Today's Giving, Issue 2

Volume 1, Issue 2

Spring 2010

Volume 1, Issue 2

FirstLink: Connecting People and Resources across ND

Body, Mind, and Soul: An Integrative Approach to Health

How to Maximize Your Volunteer Power

The Healing Power of Art

also…ND TeeN ChalleNge helps FighT aDDiCTioNeNDerliN resiDeNTs Thrive wiTh hearTND, MN roTariaNs Drive ChaNge iN iNDiawho Do You TrusT?The TiMes are a ChaNgiN’

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© Copyright 2009, Lighthouse1, LLC. All Rights Reserved Minneapolis • Fargo • Phone: 952.908.9056 • www.lighthouse1.com

Spring 2010 Today’s Giving 3

5 To Your Health Editorial,FromtheFounders

6 Cancer Survivors “LIVESTRONG” in Cass-Clay

14 Foundations for Peace Built By Local Rotarians in India

SpecialfeaturebyLeannWolff,RotarianandWriter

19 FirstLink: Connecting People and Resources throughout North Dakota

24 How to Maximize Your Volunteer Power

28 Who Do You Trust? SpecialfeaturebyHollyB.Barr,

nonprofitprofessional

30 Addiction: CostlyCrisisinOurCommunities

38 Body, Mind, and Soul: AnIntegrativeApproachtoHealth

44 The Healing Power of Art

48 Art for the Elderly SpecialfeaturebyLilaHauge-Stoeffel,

professorofarteducation

50 Nonprofits & Organizations 52 Home Is Where HEART Is HelpingEnderlinAreaResidentsThrive

57 Faith In Action

58 The Times They Are A-Changin’ SpecialfeaturebyCherHelsrud,

nonprofitprofessional

63 Public Policy Brief: HealthCareInitiatives&

NonprofitOrganizations

67 Calendar of Events

Volume 1, Issue 2

Spring 2010

Spring 2010

4 Today’s Giving Spring 2010

Contributors

Kate Mund founded Lucy Communications in March 2006 after nearly eight years with Great Plains/Microsoft as a member of its public relations and solutions communications teams in Fargo, North Dakota. Prior to that, she looked after communications for two years for United Way of Cass-Clay, Fargo. While at Great Plains/Microsoft, Kate helped lead the company’s annual United Way campaign efforts. Kate lends her expertise to a number of area non-profit organizations. She resides on the outskirts of DeLamere, North Dakota, with her husband, Paul, their sons Robert (Bobby) and Luke, and Hubert, the family dog.

Writer, gardener, cyclist, skier and lifelong Dakota resident, Jay Richardson enjoys participating in, and writing about, community projects including FirstLink disaster relief coordination and Habitat for Humanity’s homebuilding efforts. Richardson believes in practicing “enlightened self-interest” and admires the everyday heroes in our region who roll up their sleeves and pitch in when needed.

503 7th St N, Suite 104, Fargo, ND 58102www.ampian.com | 701-356-7770

PublisherAmpian Publishing

Business DevelopmentBrian Bestge, Director

Editors In ChiefShannon Schweigert, FounderLisa Jackson, Founder

Managing EditorKate Henne

Graphic DesignMike Biewer, Creative ServicesJamie Farmen, Production DesignDan Nisbet, Typography and Layout

Advertising Account ExecutivesLynn Hanson, Lead SalesLin Smithwick, Associate Sales

Letters Send letters to the editor to [email protected].

Distribution Information Today’sGiving is available free by pick up at multiple distribution points throughout North Dakota, western Minnesota, and northeastern South Dakota. For a list of outlets that provide Today’sGiving, visit www.todaysgiving.com. If you need more information about availability in your region or wish to request an issue copy, contact [email protected].

Subscription Services Today’sGiving is currently provided free to the general public at distribution points. To request issues delivered to your home, business or agency, contact [email protected]. Receive four issues per year for $19.95.

Advertising Contact [email protected] or Lynn Hanson at (701) 306-8783

Article Proposals Send article proposals to [email protected].

“Faces of Giving” This section of each issue will recognize those who give in unique ways. Send recommendations to [email protected].

The mission of Today’sGiving is to provide insight, inspiration, and knowledgeable guidance that will help individuals, businesses, and agencies maximize their time and contributions to meet their unique giving goals. Today’sGiving is an independent organization owned by GivingPoint™ and is not affiliated with specific nonprofits.

©2010 All articles and content in this publication are under copyright and rights are reserved. Any use or reproduction of the content is prohibited without written permission from GivingPoint™. To request reprint permission, contact [email protected].

Some articles in this magazine are submitted by independent authors and industry specialists. Therefore, their views may vary and may not be those of the publishers, Today’sGiving™ or GivingPoint™.

Shannon Schweigert is a founding principal of GivingPoint (a fundraising consulting firm founded in 2007) and founder/editor in chief of Today’s Giving. He has 20 years experience as a fundraiser and financial advisor for organizations including: Jamestown College, Foster Klima & Co., EideBailly, LLP, and Impact Foundation. In addition to his professional work, Shannon serves on the board of directors for Wellspring for the World, a Fargo nonprofit that drills freshwater wells in Africa. He and his wife Holly have two children: Andrew, a freshman at the University of North Dakota, and Alison, a freshman at Fargo Shanley High School.

your garden, the perfect click of a drive that sails down the middle of the fairway, gentle waves crashing on the lakeshore, or getting back in touch with neighbors over conversa-tion across the backyard fence—ev-ery spring ritual signals hope and a renewal of the vitality of ourselves and our region. We encourage you to seek opportunities to share your time with others—nurturing per-sonal health, vitality and renewal in them and you. Shannon Schweigert,Co-EditorinChief

Shannon SchweigertCo-Founder,Today’s Giving


The calendar says March 21 is the first day of spring, but those of

us living in the Upper Midwest know better. For us, spring comes much later. We must first endure winter’s last stance through the March and April storms that delay our release just a few more weeks. We need to witness the winter snow that we strained to blow and shovel into orderly piles dwindle down in the spring sunshine; moving our battle with mother nature from our road-ways and driveways to our rivers and streams that will ultimately usher the effects of winter away. Winter’s cold and quiet nature is part of who we are. Spring and its promise of renew-al is the spirit of hope that allows us to cope and thrive even in the depths of winter’s grip.

We may experience a time of “win-ter” in our personal lives, as well, when all seems cold and dormant. Whether through addiction, a health or faith crisis, extreme poverty, or simply through the effects of age, each of us is susceptible to the isola-tion that our personal trials create. Fortunately, there are those that can help us reach our spring; offering hope and renewal. This issue of To-day’s Giving concentrates on health, healing, hope and renewal. It reflects the personal springs enjoyed by those

To Your HealthBy Shannon Schweigert, Co-Founder, Today’s Giving

who have experienced their own de-bilitating storms only to find faith, hope and renewal through the undy-ing commitment and nurturing spirit of those who take the time to care. In return, caregivers and volunteers ex-perience a renewal in their own vital-ity through their kind works. Hu-manities gift for uncommon humane efforts.

Through the pages of Today’sGiv-ing, we are committed to sharing the work and inspiration of those whose everyday efforts make our lives bet-ter. We visited with wonderful folks from throughout the region to take a look at personal wellness practices from a variety of perspectives. You’ll meet individuals and groups success-fully practicing simple, traditional methods of care, as well as some not-so-traditional therapies that are mak-ing an impact on how we heal.

We hope you enjoy and find guid-ance in our spring issue. We look forward to bringing you our sum-mer issue which will concentrate on education in our region, as well our fall edition which will share with you amazing success stories from the hu-man service sector and explore the philanthropy of North Dakota’s en-ergy industry.

Whether “spring” to you means the roar of a tractor, quiet time in

From the Founders

Cancer survivors “livesTroNg” in Cass-Clay

by Kate Henne, Today’s Giving

Livestrong Photos Courtesy of Ockhardt Photography


Combating cancer can take the wind from the sails of even the fittest, in-cluding avid athletes. World-renown cyclist Lance Armstrong knows. By age 25, he had already won the World Championships, the Tour Du Pont and multiple Tour de France races. But within a year (in 1996) he found that his biggest challenge had become beating cancer. Armstrong took an active and competitive approach to fighting his opponent—not just for himself, but for all cancer patients and survivors. In 1997, during his own treatment, he formed the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) to in-spire and empower those affected by cancer.

Now, the LAF and the YMCA of the USA have connected to create “LIVESTRONG at the YMCA,” a program to support people affected by cancer reach their health and well-being goals. It’s a free 12-week fitness program designed for cancer survi-vors who have become chronically fatigued or reconditioned as a result of the disease or treatment.

A nAturAl pArtnership“Traditionally, there hasn’t been much formal follow up for cancer patients as far as physical activity, especially after they’ve completed conventional treatment,” said Kristan Bullinger, Marketing Director at the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties.

But physical activity after cancer

treatments can help reduce fatigue, improve state of mind, and increase strength and endurance. So it’s im-portant for cancer patients and survivors to have a supportive en-vironment to encourage and accom-modate activity appropriate to each one’s needs.

In 2007, the LAF and the YMCA of the USA formed a unique and strategic partnership to provide that environment. The website www.livestrong.org states what had

become obvious: “The YMCA is the perfect collaborator because of its na-tional reach, commitment to meeting the needs of all community members, and history of program innovation in support of health and wellness.”

DAkotAns, western MinnesotAns AMong first in progrAMOver the past several years, “LIVESTRONG at the YMCA” has been launched as a pilot program in only 20 locations across the United States. Among the first locations: the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties, based in Fargo-Moorhead.

Currently, 2,686 YMCAs nation-wide serve 20,916,698 members—or an average 7787 people per location.

In 2009, the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties served more than 41,000 individuals across programs at its two facilities. Perhaps the number and breadth of those served was a factor in LAF’s selection of pilot

The YMCA of the USA has teamed up with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to pilot a progressive wellness program for cancer survivors

Livestrong Photos Courtesy of Ockhardt Photography


facilities. Whatever the case, the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties is the only Y currently offering the “LIVESTRONG at the YMCA” across the Dakotas, Minnesota, Montana, and much of the upper Midwest.

