The project included interventions focusing on prenatal checkups and care, parenting

skills, drug awareness, job skill acquisition, life skills,

financial management, child development and others. Weekly parent and child groups met for skill building and social interaction with other parents. Over the two

year project period, services and support

were provided to 17 parents and 15 children

from a variety of sources, including the Lake of the Woods School social worker, a registered nurse from Lakewood Nursing Service, a staff member from the Crisis Resource Center, a Head Start social worker and an Early Head Start educator. Only one parent out of the 17 dropped out of the program; all others finished or remained in school. According to Mark Carlson, Head Start/Early Head Start Director, all the parents who graduated became employed. “There have been no

abuse or neglect reports,” Carlson said, “and no new pregnancies among the participants, while we also observed their growing confidence through the weekly sessions.” In addition, all pregnant girls received the prenatal care they needed. All the infants and children have had screenings, check-ups and immunization updates, while no new referrals were required.

“Young Parents Plus” Program Results In Positive Outcomes for Teens with Children

When a grant is awarded, Northwest Minnesota Foundation believes that the project will be successful. This is ensured by the process staff uses, carefully considering and reviewing the project by way of in-depth pre-proposal discussions with applicants. The high demand for NMF’s Caring Communities Program grants, which serve the needs of children and the elderly, requires this careful deliberation. The success that was expected was fully realized in the case of Northwest Community Action, Inc.’s Young Parents Plus project, just completed in Lake of the Woods County. The purpose of the project was to help teen parents during the most critical time for their babies’ and their own welfare. It was designed to provide wraparound services for young parents using a multi-agency approach.

continued on page 2

“This program fits well with our mission to see that

parents improve their parenting skills, become self-sufficient and improve their circumstances at home, work and school.” Mark

Carlson, Early Head Start/Head Start Director.

Summer 2005

NUMBER 37

4225 TechnologyDrive NW

---Bemidji, MN 56601

---218-759-2057800-659-7859www.nwmf.org

Young ParentsPlus .....................1,2

Message FromThe President .........2

PhilanthropicServices ..............3,7

Early ChildhoodInitiative ..............4,5

Grants ....................6

BusinessDevelopment .........7

Upcoming Events ....................8

Three years ago, the Northwest Minnesota Foundation joined together with the other five Minnesota Initiative Foundations and a statewide organization, Ready 4 K, to establish a new campaign for our youngest citizens. We called it the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that every young child in Minnesota has adequate nurturing, opportunities, and resources necessary to thrive and enter school ready to succeed.

The plan called for each initiative foundation to select six communities where local coalitions would be developed to spearhead local efforts. In northwest Minnesota, the communities of Bagley, Crookston, Park Rapids, Thief River Falls, Warroad, and Marshall County were selected. Each local coalition led an effort to identify needs, develop a vision, raise funds, and plan and implement projects.

As we near the end of our first three years, I am pleased to report that our initiative has been very successful. We have met or exceeded all of our goals for the project. Much of the credit goes to the community coalitions and their local coordinators. They have all worked extremely hard to make sure their community was doing everything it could to become the best place for a young child to grow up.

For our part, the foundation made grants totaling $240,000 to support local priority projects. In addition, over $265,000 in matching funds has been raised, either locally, or through other foundations which have seen the value in this initiative. As we move forward, the foundation is seeking financial resources to continue this successful effort in the region. But for now, my congratulations and a heartfelt “thank you” goes out to our six communities and their coalitions for their very successful efforts.

A Message from the PresidentJohn S. Ostrem

The NorthwestMinnesotaFoundation

investsresources,

createsopportunitiesand promotes

philanthropy tomake the region

a better placeto live and work.

BOARD OFDIRECTORS

Kip FontaineChair, Bagley

Anne SandVice Chair,

Bemidji

Carolyn EegSecretary,Greenbush

Diane BlairTreasurer, EastGrand Forks

Terri AndersonRothschadl

Waubun

David BergmanThief River Falls

Eric BergesonFertile

Mark HewittPark Rapids

Dean JohnsonMahnomen

Roger MalmHallock

Gary PurathRed Lake Falls

Kim WilsonFosston

“Young Parents Plus” Program The combined years of experience that the multi-agency staff possesses provided excellent insight for establishing the outcomes and indicators. Carlson said, “This program fits well with our mission to see that parents improve their parenting skills, become self-sufficient and improve their circumstances at home, work and school.

