Annual Dinner
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The fund receiving the award has shown substantial growth. The fund advisory committee is a cohesive group that meets regularly, promotes the fund and the culture of philanthropy in their community. They have worked hard to achieve the mission and goals of the fund.
“...We are now re-imagining the future... looking forward to an era of growth and building.” Eric Bergeson, NMF Board Chair
This year’s recipient is the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund. In February 1997, the Board of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation became one of the most visionary, progressive community foundations in the State by establishing a Women’s Fund. In its lifetime, over $270,000 has been raised and pledged to the endowment and project funds. Annually, grants are awarded to qualified programs and projects that benefit women and girls.
Board Vice-Chair Anne Sand with Excellence in Leadership recipient Robin Wold.
The Ruth Edevold Organizational Excellence Award was presented to Mahube Community Council. This award is given to an organization or agency whose staff or board members have attended a foundation sponsored training program, participated in the Nonprofit Excellence Program, or received a grant from the foundation and as a result, made changes to significantly improve the effectiveness of their organization or services to the people of the region.
Excellence Awards The Ruth Edevold Excellence in Leadership award was presented to Robin Wold. This award is given to individuals who have participated in the foundation’s Leadership Development Program and then returned to their job, their volunteer activities and their community actively using the skills they learned.
Mahube Community Council is this year’s recipient. Mahube is a private, nonprofit community action agency serving Hubbard, Mahnomen and Becker Counties. Since 1965, Mahube has operated programs designed to assist low-income families in gaining the skills they need to succeed as individuals, parents, and community members such as Head Start, Early Head Start, Child Care Resource and Referral, Energy Assistance, Weatherization, and Supportive Housing services.
Wold attended the Leadership workshop in 1995, the Leadership 2 refresher session in 1999, and Valuing Diversity in 1998, along with completing the Individual Excellence Series of workshops and receiving her certificate in 2005. In addition, as executive director of Hope House, she attended the Organizational Excellence Workshop and requested an assessment that was conducted in September of 2005, then addressed a recommendation from the Organizational Assessment Report. Her organization serves as the community support program for people with serious and persistent mental illness. It has grown to provide more extensive services with Wold’s leadership. Hope House continues to work on prevention and crisis skills, including healthy lifestyle skills such as exercise, nutrition, and health education, which help to reduce or eliminate the need for hospitalization. Wold is a great example of someone who has truly taken her career and her organization to the next level through the development of leadership skills. She credits the training she received through the foundation for helping her become more focused and able to manage her stressful workload.
Director Dean Johnson presented the Organizational Excellence award to Leah Pigatti, executive director of Mahube.
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