The pilot program included 12 members and was completed on January 28, 2010. Why such a small number when the location’s mem-bership is large? “We wanted to keep the first group in the program at a smaller number of people so we could give them individual attention as we worked out details and pro-cedures for the program,” said Bull-inger. Even as the program advances,

she says a goal will be to keep partici-pants at fewer than 20 people per ses-sion so groups remain intimate and resources aren’t stretched thin.

Two new sessions are now un-derway at the YMCA of Cass and

Clay Coun-ties: a Tuesday/Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. group started April 6, and a Monday/Wednesday 1:30-3:30 afternoon group began May 10. The sched-ule for summer sessions is being d e t e r m i n e d —

readers may contact the YMCA at (701) 364-4138 for summer program schedules.

who CAn pArtiCipAte?The LIVESTRONG program at the YMCA of Cass and Clay is cur-rently open to adults who have re-cently completed cancer treatments and have been given approval from their doctors to start a mild fitness

program. In addition, each partici-pant is encouraged to invite a fam-ily member or friend to attend ses-sions with her or him for ongoing personal support.

Because the program is new both nationally and at the YMCA of Cass and Clay, sessions have not yet been developed for children and teens. However, Bullinger says that YMCA programs, as well as residential and day camps such as YMCA Camp Cormorant, can tailor programs for children and teens with special needs due to medical conditions and physical limitations when possible. In addition, the YMCA of Cass and Clay offers a program for families in which a parent is dealing with cancer.

Current program participants came to learn about the LIVESTRONG program through varying means. Some were referred by their physicians to encourage continued progress toward well being. Sarah Linberg of Fargo says she’s been a member and sup-porter of the Y in the past, and learned of the program through an e-mail update when she was undergoing cancer treatment. Violet De-ilke is cancer survivor who’s been recognized with statewide and na-tional awards for her services to help can-cer patients cope with physical-appearance


“Our YMCA felt strongly about offering this type of programming, especially with the possibility of partnering with local cancer centers to serve survivors.”-Kristan Bullinger, YMCA of Cass-Clay

changes due to cancer treatment. Deilke first heard of the LIVE-STRONG program through her local cancer patient and survivor support group, Embrace.

Graduates of the 12-week program may also apply to return to future LIVESTRONG group sessions as program mentors.

progrAM flexibility is key to suCCess At an afternoon LIVESTRONG ses-sion, instructor Emma Lintelman leads a small group through a series of stretching and movement to enhance core strength, posture, balance, and flexibility. It quickly becomes appar-ent, though, that physical flexibility isn’t the most important aspect of the program. Instead, it’s the flexibility of the program itself that allows each

person to proceed at his or her own pace and current ability that makes it a perfect fit for those at different lev-els of recovery.

“It’s more important that you chal-lenge your current activity level than that you perfectly carry out the ex-ercise,” Lintelman says. “Our staff is here to guide and work with each in-dividual on proper technique.”

Linberg describes the pace in one word: “Perfect.” After completing chemotherapy last fall, she wanted to build back up to regular exercise activities but just was not confident enough of her physical ability to jump back into a stringent fitness program. “The instructors adapt to the abilities and capabilities of participants. Each person can progress as fast as they want to.”

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(formerly of Rolla, ND) agree enthusiastically. “We’ve been stupendously impressed with how they [the instruc-tors] have been able to adapt to each individual’s needs,” said Jean. After Wallace re-tired from a life-long postal career—a few years in Fargo and many years in Rolla—the couple moved back to Fargo to be near family. And after a recent serious illness, his doctor at MeritCare re-ferred him to the program to continue building strength. Jean has joined Wallace as his “support guest” for the program, and after 10 weeks says she sees obvious im-

provement in his balance and pos-ture. “He walks noticeably better. And of course, he likes to come each week and see the nice girls here,” she said, alluding to the friendliness of the instructors as perhaps a bit of extra motivation.

Lintelman says that the curricu-lum for the LIVESTRONG program is still being defined, and detailed activities might change as it evolves. “It’s based roughly on curriculum recommendations for cancer survi-vors from Stanford [University],” she said, referring to Stanford Medicine’s Cancer Center research. But she said that she anticipates the curriculum to remain flexible and adaptable, because the needs of participants vary widely.


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benefits reACh fAr beyonD fitnessThe LIVESTRONG program offers far more benefits than its physical-fitness focus. Linberg points out that as a former YMCA member, she’s now much more aware of the breadth of programs that the YMCA of Cass and Clay offers, including multiple programs and amenities for those with special needs for medical or on-going physical conditions.

Easing back into fitness at the Y also gives participants a chance to learn a bit about other YMCA classes they may wish to pursue at different stages of recovery, including yoga and aquatics. Bullinger also pointed out that the LIVESTRONG program has sharpened staffs’ awareness of

small changes they could make to both the Fercho and Schlossman YMCA facilities in Fargo to accom-modate members with special needs, such as placing benches or seating more frequently in longer or larger corridors.

Program participant Nancy Jar-dine of Fargo was an avid swim-mer before her illness, and wants to

incorporate aquatics in her fitness routine once again. She heard about the LIVESTRONG program when visiting with a friend and fellow sur-vivor from Bismarck. Pauline Alba, Aquatics Director for the YMCA of Cass and Clay and champion for the LIVESTRONG program, came to speak at a support group that Jar-dine and her friend were attending

together. The association be-tween aquatics, the Y, and the LIVESTRONG program mo-tivated Jardine to enlist and start working her way to new goals.

Another participant, wish-ing to remain anonymous, said she found out about the program on the Web and was excited to see it was offered at the Fercho facility, just blocks from her home. She said she’d been interested in finding out more about the Fercho Y but was intimated by the thought of fitness levels she surmised other members held. When she found out about the LIVESTRONG program, she thought she’s “maybe try a


“Our program revolves around the recreational side of their recovery. It is our hope that our participants have had a chance to work with therapists or rehabilitation specialists with any serious concerns.”

-Pauline Alba, YMCA of Cass-Clay

few classes.” She joined, and hasn’t looked back.

“The sessions themselves were mo-tivators for me, because of their pace and level. Also, I was encouraged to invite a friend to attend with me for additional support,” she said. That companion commitment, along with a prompt telephone call from the Y in-quiring if she was OK after she missed a session, deterred her from missing sessions unnecessarily.

Deilke agreed, adding that “get-ting me to focus on a fitness program with a manageable routine” was a big benefit, and also that “socialization is a big part of motivation” for cancer survivors who often look to each oth-er for support by sharing their expe-riences and unique stories. The small group in the program itself provides participants with a network of other cancer survivors.

A short list includes these benefits

of the LIVESTRONG program:• Build muscle strength and

physical endurance• Help strengthen immunities

through fitness• Create a supportive

social network• Develop a reliable routine to ease

into a healthy lifestyle• Form new friendships • Generate mentorships for patients

and survivors

CollAborAtion MAxiMizes resourCes The LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program is currently available in 20 cities across the US. By 2010, the goal is to expand the program to at least 150 YMCAs nationwide.

The partnership between the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the YMCA is just one example of re-cent collaboration among nonprofit

groups to combine resources and best practices to ensure that donor dollars and time are maximized to improve lives. And the partnership isn’t limited to just the two organiza-tions. To ensure that LIVESTRONG program at the YMCA is safe and ef-fective, LAF and YMCA has worked with a group of expert advisors across the United States to gather best prac-tices related to physical activity and cancer survivors.

Graduates of the LIVESTRONG program can choose to continue their membership at the YMCA of Cass and Clay though an income-based paid membership.

Interested in the program and/or recommending it to cancer survivors or groups? Want to find out about those best practices that help make collaboration through powerful part-nerships an effective investment of giving resources? Learn more about

the LAF, YMCA and LIVESTRONG programs:• Find out about the availability of the program in your area by contacting your local YMCA. To find the nearest YMCA, visit www.ymca.net • Visit the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program Web site: www.livestrong.org • Learn more about the YMCA of Cass and Clay at www.ymcacassclay.org


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College SAVE — for your child’s promising future

* Matching grants are subject to the availability of funds and can be reduced or stopped at Bank of North Dakota’s discretion.

If you are not a North Dakota taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program.

For more information about North Dakota’s College SAVE Plan, call 1-866-SAVE-529 (1-866-728-3529) or visit www.collegesave4u.com to obtain a Plan Disclosure Statement. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Plan Disclosure Statement; read and consider it carefully before investing. Upromise Investments, Inc. serves as Distributor and Underwriter.

The College SAVE Plan is a 529 Plan established by the State of North Dakota. Bank of North Dakota acts as trustee of the College SAVE Trust and is responsible for administering the Plan. Upromise Investments, Inc. and Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC serve as the Plan Manager and Recordkeeping and Servicing Agent, respectively, with overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations, including effecting transactions and marketing and distribution of the Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc. provides underlying investments for the Plan. The Plan’s Portfolios, although they invest in mutual funds, are not mutual funds. Units of the Portfolios are municipal fund securities and the value of units will vary with market conditions. ND6125 0809

Learn about the benefits of North Dakota’s own 529 college savings plan, including a matching grant for North Dakota residents.*

Visit collegesave4u.com or call 1.866.SAVE.529.

College save offers Matching grant opportunity

College SAVE, the State of North Dakota’s 529 college savings plan, expanded its popular matching grant program last year to benefit more North Dakota residents. The old adage, “there’s nothing free in life” does not necessarily hold true for some families who are saving for future college related expenses.

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged way to save for higher education. With the rising costs associated in pursuing a college degree, families are searching for ways to help their loved ones finance their educational goals. Not only does a college education help open doors, it can also mean a higher salary and better standard of living. A recent study shows that the average college graduate with a bachelor’s degree earns $1.2 million more than a student with just a high school diploma in lifetime earnings.*

Enter the College SAVE matching grant. Now account owners in two income categories can apply for a free match from Bank of North Dakota. The program’s objective is to encourage people to start a College SAVE account and begin the important task of having an educational nest egg for their students, thereby reducing student loan debt in the process.