“The project will also assist our Lake of the Woods Early Head Start and Head Start Programs by helping teen parents be better prepared for more structured services that will continue when the children transition into them,” he said.

According to NMF President John Ostrem, the project is a good fit with both the Caring Communities program, which strives to improve childhood learning, social development and health, and the Early Childhood Initiative, which has the purpose of promoting high quality early childhood care and education while supporting parents.

Ostrem added, “Because early care and education is so important for the development of young children, this program is every bit as beneficial for the children as it is for their teen parents.”

2

continued from page 1

“ Hergenerosityreflected

the gratitude she felt for the

quality of medical care her husband

received…”

Maggi Aams’ Legacy Lives On Through the Roseau Area Hospital & Homes Fund

Endowed gift will provide support for medical equipment Almost three years ago Maggi Adams’

estate was bequeathed to the Roseau Hospital District and the Mayo Clinic. The Roseau Hospital District received over half of $1 million designated for medical and hospital equipment, along with pieces of her original artwork.

A new diagnostic system was purchased with some of the funds in 2004. This system is on the cutting edge of technology in radiology, upgrading from the traditional film system to a digital image system. Very few rural hospitals are able to afford to purchase such a system. Maggi’s generous gift made it possible for the Roseau Area Hospital to be one of those few.

Last month the Roseau Hospital District board established a special endowment of $235,000 from Maggi’s bequest for a Medical Equipment Fund, a restricted fund of Roseau Area Hospital and Homes Health Care Fund (RAHHF). This restricted fund provides direct financial support for medical equipment and other related purposes.

Roger Helgeson, RAHHF Advisory Committee Chairman, believes that Maggi would be pleased with the decision to endow the remainder of her gift. “Our health facilities will be able to purchase and upgrade equipment well into the future, using only the earnings from this generous gift. We could not be more grateful to have received her gift, which will jumpstart the newly established fund,” stated Helgeson.

RAHHF was formed in December of 2004 to provide financial support for health care related charitable and educational activities, projects or services. The fund will enhance the health care services provided in Roseau County. Those wishing to make memorials or gifts can designate them to support special projects like the medical equipment fund, hospice, nursing homes, ambulance or other general regional health care concerns. The funds are invested and administered by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

Maggi was a woman with a passion for culture, art, books and nature. She was the daughter of Dr. David Knox Caldwell, who was a prominent physician in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her parents encouraged education and her love

Philanthropic Services

of books. This enthusiasm for reading and thirst for knowledge c o n t i n u e d th roughou t her lifetime. She became a journalist, and met her future husband, Bill, while living in Rome.

Maggi and her husband, Bill, lived in Roseau for several years. Bill was editor-publisher of the Roseau Times Region and Maggi wrote many feature stories and enjoyed painting.

After their retirement in 1983, Maggi began working on a children’s book, titled Iggam’s Dreams. “Iggam,” which is “Maggi” backward and the nickname her father gave her as a child, was the main character in the stories and was a reflection of the young Maggi.

In 1997, Bill lost his battle with a lingering illness, and exactly five years after Bill’s burial, Maggi passed away. Her book remained unfinished. In an effort to accomplish Maggi’s dream of publishing a children’s book, her friends compiled the stories and accompanying art and helped transfer them to the Roseau Area Friends of the Library/Writers’ Workshop for publication.

Maggi left a legacy of art and stories to her community and a large will bequest to Mayo Clinic and Roseau Area Hospital. “Her generosity reflected the gratitude she felt for the quality of medical care her husband received from Mayo Clinic and Roseau Area Hospital,” says Patrick Moren, friend of Maggi’s for more than 30 years and executor of her estate.

continued on page 7

MAGGI’S FRIEND,PATRICK MOREN

3

Early Childhood Conference: Seize the Opportunity – Invest In Young ChildrenLast March, over 650 business, education

and community leaders gathered in St. Paul to develop and promote a policy agenda for early childhood learning and development. Presentations by politicians, business people, faith-based organizations and law enforcement agencies, among many others, promoted the message of improving the quality of life for our children, ensuring a productive future work force, and strengthening the economy. The NMF region sent 48 attendees,

who heard important presentations from Senator Norm Coleman, HB Fuller CEO Al

Stroucken, Legislative leaders Dean Johnson and Steve Sviggum, and Former Governor Al Quie. Plenary speaker David

Lawrence, Jr. from the Early Childhood Initiative

Foundation of Florida gave an amazing speech on where Minnesota stands in comparison to

other states on early care and education. As a result of

this gathering, early childhood efforts have become stronger and

Enriched early

childhood programs appear

to reduce future

crime and in the

long run they are the least-cost,

most effective way to reduce crime.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

DEVELOPMENT FACT:

better orchestrated throughout Minnesota. The overall message is sounding clearer in the political, educational and business environments, and a larger conference is being planned for a future date.

