Steve Joul, Central Minnesota Community Foundation President
Central Minnesota was recently rocked by some terrible tragedies in Cold Spring and Little Falls. These tragedies remind us families in our communities face difficult challenges that are multifaceted and impact us all. Amidst these challenging times, it may be difficult to see the silver lining this holiday season.
Glimmers of hope I believe, though, exist in the outpouring of generosity amidst these tragedies. Whether it’s a gathering of friends and families or the financial support given to help those affected, all serve to show how we as a community care for one another.
I believe caring for one another is one of the key values of the greater central Minnesota community. At the Community Foundation during this holiday season, there are a variety of ways you can engage in that culture of caring.
The Norman C. Skalicky Foundation is once again providing a $50,000 match to help fill area food shelves. Donors this year are encouraged to make their donations by Dec. 31 directly to Catholic Charities, the St. Cloud Salvation Army or the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf to the attention of “Food Shelf Charity Challenge.” Mailing addresses, websites and more info about the challenge are available at www.communitygiving.org.
Another opportunity to give back is by supporting the Foundation’s annual Campaign for Philanthropy. Each year we ask those closest to the Foundation to provide the much-needed support that helps the Foundation carry out its work of growing philanthropic resources for the greater community.
We would also like to invite you to a celebration of the season. On Thursday, Dec. 20, we are hosting the Foundation’s Annual Holiday Social from 5-8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn and Suites in St. Cloud. This year we will also have a special recognition of the Foundation’s Director of Finance and Investments Connie Viere, who will be retiring Dec. 31 after 11 years of service. If you can join us, please RSVP to Jeni at 320-257-9726 or jpederson@communitygiving.org.
As we enter this holiday season with all the fanfare and excitement the season brings, we ask you all to remember the families in central Minnesota who may not be experiencing the same festive atmosphere this year. We also want to thank you for your continued generosity in caring for the greater central Minnesota community. You make central Minnesota a great place to call home.
P.S. As a reminder for individuals looking to distribute year-end grants through their funds, we would appreciate those requests being submitted by Monday, Dec. 17 to allow time for those grants to meet the year-end deadline.