The program matches up to $300 for singles earning $20,000 or less adjusted gross income (AGI); or $40,000 AGI or less if married, filing jointly. Account owners in this income group can apply for the match up to three years in a row.

For account owners in a higher income bracket the program offers a one-time match of up to $300 for singles earning $40,000 AGI or less; or $80,000 AGI or less if married, filing jointly.

Anyone can open a College SAVE account on behalf of a child. Grandparents, neighbors, friends or other family members may participate. The account beneficiary (future student) must be 12 years old or less at the time and the matching grant application needs to be completed no later than 13 months after the College SAVE account is established. Tax documents from the prior year are also required for income verification.

For more information about how College SAVE can help you save for a future college-bound student and the matching grant opportunity, go to www.collegesave4u.com or call 1-866-SAVE-529.

Seewww.projectonstudentdebt.orgformoreinformation.ArticlesponsoredbyBankofNorthDakota.


“Everyvehicledrivesbythehorn;turnsignalsareawasteof technology.The constant din of taxi, car, motor scooter,busandtruckhornsmixwiththeslightding-dingofbicyclebells. The smells of sandalwood, jasmine, lotus and curryspicesmixwiththesmellofdieselexhaust,woodsmokeandhumanity….blue jeans and cotton shirts move alongsidestunninglycoloredsaris.”BlakeCrosby,Rotarian

In mid-February, when the winter wind still holds a sting on the upper plains, 14 Rotarians from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Ontario boarded airplanes. Some 30 hours and 7,000 miles later, the unfamiliar sights, sounds and unique smells nearly overwhelmed them. They had arrived in India.

Members of Rotary International, a service club founded by Chicago attorney Paul Harris more than 100 years ago, arrived in India to continue the legacy of its founder: Ser-vice above self. The 14 members traveling to India hail from nine of the 66 clubs that make up District 5580. The district holds two distinct honors: First, it is the only in-ternational district with members in both the USA and Canada; and second, it is the only district that supports bricks and mortar construction projects around the world. This particular mission trip was made primarily to support the District’s fourth construction project in India and Rotary International’s focus to end polio in the world.


Foundations for peace Built By local rotarians in india Special feature by Leann Wolff, Rotarian and Writer

why inDiA? The short answer is to help build two additional class-rooms onto a village school. In a country with a tiny mid-dle class, people live on either side of a huge and visible divide between those who have much and those who have almost nothing. Parents work multiple jobs earning less than the price of a McDonald’s Happy Meal a day so they can to give their children access to the only ticket out of poverty: An education.

Like factories, public schools run two shifts to serve as many children as possible. Even so, there aren’t enough classrooms or supplies for all the children. Many districts throughout Rotary International help by bringing com-puters and school supplies to children in India (as well as other countries around the world). Only District 5580 helps build the actual school buildings.

On this mission trip, part of their agenda included time to help with the construction, as they have on projects in Guatemala. And, indeed they did work, some: three hours on three different days. However, the construc-tion project didn’t need their physical effort: Labor in India is so inexpensive that paying a man to chip mor-

tar from a used brick costs less than forming and baking a new brick.

The true value of Rotarians’ labor was that they chose to work side-by-side with laborers who earned little more than a dollar a day. The Rotarians demonstrated the real reason for coming to India: To build good will and better friendships.

living in CoMMunity “I knew from the reception of our Rotarian hosts that we were in good hands. I also knew we would experience

India in a way that few, if any, tourists do,” said Rotarian Blake Crosby. “From that moment, I relaxed and chose to be part of India for the next 18 days.”

“One thing you notice is that there is very much a class difference,” says David Manning, Rotarian and president of the FM AM Rotary Club. “The home I stayed in had three house servants. In the household, the servants kept their eyes down as they received their instructions and hurried off to do whatever needed doing. When we left the house, one of the servants followed to make sure we


were okay as we walked around the neighborhood.” Manning and two of his fellow Rotarians were grate-

ful for this guardian when they attracted the attention of children anxious to touch these unusual guests in their neighborhood.This minor disturbance gave the Rotarians the opportunity to connect with their protector.

On the street, the servant responded respectfully—and nervously at first—to the questions of these foreigners who ignored traditional class differences. Eventually, he would allow himself to look at the guests as he answered their questions about his family and life in India.

“The culture is changing. Young people don’t pay as much attention to traditional class differences as their par-ents do,” Manning observed.

syMbols of grAtituDe The local Rotarians take great pride in what their friends have helped them build to serve the children of their vil-lage. “Every surface that can have a sticker has the Ro-tary sticker,” says David Wrolstad, who is president of the Fargo West Rotary Club. “From the ceiling fans to the book shelves to individual books. You see the Rotary emblem everywhere.”

Several of the traveling Rotarians visited a classroom of ninth graders. “They went around the room and told us what they want to be—they want to be doctors, lawyers, mechanical engineers, software engineers and one girl wants to be a singer,” says Wrolstad. “It is pretty impres-sive to hear about their plans.”

“Children study from six to nine o’clock every night, six days a week. From the first graders to high school,” explains Blake Crosby. “One little boy in the first grade is learning four languages: English, Tamil, Hindi and a fourth I don’t recall. This country has already embraced the fact that they live in a global economy and they are preparing their children for it.”

enDing polio Of the 1,500 reported cases of polio worldwide, more than 700 occurred in the Agra slum the team visited. For that reason, among the many preparations for the trip, one of


the most important is a booster shot for polio. “The world isn’t safe from polio as long as there are chil-

dren who are not vaccinated against it,” says David Man-ning. “In our country or any other,” he adds.

Getting ahead of polio is a monumental task when a child is born every few seconds. “We calculated that 1.3 million children were born in India during the 18 days of our visit,” said Wrolstad. To eradicate the risk of po-lio, each child needs a series of inoculations from birth to school age.

With the help of UNICEF, the World Health Organiza-tion, Rotary International and other organizations, India schedules National Immunization Days (NID) when mil-lions of children receive their inoculations against polio and other diseases that put children at risk. While the Ro-tarians’ visit didn’t coincide with an NID, they were in-vited to help with a block clinic in Agra.

Each block coordinator within the city keeps a meticu-lous log of who lives in the area and their inoculations. The Rotarians began by giving vaccinations to walk-ins and then went door-to-door with flyers to see who was missed.

“We wandered around for three hours, much of the time we were trying to find out way back,” says Wrolstad. “There aren’t street signs or addresses. It’s like a maze. When we finally asked for help, we fol-lowed a little girl of five or so who darted around this way and then that way until she brought us back to the clinic.”

At the end of the day, the Rotarians had helped in-oculate more than 160 children who had been missed during the NID in January when 200 million children were inoculated.

trAvel with A purpose “Building a school with our labor is not efficient,” ac-knowledges Manning. “Sending money is.” But the trip isn’t just about the construction or inoculations according to Manning, Wrolstad and Crosby.

“We’re changing the world. The person who trav-els changes—the experience changes us. We also bring change. Because we travel all this way to help by performing manual work, we validate them and their community—that they are worth our help,” says Manning.

A Rotarian in Fargo, ND, LeannWolff lives with her husband on a farmstead near Glyndon, MN. As the principal of her own firm, Leann offers coaching and consulting to business lead-ers and their teams in non- and for-profit organizations. Leann grew up in the Hettinger, ND, area and graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN.


“When those children, villagers, students, family mem-bers…and Rotarian colleagues hear again about America or Canada, we will be the faces they measure against,” ex-plains Crosby. “We brought a piece of America and Cana-da with us and took a piece of India back.”

At the end of the mission trip, 14 Rotarians returned home to all that is familiar. But they see even the familiar differently: their perception has changed. They built more than schoolrooms; they established friendships and deep-ened understanding. Mission accomplished.

Editor’sNote:Service groups such as Rotary, Lions and Ki-wanis come to together to make a difference in their com-munities and the world, often sponsoring trips to bring volunteers to locations across the globe to provide service. Mission trips require intense commitment and significant time. Before deciding if a mission trip is right for you, be sure to clearly define your goals and the type of cultural experience that’s right for you. In selecting a mission, re-

search potential mission groups or agencies thoroughly to be sure they are the best fit for your goals, have a clearly-defined mission, have mission experience, will provide you with training, and that any evangelism outreach they extend to mission beneficiaries match your beliefs and interest. If you have an interest in participating in a mis-sion trip, talk to members of your local service groups for more information.


North Dakota and the Upper Midwest is a great place for volunteerism. A lot of people want to volunteer, and there’s no shortage of organizations that could use a help-ing hand.

FirstLink has taken the bold step of figuring out how to put these two complementary needs together, and has cre-ated some spectacular successes along the way.

“Our job is to be the ‘first link’ for volunteerism in our region,” says Cindy Miller, executive director of FirstLink. “To develop and foster that link between the people who want to volunteer, with the people who need volunteers.”

growing Along with inCreAsing neeDsThe organization started in 1967, with a small group called “Volunteer Community Service.” Some of its earlier ser-vices to expand to a wider area included the 1971 incor-poration of the regional “HotLine” telephone help line, as well as the organization of the Holiday Clearing Bureau in Season of Hope

Firstlink: Connecting people and resources throughout North DakotaBy Jay Richardson


1974. The organization now known as FirstLink has been providing and expanding volunteer community services, hotline support, and coor-dination for emergency services ever since. Primary programs today in-clude crisis and suicide intervention services, listening and support ser-vices, information and referral ser-vices (including volunteer resourc-es), disaster volunteer coordination, and community emergency response team (CERT) training. FirstLink also coordinates with the Salvation Army for their Season of Hope program to help distribute holiday gifts and food baskets to children and special needs adults, which in 2009 brought a touch of holiday cheer to some 5,000 individuals and families in need.

