Contact: Barbara Carlson, Director of Development Phone: 320-253-4380
Women's Fund Helps Launch New Garden Project
9 Nonprofits Receive Grants
St. Cloud, Minn. – A new garden project in St. Cloud will give women in transition and low-income families the resources and tools they need to grow quality food. The Central Minnesota Sustainability Project received a $7,500 grant this spring from the Women’s Fund at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation to help make the Maine Prairie Garden & Market a reality in the Diocese Park.
The Women’s Fund provided $33,700 to community projects focused on empowering women and girls. The Women’s Fund has awarded about $500,000 grants since its inception in 2002. “There are hundreds of women and children living in surrounding apartments that do not have access to healthy food, especially fresh, chemical-free produce,” said Katrina Pierson, chair of the Central Minnesota Sustainability Project, which started the garden in May.
The Women’s Fund grant allows the Central Minnesota Sustainability Project to provide a stipend to a master gardener who will provide counsel on growing techniques and facilitate hands-on education for immigrant women and their children. “The grant will ensure access to land for low income families that would otherwise not have the opportunity to grow and eat healthful, chemical-free foods,” Pierson said.
The Women’s Fund recently awarded $28,500 to five other local projects. Recipients are:
• $6,000 to Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center for empowering girls • $5,000 to St. Cloud Hospital for Senior Helping Hands Peer Volunteers • $5,000 to American Red Cross Central MN Chapter for scholarships for Certified Nursing Instruction • $5,000 to Boys and Girls Club for SMART Girls • $5,000 to Visual Arts Minnesota for Older Women Artist Project
The Julianne Williams Fund, a part of the Women’s Fund, awarded an additional $5,200 in grants to three projects that promote building of self-esteem, safety, confidence and overall empowerment of girls and young women through the use of physical activities. They are:
• $2,700 to the Girl Scouts of MN and WI Lakes and Pines for Girl GROWTH Outdoor Education and Camp Programming • $2,000 to Anna Marie’s Alliance for Bel Clare Estates Girls Outreach • $500 to Stearns History Museum and Research Center for the Working White House Children’s Project
The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF), based in St. Cloud, is a public charity that administers over 500 charitable funds totaling more than $65 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.