RKMC Foundation Grant Helps Communities’ ECI Efforts Grow Stronger Investing in early care and education is

critical to the future of rural communities and the entire state. Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP Foundation for Education, Public Health and Social Justice (RKMC Foundation) demonstrated their agreement to that statement by awarding a grant last spring. Funds are being used to advance the

implementation of action plans in the 36 community coalitions of the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative throughout Greater Minnesota. These communities have created plans to improve outcomes for their young children, giving all children the opportunities, nurturing, and high quality care needed to thrive. The RKMC Foundation support to the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations is divided among the 36 coalitions to fund locally created projects for young children and their families.

4

The McKnight Foundation has announced that it will continue funding the Minnesota Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) for three

more years. As a result, NMF will be partnering with new communities for northwest Minnesota’s ECI this fall. If you are motivated to gather community, education, and business leaders together to talk about

what you want for your youngest citizens, NMF can help. E-Mail Lin Backstrom linb@nwmf.org or phone 800-659-7859.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

DEVELOPMENT FACT:

Every year

more than 12,500

ofMinnesota’s

childrenenter

kindergartenwithout

the skillsthey need

tosucceed.

Thief River Falls Community Coalition Making Great Strides in Reading Readiness The Thief River Falls coalition has begun a

tremendous project called Building Language Together. This program is based on and incorporates methods from a major Harvard University study on language and literacy development, focused on how children develop skills that are necessary for reading. The Building Language Together program

has been used by the Challenger Elementary School’s preschool program for parents with 4-year-olds. As a result of the Early Childhood Initiative, child care providers now have the opportunity to incorporate the program into their child care settings. The program uses books and scripts, which

are given to child care providers that attend training sessions. The training is delivered through a joint effort between the school early childhood program and the Thief River Falls Child Care Association. Together they have completed training for 17 child care providers and many parents. They then use kits containing the materials

and instructions for follow-up activities at home. Each kit includes a different book that has been specifically selected for the content of a particular book. Each book has a “script” that describes to the parent how to use the book to help their child develop higher level thinking skills needed for literacy development. The coordinator in Thief River Falls, Jill

Johnson, has worked to improve the scripts that accompany the 24 books. Johnson said that she does not know of one child care home that used an educational tool like

Building Language Together. “The scripts do a wonderful job of helping parents and child care providers bring children to a higher level of thinking,” she said. “We hope to train another 40 providers this year, and if they can’t make it to the training, we are considering training them within their own homes.”

In spite of widely varying resources, the one trait all

36 communities have in common is a group of people who are passionate, creative and motivated to work toward making their home town a better place for young children and their families to live and thrive. With the help of RKMC Foundation, the Minnesota Initiative Foundations have been able to assist with the work. Projects supported in part by RKMC

Foundation funds during this reporting period include:

• Scholarships and transportation to school district preschool programs for children in need• Purchase and distribution of free books to all children on the 0-5 census, to be picked up at the public library when a coupon is presented • Numerous opportunities for training

on topics such as infant mental health and attachment for parents and child care providers

• Many partnerships between family child care providers and school district preschool/parenting programs

• Literacy encouragement projects, such as sessions for parents and child care providers, teaching effective ways to read with young children and providing free sets of books

• Hiring a crucial additional staff person (family advocate, mental health profess- ional) to fill a gap, through creative collaborative funding

• Community-wide early childhood resource directories for families

• Child development “tool kits” for rotation among family child care homes

5

For an Early Childhood family support worker/home visitor in the Thief River Falls area. $20,000 To Thief River Falls School District #564 for incidental expenses. ____________________ $1,000 Wetlands Pines & Prairie Audubon Sanctuary Endowment To the Wetlands Pines and Prairie Audubon Sanctuary for facilty updates and safety. __ $10,706Beltrami Humane Society Endowment Fund To the Beltrami Humane Society for a new 5-cage kennel for the shelter. ______________ $239Ralph and Ruth Shoemate FundTo the Beltrami Humane Society for a new 5-cage kennel for the shelter. ____________ $2,338 Bemidji Lumberjack Foundation Fund All School Reunion Fund _______________ $5,029 English – Anderson Fund _________________ $178 Gardner Fund ___________________________ $87 Lee Fund _______________________________ $87 McClure Fund ________________________ $1,250