In addition to the FirstLink Hot-line (701-235-SEEK) and FirstLink Suicide Line (1-800-273-TALK), the organization is also handling the North Dakota 2-1-1 hotline services, helping residents throughout the state connect to human service re-sources.

stAtewiDe volunteer CoorDinAtionFirstLink also assists dozens of char-itable organizations by providing a centralized service for matching vol-unteer resources with opportunities throughout North Dakota.

Whatever your interests, whatever your skills, and wherever you live, FirstLink most likely has a volunteer opportunity link that will fit the bill. A quick scan of the “Be the Change:

reAChing out

story continued on page 22

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FirstLink helps organize volunteers for charitable causes such as this 2009 Walk of Hope.


reAChing out to volunteers AnD people in neeDIn order to do the most good, FirstLink focuses intensely on making their services as easy to find, easy to use, and as timely and effective as they possibly can. Primary ways in which FirstLink accomplishes these goals include:

• MakingiteasyforvolunteersandvolunteergroupstofindFirstLink. FirstLink makes it easy for volunteers to reach them, from a variety of sources. HotLine telephone numbers, coverage and advertising in local newspapers, FirstLink’s web site, and social media networking all provide portals into FirstLink’s services.

• Keepingintouchwithvolun-teersandvolunteergroups. People who volunteer once are the most likely pool for future

volunteer efforts. FirstLink asks visitors to its web site to register their name and contact informa-tion, along with their preferred volunteer services they would like to provide. This gives First-Link a ready resource when future volunteer needs arise.

• Keepingvolunteeropportunitylistsuptodate. Opportunity lists can quickly become out of date, and no one wants to learn about volunteer opportunities that have already passed. FirstLink makes sure they have a process

for routinely refreshing opportunity lists with new and compel-ling volunteer opportunities, and removes activities that have been filled or com-pleted.

• Beingcre-ative. Chances are, most orga-

nizations need volunteer help to assist with a variety of activities, so FirstLink’s staff takes the time to think about all the ways volun-teers can help out. For example, a food pantry that needs help restocking shelves might also need assistance with fundraising, community outreach, account-ing, and distribution. On the flip side, when a volunteer raises his or her hand and proves to be a committed and reliable resource, Miller says it’s important to take the time to think about that in-dividual’s talents and experience, and to ask if that person would be willing to step into a role with greater responsibility.

• Connectingthedots. Every non-profit organization struggles with stretching too-thin resources against a seemingly unending list of needs. By connecting with other organizations that deliver related services, non-profits can generate new ideas for sharing resources, coordinating services, reducing expenses and delivering a more complete, more effective service for their constituents.

Student CERT training


fAst fACtsvolunteerisM in AMeriCA• In 2007, 60.8 million Americans or 26.2 percent of the adult popula-

tion gave 8.1 billion hours of volunteer service worth $158 billion.

• In 2009, in the midst of the greatest recession in recent history, volun-teerism in America grew to 63.8 million people per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• North Dakota ranks in the Top 10 states for percentage of residents who volunteer, at 35.6% or more than one in three persons. Min-nesota, Montana and South Dakota also rank in the Top 10, and the Midwest is the #1 region in the country for volunteerism. (Source: Volunteering in America: 2008 State and City Trends and Rankings, Corporation for National and Community Service )

“In this time of economic distress, the need for service and volunteering is more critical today than ever before, and Americans are responding,” said Stephen Goldsmith, Board Chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “We’re seeing a compassion boom across this country, where communities are banding together and neighbors are reaching out in service to others. It is truly the generosity of the American spirit at its best. The need is great, the momentum is strong, and potential is unlimited for ushering in a new era of service in America.” (Source: Press release, January 2010: Volunteering Up Amid Tough Economic Times, Corporation for National and Community Service)

VOLUNTEER” link on their web site displays more than 100 volunteer op-portunities, from helping the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) committee plan their fundraising walk in Grand Forks, to helping with auto repairs at the YWCA emergency shelter in Fargo, to providing nursing services at the International Peace Gardens Music Camp. Yard work, bookkeep-ing, wallpapering, sorting clothing and other materials for redistribu-tion, study buddies, sewing, planting trees, foster grandparenting – the list of needs, and opportunities, is wide and deep.

Using www.MyFirstLink.org, vol-unteers can register and indicate the charitable organizations they’re most interested in, subscribe to e-mail re-

minders of new volunteer opportu-nities, and even track their volunteer and financial contributions online.

firstlink DisAster relief CoorDinAtionCoordinating disaster relief volun-teer services for Fargo, Moorhead, Cass and Clay counties has also be-come a significant part of FirstLink’s charter. “Last year during the 2009 flood we managed 100,000 volun-teers and took 50,000 flood-related calls,” said Miller. “We learned so much. Coordinating 100,000 volun-teers—it’s a little overwhelming, but also extremely rejuvenating when you see that many people com-ing together, the sense of energy is pretty powerful.”


CreAting thAt first link:

• CalltheHotline: The majority of FirstLink’s volunteers initially contact the organization through the volunteer hotline at 701-235-7335. Volunteers are encouraged to call the hotline to find out how they can help, or to ask for help with volunteer opportunities for their organizations.

• ReadthePaper: Several newspa-pers in the region publish “You

are needed” columns featuring volunteer opportunities.

• VisittheFirstLinkWebSite: FirstLink keeps its web site updated with the latest volunteer opportunities and offers a wealth of information that will help volunteers find the right oppor-tunity. Visit www.MyFirstLink.Org.

• BecomeaFaceBookFriend: Regular updates to FirstLink’s FaceBook site helps volunteers keep up with the latest news and volunteer needs. FirstLink can be followed on FaceBook at: www.facebook.com/myfirstlink.

• FollowFirstLinkonTwitter:Volunteers can get the latest up-dates instantly on their Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/myfirstlink.

ConneCting with volunteers Miller says it’s important for nonprofit organizations to make it easy for volunteers to connect with them, and lists several ways in which FirstLink provides access to their services. Volunteers can connect with FirstLink in the following ways:

To set up your own donor advised fund or provide support to existing projects, please contact Michelle Walters, Executive Director, Vessel

Christian Foundation. 701.746.8321 [email protected].

Do You WANT Your GIVING to Have GREATER Impact?

Jim and Shirley Hooge recently made a charitable contribution by setting up a donor advised fund with Vessel Christian Foundation. Through

this fund, the family received the tax savings that come from giving to a registered 501(c) (3) organization. More importantly, Jim and Shirley,

along with their five children, can make decisions about where to direct these funds over several years instead of when the actual gift was made.

This is the first donation we’ve made in this way and of this size…and we feel it has truly reignited the fun of giving for

us. Vessel’s services have helped us to be efficient and

purposeful in our giving while having fun with it.

“

”

Spring 2010 Today’s Giving 2323 Today’s Giving Spring 2010

Volunteers have always been a key component of nonprofit organiza-tions. A variety of mission-related tasks would not be accomplished without individuals who share their time. Organizations like FirstLink, RSVP+ and VolunteerMatch have the sole charge of engaging people to volunteer by matching opportuni-ties with individuals in North Dakota and western Minnesota.

Dedicating time provides a re-warding opportunity for volunteers to further engage in their commu-nity, make new friends or business connections, and develop new or ex-isting skills. Better yet, statistics have long shown that those who volunteer experience “lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer” accord-ing to The Health Benefits of Volun-teering: A Review of Recent Research from the Corporation for National and Community Service

“Volunteering makes the heart grow stronger,” said David Eisner,

CEO of the Corporation, “Americans volunteer to improve conditions for people in need and to unselfishly give of themselves. While the motivation is altruistic, it is gratifying to learn that their efforts are returning con-siderable health benefits.”

Volunteers make it possible for or-ganizations to fulfill their mission. Most often groups seek volunteer help to provide direct services such as delivering meals to seniors or mentoring students as well as admin-istrative support, fundraising, and professional leadership. The impact of volunteerism in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors is incredible. The Volunteering in America 2009 report released by the Corporation for National and Community Service shows that 61.8 million Americans, 26.4 percent of the adult population, are responsible for contributing eight billion hours of service last year. Based on the value of a volunteer hour of $20.25, this is worth $162 billion.

Unlike charitable giving—which

declined between 2007 and 2008 for the first time in 20 years—volunteer-ism has remained constant. In fact, the number of volunteers actually in-creased by about one million. While volunteering is on the rise amid these tough times, volunteer retention re-mains a crucial issue. More than 35 percent of America’s volunteers dropped out between 2007 and 2008, representing a massive loss of valu-able human capital—about $30 bil-lion a year, as well as the cost of staff time to recruit new volunteers.

In consideration of the available data, Today’sGiving offers the follow-ing tips to get the most out of your personal or organizational experi-ence. Consider these tips to optimize the societal benefits of volunteer time and to make your volunteer experi-ence enjoyable. We have consulted various volunteer sites and spoken with trained volunteers and nonprof-it volunteer agencies about the neces-sary planning steps and ways to help you become engaged.

how to Maximize Your volunteer powerBy Lisa Jackson, Co-Founder, Today’s Giving,


tips for the

volunteer:Volunteering provides a tremendous opportunity for societal impact and personal development. Think about what you have to offer, what you want to do, for what organization, and for how long—before you commit your time. Having a strategy may provide you with greater satisfaction in your experience.

• HaveNoFear. Many people who have not volunteered tend to fear the time commitment of service. Prior to volunteering, take time to evaluate how many hours you would want to help each week or month. Although governing boards have time commitments of two or three years of service, there are tasks or projects which last shorter periods of time.

• AnyAge,AnyRange. All volun-teers share a common trait; the fact they are all different. Whether you are retired, with children or without, in grade school or col-lege, there are so ways to get in-volved, with opportunities for per-sons of every age, skill and desire.

