by Dennis Dalman
At a fundraiser dubbed Tackling Poverty, three Minnesota football greats signed autographs and mixed with a crowd the evening of Nov. 11 at the Blue Line Sports Bar & Grill in Sartell.
They helped raise money for an organization called Promise Neighborhood of Central Minnesota in east St. Cloud. The organization provides remedial academic skills and social opportunities for area children, including for some who live in Sartell. It is comprised of a network of volunteers.
The guests of honor at the Blue Line event were longtime famous Minnesota Vikings “Benchwarmer” Bob Lurtsema; former Vikings defensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer (2010 inductee) John Randle; and current Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph.
The players signed autographs and souvenirs and enjoyed talking with visitors at the event, which included fun activities and a Swedish meatball dinner.
John Smith, who also attended the event, is board chairman and program developer for Promise Neighborhood. He said he is happy the three Vikings and others, including the owners of Blue Line, were kind enough to sponsor a fundraiser for such a good cause.
There are about 100 families involved in Promise Neighborhood, whose headquarters and activities center is at 1114 Ninth Ave. SE., St. Cloud. Most of the children and parent participants of the program live and go to school at Talahi or Lincoln elementary schools in east St. Cloud. Many of the families are immigrants who need help adjusting – whether it’s help learning English or brushing up on math and reading skills. Promise Neighborhood also brings people – children and adults – together for social occasions, field trips and other fun activities so a wider social network, a getting-to-know-you attitude is nurtured.
Since it was founded seven years ago in St. Cloud, Promise Neighborhood was honored with two Partners in Education awards, a Changemaker award and a Rock-On Granite City Award for Outstanding Leadership presented by St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis in 2016.
PN, as it’s known, provides or facilitates advocacy, civic engagement, cultural competency, public speaking, academic support, emergency services, leadership development, social capital, leadership and economic opportunities.
The program is funded via donors, grants and fundraisers.
Board chairman Smith said the poverty rate exceeds 90 percent among the families whose children attend schools in east St. Cloud, which, he added, clearly shows the need for a program like PN. And the program, he added, would not be possible without so much help and generosity from local people and businesses that care. Many business people volunteer at PN and people of the wider faith community, such as United Methodist in Sartell – to name just one – are fervent PN supporters, Smith noted.
“Promise Neighborhood is about people coming together to solve a problem or problems,” Smith said. “People getting together to solve problems and to have a good social time.”
PN hosts a Math and Reading Club every other Friday for children (and adults) to hone those skills. It sponsors occasional field trips (for examples, to Paul Bunyanland, a local dairy farm, the State Capitol, Twins games, the St. Paul Science Museum, the St. John’s University campus), a community garden, arts-and-crafts activities such as designing and building skateboards.
“Our activities are meant to build connections and relationships among people,” Smith said. “And some of our programs are designed for the 5-and-young age group, and others for children K through eighth grade. We provide training, including training in computer skills.”
Through all of its programs and services, PN, Smith said, promotes the values of respect, integrity, compassion and – perhaps most of all – hope in the future of each families lives.
PN is also in need of donations in the forms of gas cards, Metro Bus passes, bedding like blankets and pillows, warm-weather clothing (hats, gloves, scarves, coats) new T-shirts and undergarments, personal-care items and educational games. For more specifics on those needs, call 320-251-0571.
To find out more about PN, visit its website and photo galleries at pncentralmn.com.
Three Minnesota Vikings players sign autographs and souvenirs at a fundraiser dubbed Tackling Poverty Nov. 11 at Blue Line Bar & Grill in Sartell. From left to right are “Benchwarmer Bob” Lurtsema, former defensive tackle and Hall of Famer John Randle and current defensive tackle Linval Joseph.
Children and adults have fun learning together at the Math and Reading Club, one of the many activities of Promise Neighborhood,”\ headquartered in east St. Cloud.
