiative Award winner the Youth Outdoor Corps.

In total, the Initiative Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $27,100. In addition, the Staples Community Foundation, a community fund hosted by the Initiative Foundation, awarded a grant for $1,500 to the Staples Motley Area Arts Council to support art workshops for students in conjunction with a related concert series.

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