• Get Connected. Visit with your local volunteer center or church to find new opportunities. Both are friendly sources for engaging people with a variety of organi-zations and needs. The Internet has excellent online volunteer re-ferral services, including www.volunteer.gov or www.volun-teermatch.org. The White House in conjunction with the Cor-poration of National and Com-munity Service also launched a

new website titled Serve.gov to make it easier for Americans to volunteer. Asking friends, fam-ily or colleagues are also help-ful for ideas and volunteering is a group is a fun social activity.

• Research. Once you choose an or-ganization whose mission is in line with your interests, feel free to re-quest a meeting to find out more. Think of it as a job interview for the organization by asking about their programs, needs, hours or times during the year that most opportunities exist. Describe your interests and qualifications so they can match you to their most appro-priate need. See www.serve.gov.

• Don’t Limit Yourself. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Consider an organization that offers training or professional development opportunities for their volunteers; employ skills that you don’t have the opportunity to use at work or home. For example, Big Brothers Big Sis-ters needs mentors through-out the Midwest, Minot Adult Literacy Program needs tutors, Aspect Foun-dation Student exchange needs

host families in Grant County, Nature Abounds needs wildlife observers near Fergus Falls, and White Earth Land Recover proj-ect needs help to build sustainable communities. Serve as a counsel-or, coach, provide logistical sup-port, event planning, accounting, the ideas and needs are endless.

• Go Virtual. There are many needs that can be filled remotely. If you have a knack for setting up a Facebook page, designing websites, writing or perhaps cre-ating excel files or databases, vir-tual volunteering may be for you.

• Don’tGiveUp. If you find that your experience is not living up to ex-pectations, speak to the volunteer coordinator or director to explain why or seek out a different role.


web sites:• VolunteerMatch is a nationally

based organization that allows you to search for opportunities in your back yard to other areas across the country. They also offer a va-riety of online services to support nonprofit, volunteer and busi-ness leaders committed to civic engagement. See www.volunteer-match.org

tips for the

nonprofit orgAnizAion:There are exceptionally compelling reasons to engage volunteers in your organization. In addition to helping com-plete work and providing valuable insight, volunteers are much more likely than non-volunteers to donate to a charitable cause. According to the 2009 Bank of America Study, in 2008 78.2 percent of volunteers contributed $25 or more annually compared to 38.5 percent of non-volunteers.

• SetGoals. Volunteers can achieve many things for your organization and it is advantageous to think about how to engage them by set-ting goals for their involvement. Do you want or need new ideas, innovation, greater awareness of your cause within the community, more clients, better representa-tion, or quotas for funding? Which objectives, once achieved, will make the greatest and most im-mediate impact on your mission?

• CreateaHandbookor“StrategicVolunteer Plan.” An organiza-tion that has fundamental volun-

teer procedures in place usually has a better time recruiting and retaining volunteers. According The New Workforce Volunteer Report, “by treating volunteers as the valuable resource they are, nonprofits get more challenging work done, reap the benefits of more volunteer hours, and incur fewer costs associated with hav-ing to replace lost volunteers each year” (Eisner, D., et al, 2009). The definition of success will be dif-ferent for every organization. For some it may be having volunteers that represent a variety of ages, education-levels, economic levels

and other demographics, others may measure success by commu-nity response, people served or dollars raised or a combination of several contributing factors.

• ValueTime. It is difficult to quan-tify the value of a volunteer pro-gram since your volunteers provide many intangible benefits beyond hours served. However, calculating the value and return on investment of your program can be vital to its sustainability. The Independent Sector has calculated the dollar value of a volunteer hour nation-ally and by state. For South Dakota

• RSVP+ is based in North Dakota and provides volunteer opportu-nities with various organizations by regions in the state. See www.rsvpnorthdakota.org

• Serve.gov is a comprehensive clearinghouse of volunteer op-portunities. Americans who are interested in volunteering can use this tool to locate opportunities to serve across the country and around the world. Serve.gov is managed by the Corporation for National and Com-munity Service. See www.serve.gov

Other web sites offering tips, information and tools to maximize volunteer efforts:• www.dosomething.org • www.nationalserviceresources.org/via • www.volunteeringinamerica.gov


Works Cited

Giving USA. (2009) A publication

of Giving USA Foundation,

Center on Philanthropy

at Indiana University.

David Eisner, D., Grimm Jr., R. T.,

Maynard, S., Washburn, S. (2009).

The New Volunteer Workforce,

Stanford Social Innovation Review

it is $14.27, North Dakota is $14.98 and Minnesota is $20.39 per hour.

• Interview. Individuals have their own set of talents. The organiza-tion and the individual will benefit most if talents are matched to an appropriate role. Get to know the interests, skills and desires of your volunteers before assigning tasks.

• BeHonest. The top activity of vol-unteers in the Midwest is fundrais-ing, followed closely by collecting and distributing food. Have you heard this or even said it before? “We’d like you to be on our board. No, you don’t have to fundraise.” Most if not all board members should have a role in some level of fundraising to ensure your or-ganization’s success. Once you’ve identified projects for your vol-unteers, be honest about what the organization expects of them

and their role; this is particularly valuable if you expect them to assist in a fundraising capacity.

• Honor Commitments. The old saying, “say what you mean and mean what you say” applies here. Be respectful of the commitment volunteers make to your organi-zation. They are a living, breath-ing billboard of what your or-ganization is all about. Keep on task, meet deadlines and celebrate with them when you succeed.

• Establish a Volunteer Recruit-ment Network. People are more likely to volunteer if they are asked by a trusted friend. Religious or-ganizations traditionally utilize the most volunteers. Charities that partner with religious organiza-tions are more likely to receive larger numbers of volunteers and more hours of service than those

without this type of collaboration. Adopt their methods and watch your volunteer numbers grow.

• Say Thank You. Although obvi-ous, it’s often overlooked. Take the time to appropriately thank all of the people who support your mission by donating time. Vol-unteerMatch had a terrific idea. Thank your volunteers by giving an appropriate book. For example, Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’sSoul or How many people doesit take to make a difference? You may also create a volunteer rec-ognition wall (much like those for your financial contributors), rec-ognize them at your annual din-ner, or go as far as providing AAA membership discounts or supple-mental insurance like RSVP+.

Corporation for National and

Community Service, Office of

Research and Policy Development.

Volunteering in America Research

Highlights, Washington, DC 2007.

Corporation for National and

Community Service, Office of

Research and Policy Development.

The Health Benefits of Volunteering:

A Review of Recent Research,

Washington, DC 2007.

Volunteers in Police Service

Program, “Value of Volunteer

Time.” March, 2009. http://www.

policevolunteers.org/resources/

references/?fa=value_vol_time

Ellis, S. J. (2010) From the

Top Down: The Executive

Role in Successful Volunteer

Involvement, 3rd ed.


Who Do You

Trust?

As a fundraiser, I could tell you all the reasons why you should trust a charity. I could also give you all sorts of national statistics as to why some-one chooses a particular charity. But suppose I tell you what our commu-nity is saying:

First of all, Midwesterners have a reputation for being very trusting, but this doesn’t mean we make deci-sions without knowing all the facts. Being informed about a potential charity, especially during tough eco-nomic times, has become a huge pri-ority. We love to help each other, but most of us want to make sure we can trust charities with our gift.

We live in a community filled with privately held benefits, non-profits large and small, churches, school fundraisers and the list could go on. So, where does trust come from? Be-ing curious, I decided to ask three simple giving questions to people from various economic areas includ-ing employed, unemployed, and re-tired. This is what they had to say.

Question 1: whAt woulD MAke you trust A ChArity?Answer: Overwhelmingly, 71 per-cent of participants stated their num-ber one reason was reputation. They defined this as the length of time the charity has been in existence, their leadership or governing board, or their history/track record. A large number of people went on to say that first-hand experience or personal knowledge of a charity was extremely helpful for them to be more trusting and supportive.

Question 2: Do you support the sAMe ChArities As your pArents? InterestIngly, I wanted to ask thIs questIon because If our parents supported a charIty they felt worthy, would we trust our parents and support It too?Answer: Surprisingly, the response was 47 percent answered “Yes,” and 53 percent “No.” However, many who trusted their parent’s charity were very clear in stating they had made their own personal choices too. Ad-ditional comments gave insight into how local charities are supported

Holly B. Barr is Director of De-velopment and Public Relations for ShareHouse, Inc. of Fargo. Prior to coming back to the Red River Valley in 2006, Holly worked for the Michi-gan Opera Theatre in Detroit, MI and the HealthEast Foundation St. Paul, MN. Holly has written articles, designed planned giving materials/

workbooks, and was a Mentor Guide for the Community Founda-tion of SE Michigan. Shortly after 9/11, Holly traveled to Nicaragua and Panama to work as a journalist documenting the needs of the poor. She resides in Moorhead and Somerset, WI.

Special feature by Holly B. Barr, nonprofit professional


more frequently than out-of-state charities due to the ability to become directly involved. Others made new charity choices when they were im-pacted personally by an event (like cancer, diabetes, or a death), by asso-ciations (arts, education, religion, or foundations), or by catastrophic calls to action (like tsunamis, hurricanes, floods or earth quakes).

Question 3: whAt sCAres you the Most About MAking A gift to A ChArity?Answer: Maybe this was too simple of a question, but the majority said it loud and clear: Contributors fear not knowing if their gift will be used for its intended purpose. This ques-tion was followed by an outpouring

of even more questions! “Will my gift be wasted?” “Will it be used for excessive administrative and hidden costs?” “Will it be used to cover over-head, or caught up in red tape?” “Will it be sent to an organization’s distant corporate office?” Who thought ask-ing a simple question would only be followed with more questions!

One thing was abundantly clear: When you finally trust a charity and make a donation, you would like to know your gift is helping. So here are some suggestions to help you ensure your contributions are used effec-tively. • In a time when there are so many

different options in our com-munity to give, find out all you can about the charity. Go to their website, plan a visit, volunteer, or

call for information about their history, their leadership, and don’t be afraid to ask where your dona-tion can help.

• Make sure you feel confident in their mission and vision. For most people, this relationship becomes emotional and purpose-ful for both you and the charity. Since our children maybe watch-ing us, perhaps we should take the time to help them understand how making a gift can impact their lives too. This life lesson alone could be considered a pre-cious gift for generations.

