The Jerome Foundation awarded $50,000 to The Loft in Minneapolis in support of the Mentor Series, a vehicle for emerging Minnesota writers to work in small-group settings with nationally recognized authors. Other foundation grants to Minnesota organizations:

• Saint John's University received a two-year grant of $54,000 in support of the Emerging Artist Program at the Saint John's Pottery, which utilizes Japanese techniques and incorporates indigenous materials.

• New Rivers Press MSUM, Moorhead, received a two-year grant of $30,000 to subsidize the selection, publication and promotion of six books by emerging authors of the Many Voices Project.

Boston Scientific was recognized with the American Red Cross Circle of Humanitarians Award, the organization's highest honor for financial support, for its disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Asian tsunami. Boston Scientific and its employees donated more than $3.6 million to the Red Cross in 2005. "The entire Boston Scientific family was deeply saddened by the tragic impact these natural disasters had on Asia and the Gulf Coast," said Pete Nicholas, co-founder and chairman of the board. "I am honored to accept this award on behalf of all our employees and their families who generously contributed their time and financial resources to help those in need."

The Cooperative Foundation awarded five cooperative education-based grants. The North American Students of Cooperation (NASCO) were awarded $5,000 to help reintroduce the Future Coop Leaders Program. The Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation received $5,000 to fund program coordination for the Building Cooperative Futures program. A grant of $5,000 was approved for the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) to fund scholarship and fellowship programs for the 2006 CCA Institute. The Ralph K. Morris Foundation was awarded $5,000 to assist young professionals and college students with participation in cooperative business conferences and education programs. The Midwest Shippers' Association received $1,000 for the Midwest Specialty Grains Conference and Trade Show.

The Sheltering Arms Foundation announced the recipients of its seventh annual Children's Leadership Award. Representatives from Central Community Housing Trust, YouthLink, Allina Hospitals & Clinics, and the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota were honored for their work renovating the five-story St. Barnabas building and creating 52 efficiency units for homeless or at-risk youth and working adults. After a five-year fundraising and renovation process, St. Barnabas opened its doors in April 2005 to homeless youth ages 16 to 20 whose families are unable or unwilling to care for them.

The Central Minnesota Community Foundation's fifth annual Community Charitable Challenge for area food shelves brought in $100,702. The community donated $50,702, and the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation matched $50,000. "The Community Charity Challenge is particularly rewarding for me because we are able to help out others in our own communities," said Skalicky. "It's very rewarding to live among a great community of givers."