Bernick Family Foundation Awards $221,000

Source: Central Minnesota Community Foundation 02/06/2013

(Feb. 6, 2013) — The Bernick Family Foundation announced today that it awarded more than $221,000 in grants focused on enriching the lives of youth and improving health through the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.

“Bernick’s is proud to uphold our tradition of supporting the community we serve,” said Jason Bernick, director of corporate affairs at Bernick’s. “The funding in this year’s grant round will help build a stronger future for our community.”

The latest round of grants supported the following community projects:

• $40,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of the Northland for renovation and furnishing for the Teen Center that serves 1,350 youth.
• $25,000 to the GREAT Theatre for the Bernick’s GREAT Theatre 2013-14 School Matinee Series.
• $20,000 to Catholic Charities for Cultivating Youth program that provides experiential learning gardening experiences for youth at the St. Cloud Children’s Home.
• $20,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota to implement Diplomas to Degrees, a college readiness program that helps youth from ages 13-18 to work toward high school graduation and prepare for college and careers.
• $12,000 to ServeMinnesota to provide one-on-one tutoring to 120 students in kindergarten through third grade students at Madison, Talahi, and Discovery elementary schools in St. Cloud.
• $11,500 to the Cardinal Athletic Foundation to enhance gym and outdoor facilities at Alexandria High School.
• $9,000 to the Minnesota Children’s Museum for Smart Play Spot, a three-dimensional, interactive early literacy learning environment that it will install at the Great River Regional Library in St. Cloud.
• $7,500 to BestPrep to provide scholarships for students in the Dresser area to participate in the Minnesota Business Venture business and career development camp program.
• $5,000 to the Granite City Gearheads program at Apollo High School for kits that students use to design and construct a robot and compete at the Robotics Competition.

“These are projects are important to addressing needs in our community and with Bernick’s support, they are going to have a significant impact,” Steve Joul, president of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation.

In addition to the competitive grants, the Bernick Family Foundation provided $51,000 in ongoing support to a number of nonprofits, including the Central Minnesota Council of the Boy Scouts, CentraCare Health Foundation, St. Cloud Technical and Community College Foundation, United Way of Central Minnesota, Central Minnesota Community Foundation and College of St. Scholastica.

The Bernick Family Foundation also allocated an additional $20,000 to award in scholarships this spring for students pursuing two and four year college educations. To apply or learn more, visit CommunityGiving.org and click on Scholarships.

All the applicants were 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations, schools or government entities serving communities in which Bernick’s provides services. The Community Foundation received 127 Letters of Inquiry for the grants that focus on youth and education or health and fitness. Funding could go toward capital projects, strategic investments in operations, and programmatic support.

The Bernick Family Foundation was established as a component of the Central Minnesota Community Foundation in 1989 to help the Bernick’s corporation and the Bernick family support organizations that reflect their core values, while providing leadership in responding to emerging community needs.

Founded in 1916, Bernick’s is a fourth-generation family-owned business, providing beverage, vending and food service solutions. The Waite Park-based company has a long tradition of investing in its local communities to improve quality of life. In addition to the company’s support through the Foundation, Bernick’s continues as a longtime philanthropic leader through direct financial and in-kind donations to over 100 causes each year.

The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF), based in St. Cloud, is a public charity that administers over 550 charitable funds totaling more than $75 million for the benefit of local residents. CMCF has been engaging people and connecting resources to build a better community since 1985. CMCF deepens its community impact through its affiliates, Alexandria Area Community Foundation, Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, and Willmar Area Community Foundation, as well as its supporting organization the Minnesota Real Estate Foundation. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org.