• And finally, make sure your char-ity is communicating how your gift is making a difference. Trust is built both ways…and in today’s giving, it’s the first step!


Addictionby Lisa Jackson, Today’s Giving

The red and blue flashing lights of five cop cars bounced on the building’s brick walls and cement parking lot in January of 2000. Matt had been out “carhopping” that evening. Walking down city streets, with a bottle of vodka in one hand and a stolen CD player in the other, he was checking for open car doors to take anything of value that he could find, including a 22 pistol. It was in that moment he knew he was caught, but felt both scared and relieved.

Costly Crisis in our Communities


OOnly three years earlier, Matt had graduated from high school with honors. He was a good kid who grew up with Christian values. Now, he faced a six-year jail sentence at age 20 for multiple offenses, and a serious addiction problem that at its peak entailed consuming a fifth of vodka and over 30 pills a day. Although the root of his problems did not lie in addiction, his situation was exasperated by it.

While Matt was serving his time, his mom mentioned to him a pro-gram called Teen Challenge (TC). At first he was not sure about the program or his willingness to make a change, but five months later he checked in to Minnesota Teen Challenge (MnTC) in Minneapolis, MN. Matt was still unsure about the program, but it offered the incentive to get out of jail to attend and have his sentenced reduced.

“I hated God and people, really,” Matt recalled feeling after having just entered the MnTC program. “It wasn’t a cops and robbers game where they were about to let me get away with things. I was providing chew-ing tobacco to residents, manipulating the situation and tearing people down that were trying to accept treatment.” But when he was about to get kicked out, he prayed for the first time. “I decided to let go,” said Matt. From that point he made a resolution to stop talking and listen to the counselors and program directors.

Although it has been a long road, today Matt Voor-hees is now a graduate of the MnTC program. Not only has he been clean and sober for nine years—a success it-self—but he also obtained a Bachelor of Arts in psy-chology and is an ordained pastor. Matt is also the Ex-ecutive Director of North Dakota Teen Challenge.

the hArD truthsMany aspects of substance abuse plague our region and country. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, addiction is one of nation’s biggest health problems. It places a tremendous burden on our so-ciety in the form of health care, the economy, family life and public safety. The total overall financial costs of substance abuse in the United States exceeds half a trillion dollars annually. This encompasses health care, crime and losses in productivity. These costs include $185 billion for alcohol, $181 billion for illicit drugs, and $168 billion for tobacco. These numbers, however, do not account for the loss of over 100,000 people every year from abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol, or the 440,000 deaths per year from tobacco.

Our families and friends in the upper Midwest are not immune to these sta-tistics. If fact, many of the “rural” states struggle with cultures of acceptance for abuse—leading with alcohol. Alcohol is the most commonly-used abusive substance in the United States, and North Dakota ranks as the top state for alcohol use across all age groups for both consumption and binge use. Binge drinking is commonly defined as consuming five or more drinks at a time once or twice a week, and North Dakota is ranked number one in the nation for the percent of individuals aged 12 to 20 years that have engaged in binge alco-

Costly Crisis in our Communities

The total overall financial costs of substance abuse in the United

States exceeds half a trillion dollars annually.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

500,000,000,

000

B


hol use in the past 30 days (Hughes et.al. 2008). The exact causes of such alcohol misuse aren’t clear, but stud-ies have shown that boredom, stress, anxiety, and depression—along with generational abuse and acceptance—are all contributing factors.

From a health standpoint, addic-tion can cause serious side effects

and even death. Both take their toll on the health care system, as well as the family and friends who love and care for those struggling with addic-tion. The National Council on Alco-holism and Drug Dependence notes that one-quarter of all emergency-room admissions and one-third of all suicides are related to alcohol. Both

alcohol and drug abuse can induce or facilitate medical diseases such as strokes, dementia, heart conditions and cancers.

Getting in trouble with the law is another consequence of alcohol abuse. In 2007, over 38 percent of the inmates who entered the North Dakota prison system were charged with drug and alcohol offences. But while jail time addresses the offense, it does not provide a way to treat the problem.

Annual Averages based on 2005 and 2006 NSDUHs

Alcohol Use In Past MonthAmong Persons Aged 12 Or Older

57.86-63.14 54.04-57.85 51.52-54.03 44.86-51.51 32.40-44.85

Percentages of Persons

“North Dakota Teen Challenge is a faith based ministry that teaches those with lifelong strongholds how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In doing so, lives are being transformed.” First Lady Mickey Hoeven.


teen ChAllengeThe creation of Teen Challenge stemmed from urban gang problems in Brooklyn, New York. As told best through the book “The Cross and the Switchblade,” Rev. David Wilkerson moved to the city after reading an article in LIFE maga-zine about seven teenagers who were on trial for beating a man to death. It lead to his work offer-ing youth with drug and alcohol addiction treat-ment as well as life skills through a networked dubbed “Teen Challenge.” Since its founding in 1958, there are now over 400 centers worldwide. In its 50 years, the core of the program has always hinged on Christian evangelism and discipleship. Providing faith-based solutions, the year-long residential drug and alcohol recovery program has a very different approach from other recovery programs, and is providing higher success rates according to a independent study, The Teen Chal-lenge Drug Treatment Program in Comparative Perspective, conducted by Dr. Aaron T. Bicknese. In particular the results emphasized Teen Chal-lenge’s ability to help student develop new social skills, so upon completion, they have a much higher rate than other treatment programs in being productively employed and much less of a chance to need future treatment. Teen Challenge’s belief is that “if an addict establishes a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, learns life skills, and personal accountability, there will be perma-nent freedom from addiction.”

Although its name can be deceptive, the pro-gram’s outreach in North Dakota is geared to-ward adults age 18 and over. North Dakota Teen Challenge (NDTC) for Adults officially opened in June of 2004 in Williston as an alcohol and drug residential recovery center for men. Within a year, it became apparent that the need for this program was growing. To meet the increasing demand, NDTC relocated to Mandan

on September 1, 2005. In 2006 NDTC began ac-cepting adult women into the program.

The program currently hosts about 50 adult residents, who all live at the facility and partici-pate in the “Life Care” program. In addition to recovery, each individual’s courses are provided at four graduated levels throughout the course of the 12-month program. They included recovery, renewal, restoration and healing and then their transition back into life.

Although addiction affects people regardless of their backgrounds, socioeconomic status, religion and culture, it’s a predominant issue for those convicted of a crime. In many cases, addiction is the cause of criminal behavior. In America, over 72 percent of persons under justice supervision—whether jail, prison, probation or parole—actual-ly have a substance abuse disorder. At some point, these individuals will be reintroduced to society and almost 70 percent will recidivate within three years of release.

Currently, many of the participants in NDTC are inmates from jails across the state. Addicts can be very manipulative and they learn to work the system to their advantage, and Voorhees points out that TC takes out the “wiggle room.” Inmates who desire to enter TC have the viable option of presenting the program to the court for alterna-tive sentencing. The cost of the program is about 90 dollars per day, of which the North Dakota De-partment of Corrections reimburses 30 percent to the program. The remaining costs are covered by donor contributions and grants. Overall, the county and the state do pay less for an individual who chooses the program and the community cost is about the same.

“Simply put, the students of North Dakota Teen Challenge are our brothers and sisters who have struggled with meth addiction, depression, alcoholism or suicide attempts—every stronghold imaginable—and Jesus is healing them one at a time.” First Lady Mickey Hoeven.


As far as receiving inmates that join the pro-gram just to get out of jail, Voorhees says that’s not a primary concern because it provides a plat-form for recovery. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, combining criminal justice sanctions with drug treatment can be effective in decreasing drug abuse and related crime, as well as boost re-covery rates.

Another factor of the program’s success: Offenders with addiction issues usu-ally have problems in other areas such as family difficulties, mental health disorders, education and employment problems or lim-ited social skills. Treatment takes these prob-lems into account because they can increase the risk of relapse and criminal recidivism if left unaddressed.

In 2009, NDTC con-ducted its own study on program gradu-ates to help determine their programs suc-cess.

NDTC has a very collaborative part-nership with the North Dakota Department of Corrections, as well as churches of all denomi-nations throughout the state. Voorhees and the staff spend much of their time visiting jails and parishes to provide a message of hope and heal-

ing. For example, in eastern North Dakota’s Cass County Jail, inmates are offered the opportunity through the Peace Officer/Jail Chaplains Associa-tion (POJCA) to get out of their cell to partake in

bible study. Over coffee and donuts, they hear from Chaplain Mike Sonju about how God

and treatment can change their lives and even hear stories firsthand from other people who were previously

incarcerated. That participation is a way to open the door for treatment and recovery.

Pastor Curt Frankhauser, executive director of the POJCA, established a program that allows inmates and their families to go to

church together four times a week. This type of program is unheard of in other

jails across America, but it’s increasing the

rehabilitation of those who participate.

“We treat people as more than a statistic,” states Voor-

hees. “There is still a lot of stigma that goes along with

addiction.” Many times that stigma leads to individuals

avoiding treatment. North Dakotans were in the top 20 percent of all U.S. residents for needing but not receiving alcohol treatment in all age groups. Research states the biggest reason for not receiv-ing treatment is not feeling it is necessary, and

Of the 92 graduates contacted for the study, 61 responded. Here are the highlights:

Overall, the respondents reported that NDTC has taught them how to live a chemical-free lifestyle, as

well as how to handle life’s situations positively, improve work habits, and have healthily relationships.

100%say their job situation

is better than when they entered

the program

70%of graduates

have maintained total sobriety

<10%of the 92 graduates

have returned to jail or prison

when individuals do seek help there are additional barriers to complet-ing treatment, including the cost and not being ready to quit.

