St. Cloud, Minn. – The Bernick Family Foundation will be offering $200,000 in grant funding to eligible programs in their territories in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Organizations that support youth in building their career skills or support activities that address active lifestyles, are encouraged to apply for a Bernick Family Foundation grant. Applications are now being accepted through Sept. 30. Complete grant guidelines and electronic applications are available by visiting communitygiving.org/grants.
The Bernick Family Foundation supports two key focus areas through their grant round; youth and education which includes activities to help prepare students for future success in education and the workplace, as well as supporting health & fitness that promote active lifestyles.
The Bernick Family Foundation will accept applications for grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 in its focus areas. Applicants must be 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations, schools or government entities serving communities where Bernick’s operates. This includes Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Waite Park, and Willmar, Minnesota and Superior and Dresser, Wis., and the surrounding areas.
Last year, the following programs received grants from the Bernick Family Foundation:
- $12,000 was awarded to the St. Nicholas Athletic Association for its electronic scoreboard and playground system project.
- $25,000 was awarded to the Headwaters Science Center for its Animal Observation Lab & ADA-compliant public restroom.
- $15,000 was awarded to the Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. for its amphitheater project.
- $15,000 was awarded to the Northland Arboretum for its Nature Playscape program.
- $15,000 was awarded to the Alexandria Youth Baseball Association for its ‘Let’s Hit a Homerun for our Kids and Community’ program.
- $10,000 was awarded to the New London-Spicer School District 345 for the construction of a softball building.
- $15,000 was awarded to the City of Renville for its Pickleball and Basketball Court installation at Water Tower Park.
- $20,000 was awarded to the City of Regal for its 2024 Regal Youth Baseball field lighting project.
- $13,000 was awarded to the Hartley Nature Center to purchase youth and adult fat-tire bike fleet.
- $10,000 was awarded to the National Loon Center Foundation for its Junior Loon Biologists program.
- $20,000 was awarded to the Gandy Dancer Pickleball Association Inc. for court resurfacing.
- $20,000 was awarded to the Duluth YWCA to purchase playground equipment for its Early Childhood Education Center.
- $10,000 was awarded to the Village of Almena for its Shadyside Park Playground project.
The Bernick Family Foundation established their first fund with the Central Minnesota Community Foundation in 1989. The Bernick’s company and the Bernick family support organizations that reflect the family’s 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 their 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) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local community. Since 1985, CMCF has grown to $143.5 million in assets and awarded $155.3 million in grants to non-profits. The CMCF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a network of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,100 funds totaling over $225 million in assets. Learn more at communitygiving.org/cmcf
