Alexandria, Minn. – The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) announced the recipients of the 2017 Difference Maker Grant round and awarded $38,000 to local organizations. The grant recipients were announced last week at the AACF’s annual Putt Fore Dough event at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center.
“We are thrilled to support the Difference Maker grant recipients and know that their work will have an important impact on our community,” says Kathy Pfeffer, AACF executive director.
The agencies receiving funding include the following:
$11,000 – Alexandria Technical and Community College to support a nursing simulation learning center (NSLC). The NSLC will provide simulated real-life training for nursing students and community health professionals.
Pictured (L to R) – Jason Pohlen (AACF Board Chair), Merrilee Retzloff, Amy Allen, ATCC President Laura Urban, Ross Santell, Dave Bjelland and Kathy Pfeffer (AACF Executive Director)
$11,000 – Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County to support the Aging in Place Program. The Aging in Place program focuses on making safety improvements, mobility modifications and weatherization enhancements for seniors.
Pictured (L to R) – Jason Pohlen (AACF Board Chair), Lori Anderson (Habitat for Humanity Executive Director), Sandy Susag, Dian Lopez, Sara Gronholz, Randy Hansen and Kathy Pfeffer (AACF Executive Director)
$11,000 – Douglas County Outreach Food Shelf to improve accessibility to the entrance of their location so that all clients will be able to access their services.
Pictured (L to R) – Kathy Pfeffer (AACF Executive Director), Jody Niesen, Vicki Bump, Bill Flaig, Mary Anderson and Jason Pohlen (AACF Board Chair)
$5,000 – Someplace Safe for emergency financial assistance for crime victims including housing, transportation, food and medical needs.
Pictured (L to R) – Jason Pohlen (AACF Board Chair, Connie Strobel, Janel Tappari, Kathy Pfeffer (AACF Executive Director)
The Difference Maker grant round focuses on making significant grants that will be the “Difference Maker” in bringing about lasting, positive change in the Alexandria community. The focus areas for the grants are education, social services, health, arts and culture and civic.
The Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) in affiliation with CommunityGiving, is a public charity that attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local community. Since 1992, AACF has grown to over $2.8 million in assets and awarded over $788,000 in grants to local nonprofits. CommunityGiving is a collaboration of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. The core foundations working with CommunityGiving include the Alexandria Area Community Foundation, the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation, the Central Minnesota Community Foundation and the Willmar Area Community Foundation. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers more than 650 funds totaling more than $123 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Alexandria.