Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is giving $1 million for an individual development account (IDA) program in Chicago. The program, $mart $avers, will be co-run by Thrivent Financial and Bethel New Life Inc., a Lutheran nonprofit agency that started the program in 2000 to help economically disadvantaged families save toward accumulating appreciable assets. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has matched Thrivent's grant with a $1 million grant of its own. An IDA program combines financial education with a 2:1 savings incentive.

The Willmar Area Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, distributed seven grants totaling $24,000 in October. The foundation awarded $5,000 each to the Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Greater Minnesota Family Services, West Central Industries' Meal on Wheels program, and the Rice Rehabilitation Center; and $2,000 each to the Coalition for African Community Services of Kandiyohi County and the Salvation Army. In addition, the Willmar Area Arts Council received $1,650 from the Willmar Arts Fund.

Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation awarded $2,000 to strengthen leadership skills in Brown County. Bridging Brown County, a nonprofit organization committed to developing greater awareness of community, is sponsoring its third year of the Network Brown County Leadership Program. The program will help current and emerging leaders understand the dynamics of community and the role leadership shares in building healthy communities.

Students and advisors from throughout northwest Minnesota gathered at Concordia Language Villages near Bemidji for Northwest Minnesota Foundation's Students Teaching Attitudes of Respect (STAR) Teams youth leadership program. STAR focuses on communication skills, media awareness, conflict management, non-competitive games and thought processes leading to self-responsibility. Eighteen teams totaling 102 students participated in three separate sessions. They will return during the winter for another set of two-day retreats to reconnect, review and learn new concepts.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which celebrated its 75th Anniversary this year, reports assets of $7.3 billion, a $500 million increase over last year. The growth in assets coincides with an increase in funds spent on programming ($244 million in 2004-05, compared to $219 million in 2003-04). "This is obviously good news for the Kellogg Foundation, but it means the most to the people and communities we serve," said William C. Richardson, president and CEO of the foundation. The Kellogg Foundation spent an additional $20 million to fund special grants in honor of its 75th Anniversary.