Lumberjack Scramble Fund ___________ $10,000 Blackduck Area Community Fund Academic and Character Scholarship Fund __________________________________ $500 For a scholarship for Cody Nord. Clearbrook-Gonvick Education Endowment Fund To the Clearbrook-Gonvick School for the playground project and football field. $1,750 Clearbrook-Gonvick School Playground Fund To the Clearbrook-Gonvick School for the playground project and football field. $13,394 Thorbeck Field Fund To the Clearbrook-Gonvick School for the playground project and football field. ___ $5,064Fosston Education Foundation Endowment Fund LuVerne Trogstad Scholarship Fund (2) For a scholarship for Annika Dommer. $5,000 For a scholarship for Anthony Hand . $5,000Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Recovery and Renewal Fund ___________________ $3,800To Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center to make group mental health services available to Red Lake School District staff. Warroad Area Community Fund Justin Knebel Memorial Fund To the Warroad Basketball Boosters for basketball team camp. __________________________ $250

NMF Program GrantsNorthwest Regional Development Commission ___________________________$280For the Faith in Communities Conference. Economic & Community DevelopmentBaudette Community Foundation _____ $5,000 To develop a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan and Strategy to guide the County’s economic development efforts in the future. City of Bemidji _______________________ $4,000 For the Bemidji Downtown.

Pembina Trail Resource Conservation and Development Council ___________$25,000 For a biomass gasification fuel testing power plant.

Back 2 Basics 4 Kids _________________ $1,200For the business’ website.Young Birches _______________________$1,247 For a market study and for printing design.Giziibii Resource Conservation & Development ______________________ $2,500For agriculture and rural leadership training.Franklin Middle School andWaubun Area Schools (3) ______________$450For Star Teams follow-up projects.

Component Fund GrantsBemidji Area Arts Endowment FundEverett Wilimek Endowment for Violin StudiesTo the Headwaters School of Music & Arts for guitar lessons for Willow Werlein. ________________$250Clearwater County Humane Society Endowment Fund To the Clearwater County Humane Society for a spay and neuter clinic. __________________ $1,039Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center Foundation To Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center for the purchase of medical equipment. __________ $1,393North Valley Endowment FundTo North Valley Health Center to replace existing patient call system. ____________________ $18,117 Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund (2)To Bemidji State University for political science students to attend a leadership seminar. ___ $1,000

To the White Earth Land Recovery Project Young Women’s Leadership Retreat Project. _____ $1,000Roseau Area Community Fund To the Roseau County Historical Society for equipment to aid education of students and residents. $850

38 Grants Totaling $156,998 Were Made From June to August 2005

Grants

6

Everydollar spenton quality

earlychildhoodprograms

saves$7 in

negativeoutcomes.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

DEVELOPMENT FACT:

Thief River Falls Early Childhood Initiative Fund (2)

EARLY CHILDHOOD

DEVELOPMENT FACT:

TheMinnesota

EarlyChildhoodInitiativehas builtdiverse

communitycoalitions

to promotehigh-quality

earlychildhoodcare and

education,while

supportingparentsin their

importantwork.

7

You can leave major gifts by will to charitable causes and your estate enjoys the benefits of the “unlimited charitable contribution deduction” available to them. Some individuals plan on leaving gifts to their church, hospital or favorite social service agency, talk about it to these organizations and their friends, but never get around to properly conveying these gifts in their wills.

Commentators say that many people avoid making wills because they are afraid to face their mortality. Perhaps. But, more people would be inclined to make a will if they thought about their wills as a way to extend their love for their husband or wife, their care for their children and grandchildren, and their generosity and gratitude to friends and charitable causes that had benefited their lives. Maggi was aware of this and because or her remarkable foresight, Roseau’s fund has come to life.

For information about planned gifts, wills and estate planning, visit the NMF website’s Planned Giving Guide pages at www.nwmf.org or contact Ritchie Houge, Director of Development, toll free 800-659-7859 or 218-759-2057 email ritchh@nwmf.org

Portions reprinted with permission from Mayo Magazine. The mission of Mayo Magazine is to highlight the philanthropic support that helps ensure the continued excellence of patient care, medical research and medical education at Mayo Clinic. For more information on philanthropy at Mayo, visit mayoclinic.org/development

Maggi Adams’ Legacy Lives On continued from page 3

Business Loans One loan was recently made from the Revolving Loan Fund:

BMI Manufacturing, Oslo For the expansion of the business to include the manufacture of snow blowers.

