Southwest Minnesota Foundation Supports Productive Aging, Youth Programs Through Recent Grants

The Southwest Minnesota Foundation (SWMF), Hutchinson, awarded grants that represent the foundation’s commitment to five priority areas — promoting productive aging, inclusive communities, economic advancement, youth and philanthropy — in May and June.

A highlight is a $50,000 grant for the Center of Rural Entrepreneurship for a project that teaches young people free enterprise through education and mentoring, encourages creative entrepreneurial minds, and provides partial funding for starting up school-run or individual businesses by students in southwest Minnesota.

The SWMF also awarded $30,000 for Intergenerational Outreach, which provided technical assistance, training, education and resources to build community capacity through intergenerational programming. The Nonprofit Management Institute received $23,344 to prepare and conduct the Institute and convening events for nonprofit organizations in southwest Minnesota.

Other highlights include:

• $1,000 for SWMF’s 2005 Leadership Award, which was presented to Patrick Moore of Montevideo. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in one of the SWMF’s priority areas.

• $2,118 for El Pueblo Hispano Conference Scholarships, which provided financial assistance for Latino leaders in businesses and communities to attend a statewide conference on building community within Latino sectors.

• $7,364 for Life Connections VI, a two-day event in the Willmar area that helps adults over the age of 50 explore lifestyle and resource opportunities for a positive future.

• $3,695 for SWMF’s 2005 Annual Banquet, which is an event that celebrates and recognizes the great people in southwest Minnesota.

• $2,400 for the Transfer of Wealth Study, which will create a model mapping the growth and time paths of estate settlements throughout Minnesota.

In total, the SWMF awarded $375,621 in grants in May and June. For a complete list of grants, go to www.swmnfoundation.org (click on "SWMF News").

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