Deb Cheney, Director of Programming for NDTC, is also a grad-uate of MnTC and very passionate about her work. She spent 18 years serving as a missionary in Europe, including France and Al-bania, prior to battling an addiction to alcohol. Suffer-ing from depression, she turned to wine to numb her pain and cope with life. She is also very candid about her story, “I knew I wanted to be healthy, but I didn’t know I could be worth anything,” Cheney said. Now she is helping to dramatically change the lives of both female and male participants and their families. The best part of Cheney’s job is having the privilege of seeing lives dramatically improved and families restored. Prior to her position as Program Director, Deb Cheney served from 2006-2008 as the Women’s Program and Fam-ily Center and has witnessed women from all walks of life set free from addiction to pur-sue healthy, fulfill-ing lives.

how to helpOne of the most difficult and frustrating parts of running a program like TC is instead of working in a collabora-tive environment, many addiction programs are very competitive for resources such as outreach and funding. Private support goes to helping many of the addiction

ADDICTION

is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and

use, despite harmful consequenc-es. It is considered a brain disease

because drugs change brain structure and functional-

ity. These brain changes

can be long lasting and lead to the

harmful behaviors

seen in people

who abuse drugs.

Although people

do make the initial decision to take a

drug, over time the

changes to a person’s brain and

their behaviors due to repeated abuse can affect the ability to take self

control, make sound decisions and at the same time the need to for the substance may

become more of an intense impulse. Each type of drug is different and as well as how individuals

respond to its affects. There is not one single factor that leads to having a problem. Risk is often influenced

by a person’s biology, the environment including but not limited to abuse, stress, and parental involvement, and if used early in development it causes greater vulnerability. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Ser-

vices Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2008, 23.1 million (9.6 % of the US) per-sons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem.

FActs AbOUt

AddIctIOn


programs in our region. In addition to residential programs, the federal and state governments provide a listing of resources for individual help. It’s also important to remember that treatment costs can be a barrier to participa-tion, and community support of programs can help ease costs.

But the biggest way we can help fight addiction is to support early preven-tion, since addiction is a preventable disease. Research by the National In-stitute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that prevention programs which start with kids at an early age and involve family, schools, our communities and the media are effective in reducing drug and alcohol dependency risks.

A few highly-visible examples of raise awareness and helping prevent ad-diction across our region include…

• “High Risk High” is a radio and web program that’s been broadcast on Prairie Public Radio discussing youth drink-ing in North Dakota. At www.highriskhigh.org you can find personal stories about alco-hol addiction, the consequences of young people’s drinking and what people are doing to make a difference.

North Dakota Teen Challenge Facility

If your community is in need of an awareness and prevention pro-gram, information and program materials are provided through Pre-venting Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders, Second Edi-tion, or visit NIDA’s Web site at www.drugabuse.gov.

Trying to locate appropriate treat-ment can be a difficult process—es-pecially finding a program tailored to an individual’s particular needs. However, there are some resources currently available to help with this process.

• North Dakota’s First Lady is a strong proponent of prevention and supports the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation. A unique coalition of current and former governors’ spouses, federal agencies, and public and private organizations, the Foundation is an initiative to prevent the use of alcohol by children ages 9 to 15, and provides communication tools for your family to help start the discussion.

moreinfoi


WorksCited

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration. (2009). Results from the

2008 National Survey on Drug Use and

Health: National Findings (Office of Ap-

plied Studies, NSDUH Series H-36, HHS

Publication No. SMA 09-4434). Rockville,

MD.

Cakraborty, J. (November 2007) “The History

of Bio-Medical Millennium,” Journal of

Medico View 23, no. 5): 43.

Decker-Gerard, M., Owen, G., Owen, P. (Au-

gust 2007) “Following-up with graduates

of Minnesota Teen Challenge: Results of

telephone surveys with persons complet-

ing treatment in 2001 through 2005,”

Hughes, A, Sathe, N, Spagnola, K. (2008).

State Estimates of Substance Use from the

2005–2006.

National Surveys on Drug Use and Health

(DHHS Publication No. SMA 08-4311,

NSDUH Series H-33). Rockville, MD: Sub-

stance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration, Office of AppliedStudies.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration. (2009). Results from the

2008 National Survey on Drug Use and

Health: National Findings (Office of Ap-

plied Studies, NSDUH Series H-36, HHS

Publication No. SMA 09-4434). Rockville,

MD.

• North Dakota Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at www.nd.gov/dhs/services/mentalhealth or at the following location: Div. of MH and SA Services Dept of Human Services Prairie Hills Plaza 1237 West Divide Ave, Suite 1-C Bismarck ND 58501 Phone: 701-328-8920 Fax: 701-328-8969

• Teen Challenge Interna-tional, USA, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, provides leadership and services to the entire network of Teen Chal-lenge ministries throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. More information is available at www.teenchallengeusa.com.

• High Risk High is a radio and web project about youth drink-ing in North Dakota. If you are a student, a teacher, a parent, or just interested in the topic, visit www.highriskhigh.org.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMH-SA) maintains a web site (www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov) that shows the location of resi-dential, outpatient, and hospital inpatient treatment programs for drug addiction and alcohol-ism throughout the country. This information is also accessible by calling 1-800-662-HELP.

• The National Suicide Preven-tion Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK) offers more than just suicide pre-vention—it can also help with a host of issues, including drug and alcohol abuse, and can connect individuals with a nearby profes-sional.

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) and Mental Health America (www.mentalhealthamerica.net) are alliances of nonprofit, self-help support organizations for patients and families dealing with a variety of mental disorders. Both have State and local affiliates throughout the country and may be especially helpful for patients with comorbid conditions.

• The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psy-chiatry each have physician locator tools posted on their web sites at www.aaap.org and www.aacap.org, respectively.

• For information about partici-pating in a clinical trial test-ing promising substance abuse interventions, contact NIDA’s National Drug Abuse Treat-ment Clinical Trials Network at www.drugabuse.gov/CTN/In-dex.htm, or visit NIH’s web site at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

• The mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse is to lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. See www.drugabuse.gov.

body, mind, and soul: A n I n t e gr At I v e A p p roAc h t o he A lt h

Northwestern Minnesota center taps

the healing power of peace on the

Plains to complement modern medicine

by Kate Henne, Today’s Giving


A yurt, which can accommodate up to 30 individuals during retreats, sits on the banks of the Red Lake River Valley on the MICAH Campus.

Over the past century, American health-care practices have increas-ingly focused on scientific treatment and an illness- or disease-centered model. Since the mid-20th century, individual care has moved away from an intimate physician-patient rela-tionship with a general practitioner and toward highly-specialized medi-cine for each separate issue. This is our current general approach to Western medicine. But there is an important movement taking place to bring an ancient approach to West-ern medicine: Creating health in ev-ery aspect of ourselves—including physical, mental, and spiritual—to help heal all underlying causes of ill-ness and not just symptoms.

bACk to the future: reDisCovering bAsiC well being Fewer than 150 years ago one would have found the people of the first nations across our Great Plains regularly com-bining contemplation, prayer, spiritual ceremony, diet, and physical treatment in a quest to obtain optimal health. In Europe during the same years, while laying the founda-tion for all of professional nursing, Florence Nightingale noted the importance of “external factors associated with the patient’s surroundings”1 including physiologic as well as biological for the restoration of health.

In 400 A. D., Hippocrates supported a therapeutic ap-proach based on “the healing power of nature” (“vis medi-catrix naturae”). According to this doctrine, the body contains within itself the power to re-balance the “four humours” and heal itself.2 Hippocratic therapy focused on simply easing this natural process.

So the practices of holistic healing and integrated medicine are far from “new,” but instead are reemerg-ing. According to Dr. Debra Bell, MD (Family Practice and Integrative Medicine) in Crookston, MN, “Over the last 100-200 years, as we’ve focused on learning more about scientific and biomedical treatment, we’ve let go of the spiritual.”

Bell, who also serves as a lecturer and interim co-direc-tor of the Integrated Medicine department at the Univer-sity of North Dakota, believes that separation of spiritually

from health care was accelerated by a study sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation and supported by the American Medical Association in 1910. The consequential “Flexner Report” rebuked medical practices that did not emphasize biomedical treatments such as vaccines. As a result, the AMA ordered schools that offered training in alternative disciplines to drop such courses from their curriculum or lose their accreditation.

Bell says that begin-ning in the 70’s in the United States, integrated and alternative medicine has been making a come-back. “It’s not necessar-ily a ‘big’ movement, but gradual increasing inter-est in more information and more thought about it,” she said. “We are see-ing ‘spirituality’ studies coming back into medi-cal school curriculums.” Bell suspects the move-ment is consumer driven, from dissatisfaction in the results of biomedical practices and fragmented

Dr. Debora Bell is Medical Director of the RiverView Family Practice and Integrative Medicine Center in Crookston, MN; co-founder of MICAH; and co-interim director of the Integrated Medicine Department at the University of North Dakota.


experience of specialized medicine being catalysts for the movement to bring back integrated and holistic medicine.

Bell has been interested in integrated medical practices since she began her medical-school studies at the Uni-versity of California. She said there have been numerous occasions in her medical career that have confirmed her belief in the importance of integrated medicine, includ-ing assisting in both “highly-medicinized” and more nat-ural birthing experiences in which the latter tend to be a healthier and happier overall experience. For example, she worked with a patient which struggled with fibromy-algia for years while treated by modern medicines for the symptoms. Finally, pain relief came with changes in diet and acupuncture.

Now, Bell’s interest and professional journey have led her and several com-

plementary partners to create a center for integrative and holistic treatment right in our

back yard.

holistiC heAling on the northern

plAinsNot far from the borders that jux-tapose the Dakotas, Minnesota

and Manitoba is the Minnesota Institute of Contemplation & Healing (MICAH), one ex-

ample of a growing number of health-care alternatives in

which people can discover the power of simultane-

ously nurturing body, mind and spirit. The

Crookston-based

organization is the only one like it in the region, so it draws participants from across the Dakotas and western Minnesota. (Visit www.micahprays.org.)