One loan was recently made from the Lake of the Woods Area Industrial Development Corporation Fund, Baudette

Microloans Business counseling and loans are available to help entrepreneurs develop small business and self-employment opportunities. Nine loans were recently made totaling $45,000.

Finishing Touches, StephenVold Construction, Bemidji

City of Kelliher Loan ProgramRecommended approval for: North Country Food & Fuel, Waskish

Business Technical Assistance Three businesses from Bemidji and Bagley received $3,400 in outside consulting for management and technical assistance.

Business Development ActivityFall Business

Development WorkshopsQuickBooks Accounting SoftwareSeptember 23 & 30, Bemidji -- October 4 & 6, Crookston -- 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

ABOUT THE COURSES: You will learn how to quickly and easily manage basic tasks like printing checks, paying bills, generating reports, invoicing customers and tracking expenses. You will be able to organize information about your company, customers and vendors in one place so it’s easy to find when you need it. You will look more professional with customized invoices, sales receipts and other business forms.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:Michelle Landsverk, Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor has used QuickBooks software and has been a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor since 2001. Michelle’s years of experience with QuickBooks and as a small business owner bring the course past “book learning” and helps participants to apply the principles to everyday business management practices.

LOCATION AND FEES:Each class costs $75.00, which must be paid in advance. QuickBooks courses are being offered in Bemidji at The Center for Research and Innovation and in Crookston at the University of Minnesota’s Kiehle Hall. Participants may choose to enroll in only one or both classes.

CONTACT:For more information or to register, phone Diane Morey, 218-759-2057 or e-mail dianem@nwmf.org

4225 Technology Drive NWBemidji, MN 56601

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. Postage

PAIDBemidji, MN

56601Permit No. 36

~ Northwest Minnesota Foundation ~ www.nwmf.org ~CONTACT US: 218-759-2057 ~ 800-659-7859 ~ FAX 218-759-2328 ~ nwmf@nwmf.org

Quickbooks Accounting SoftwareSept. 23 & 30 CRI, BemidjiOct. 4 & 6 UM Crookston, Kiehle Hall

Adult Leadership I Feb. 13-17, 2006 Location TBAApr. 24-28, 2006 Hoot Owl Resort, Waubun Adult Leadership IIApr. 4-5, 2006 Hoot Owl Resort, WaubunApr. 5-6, 2006 Hoot Own Resort, Waubun STAR Teams Youth Leadership – All sessions held at Concordia Language Villages, BemidjiSession A Oct. 10-11 and Feb. 13-14 Session BOct. 25-26 and Feb. 28-Mar. 1Session CNov. 9-10 and Mar. 8-9

Valuing DiversityOct. 6-7 Hoot Owl Resort, Waubun

Nonprofit Program: Organizational Excellence Nov 3 Fireside, Bagley Nonprofit Program: Individual ExcellenceBest Practices for Organizational LeadershipOct. 4 Northland Inn, CrookstonOct. 5 Beltrami Electric, Bemidji

Upcoming Events Creating an Effective Board of DirectorsOct. 26 Beltrami Electric, BemidjiOct. 27 Northland Inn, Crookston, Basic Human Resource ManagementNov. 15 Northland Inn, CrookstonNov. 16 Beltrami Electric, Bemidji

All workshops scheduled for 2005-06 are listed on the NMF website www.nwmf.org. Applications can also be downloaded for printing.

MINNESOTA ICEA Rural Response to Methamphetamine

Statewide Meth ConferenceTuesday, November 1, 2005

St. Cloud Civic Center

Co-hosted by The Initiative Foundation and Hazelden Foundation

Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Initiative Foundations

There are reasons we choose to live in Greater Minnesota, and meth threatens every one of them. Invest one day to learn how you can protect your family and hometown. The end of meth will not come from experts. It will come from organized citizens who have had enough.

Featured Presentations:• The Impact of Meth in Minnesota• Meth Addiction and Treatment• Author Dirk Johnson: America’s Home Grown

Menace• David Parnell: Facing the Dragon• Iowa: A Community Solution

$50 Registration fee includes lunch and CD/DVD toolkit with meth videos and practical resources.