Daniel Wolpert, M.Div., MA—co-founder and co-di-rector of MICAH, author and Presbyterian minister— has worked in the fields of science, contemplation, and health for over 35 years. He serves as spiritual advisor for MI-CAH. “It’s [MICAH] a major transformation for those that were raised during the period of separating our health and well being from our spiritual life. In some ways, MI-CAH is a way to crystallize a framework to help us back to that understanding of faith and spirituality as a part of our being.”

Wolpert points out that we are more challenged than ever to reintegrate spirituality, reflection and contempla-tion into our lives. “Technological advances have created a ‘social independence’…we act more individually than ever before,” Wolpert says, “contemplation is difficult with thousands of messages streaming at us constantly.”

MICAH’s offerings are three fold: • A family-practice and integrative medical center

and clinic (co-located with RiverView Health) offers traditional family medicine and complementary alternative medicine, including bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, massage therapy and counseling.

• A remote retreat center serves as a haven for contemplation and reflection on spiritual formation, leadership, healing and the arts for personal, group and church retreats.

• Daily silent prayer and weekly bible study are options of the program.

While the prayer center is supported by the First Pres-byterian Church of Crookston and the spiritual direction is generally Christian, Wolpert says that MICAH’s offer-ings are ecumenical and individual programs or retreats are available. MICAH’s mission is to create, support and


Holy Doodles – Cartoons to Contemplate, Volume 1, Trey Everett, MA, 2009. (Trey currently serves as coordinator and prayer practice instructor for MICAH’s Health and Spirituality Program.)


develop programs and an environment for the practice and study of spiritual formation and leadership, healing and the arts. The vision: “MICAH is a place where we live out a holistic vision of being in communion with God, with others, and with the earth…a place to discover heal-ing for body, mind and spirit…”

unpluggeD: the iMportAnCe (AnD phobiA) of ConteMplAtion The Rev. Stephen Peterson is assistant to the bishop of the Northwest Minnesota Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He leads MICAH retreats for congre-gational leaders and works as an informal advisor for the program for nearly five years. Peterson points out that the word “contemplation” generates frequent misconception in our region and in our time, as it evokes reactions vary-ing from the association with eastern religions only, to be-ing non-religious, to being too tied to a specific religion. “That can be a barrier,” he says, “but it’s critical for us to stop, look, and listen.”

“And that can be threatening,” Peterson says, “because people might often be afraid of what they hear.” He says most people have an innate sense of the importance of contemplation and reflection and are often instinctively aware when they need it most; yet they avoid it. He com-pares the reaction to some people’s tendencies to avoid physical health checks; many people can sense there is something wrong with their body but put off going to the doctor.

But contemplation is key to seeing things differently and, Peterson says, more clearly. So the MICAH program and retreat experience must be disarming, open, hospi-table and safe all at the same time. “Many people are in denial [of their spirituality] and need to be in a setting where they have space and feel safe to be open and en-counter God,” he said.

Patricia Salwei is executive director of The Dwelling In The Woods retreat center nested half way between Min-neapolis and Duluth, MN (see www.dwellinginthewoods.org) . A native of Zeeland, ND, Salwei is a retired Air Force captain who spent more than six years working Intelligence in Texas, Guam, Germany, and Italy. She also worked as a corporate coach, is a George Mason University gradu-ate, and holds a master’s degree in human development from Tai Sophia Institute, Bethesda MD. She knows first-hand how we can become addicted to the adrenaline of a hectic lifestyle.

“The ‘hit’ of excitement masks the longing for deeper satisfaction,” Salwei says, “but removing that can reveal re-markable depth and help us find our soul.” Too often, she says, “we are thinking ‘if I had more money, a new job, a new love interest,’ life would be better. However, it creates a revolving door of personal satisfaction for a life we can’t lead. It is arbitrary and never attainable,” she says

“Our Western culture—the American spirit of conquest and Midwestern work ethics—make us feel guilty for tak-ing a break,” she says. So, after earning her master’s de-gree, Salwei took a much-needed time out to spend three months in a rental cottage in Emily, MN, with no car and pure seclusion. The result: self discovery. “I left behind the notion and broke the cycle of ‘I have to have something else.’ I discovered I was whole. I had depth and joy and a connection to my God.”

Still not convinced that downtime is a necessity for health? Consider this: In 2008, Swedish researchers looked at 20 years of records and discovered that the number of heart attacks dipped on the Monday after clocks were set back an hour from daylight saving time to standard time. But moving clocks forward appeared to have the opposite effect. There were more heart attacks during the week after the start of daylight saving time, particularly on the first three days of the week.3


supports this approach. Then, be open to the experience. Resistance to change, self-doubt, and low self-esteem can be roadblocks.

Finally, remember that integrated, holistic health is a lifelong commitment to taking responsibility for your life-style choices, making time for reflection, and being open to growth and change as your journey unfolds.

supporting integrAteD heAlthCAre Integrated healthcare usually involves multiple compo-nents such as clinical, contemplative, religious, self-re-flection, stress reduction, diet, and more. It’s also indi-vidualized, so it can vary greatly from person to person. Because of this nature, different facilities and profession-als involved in any integrated healthcare experience will often include a mix of both for-profit and non-profit enti-ties. But most organizations providing healthcare services rely to some extent on public support through volunteer-ism and contributions to sustain and improve practices. What’s important is that you consult with a trusted phy-sician and conduct careful research before engaging new organizations and professionals in your healthcare mix. Then, choose to use and support those that best fit you.

footnotes1 Nightingale, Florence (1974. First published

1859). “Introduction by Joan Quixley”. in Notes on Nursing: What it is and what it is not. Glasgow & London: Blackie & Son Ltd.. ISBN 0-216-89974-5.

2 Garrison, Fielding H. (1966), History of Medicine, Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company .

3 Dr. Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute and Dr. Rickard Ljung of Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare; “Shifts to and from Daylight Saving Time and Incidence of Myocardial Infarction’; New England Journal of Medicine, October 23, 2008.

Both Peterson and Salwei point out that as financial and materialistic endeavors take priority in American lives, finding the time and courage for silent contemplation is challenging. “It might sound like a lot of work—and there is some work and struggle,” Peterson says, “but eventually it flows. The result is overwhelmingly joyful. “

“God has given us a great gift in life, and we’re free to be creative in how we act as stewards to that gift,” Peter-son said, “Family, health, work—it’s all related, and there’s great joy in having the freedom to explore what the gift of life means.”

your role: Questions for self explorAtionIntegrative medicine treats the patient according to the functional assessment of the whole being. The first steps should include taking inventory of your history and habits across all aspects of your holistic health. Consider these questions to explore your well being:• Physical: Is your diet balanced with nutritious, whole

and natural foods? How much do you exercise or engage in moderate physical activity? Do you smoke? Do you get enough sleep and rest? What is your medical history? What major medical issues are in your family?

• Mental and Emotional: Do you have a positive attitude and sense of humor? Do you love yourself? Are you able to give love? Do you generally accept others despite differences? Are your relationships wholesome or dysfunctional? Is your work meaningful?

• Spiritual: Do you make quiet time for yourself? Are you able to engage in contemplation or meditation? Are you connected with your God, higher self, universe and/or spirit?

Next, speak with your general practitioner about your need for holistic healthcare or find a practitioner who


Laura Youngbird has experienced the revealing, healing and transform-ing power of art first hand, both as an artist and as an art educator. She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree, and a Master degree in printmaking and drawing. As an artist, the themes in her work originate from experi-ences that her family—particularly her grandmother—had while at boarding schools, as well as issues that surrounded their assimilation into non-Indian culture. Youngbird also explores the influences of Chris-tianity on American Indian spiritual-

The healing power ofBy Kate Mund

ity and life views. An enrolled mem-ber of the Minnesota Chippewa, Grand Portage Band, Youngbird has served as the cultural coordinator and art instructor at Circle of Nations School in Wahpeton, North Dakota since 1997.

Art As therApy for stuDents At CirCle of nAtions sChoolCircle of Nations School (CNS) is an inter-tribal, off-reservation boarding school, chartered under the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Oyate and funded

by the Bureau of Indian Education. Circle of Nations School serves American Indian youth in grades 4 through 8. The mission of the Circle of Nations School is to build academ-ic achievement and foster healthy de-velopment of the whole child in a Na-tive American cultural environment. An act of the U.S. Congress created the Wahpeton Indian School, now known as Circle of Nations, in 1904.

Youngbird credits Joni Altringer and Kathleen Westcot, former art therapists at CNS, with establish-ing the art therapy program at CNS.

“Art is our one true global language. It knows no nation, it favors no race, and it acknowledges no class. It speaks to our need to reveal, heal, and transform. It transcends our ordinary lives and lets us imagine what is possible.” —Richard Kamler, artist, educator and curator

44 Today’s Giving Spring 201044 Today’s Giving Spring 2010

While “art therapy” is a subjective term, art therapy can be defined as the therapeutic use of art making—within a professional relationship—by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal devel-opment. Through creating art and re-flecting on the art products and pro-cesses, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symp-toms, stress, and traumatic experi-ences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.

“I was so fortunate to work with Joni and Kathleen and learned so much from them,” said Youngbird. “While art therapy isn’t part of our CNS curriculum any more, art edu-cation is offered, and often is thera-peutic. The arts are so important because students who may not ex-perience academic success will often experience success in the arts. Statis-tics have proven that the majority of

“We just need to find that ‘thing’ in every kid; everyone has a gift.” —Laura Youngbird, artist and educator

LauraYoungbird’sArtwork www.laurayoungbird.com

CircleofNationsSchoolwww.cns.bia.edu

SocietyfortheArtsinHealthcarewww.thesah.org

people, in general, are visual learn-ers.”

Many of the 100-plus students at CNS come from reservations across the United States that struggle with poverty, violence and substance abuse. “Some of our kids come from reservations that have the same living conditions as third-world countries,” Youngbird said. “Most people are unaware of the destitution and hope-lessness that exist within our nation.”

Art As A lAnguAgeIn her art education classes at CNS, Youngbird uses a multitude of medi-ums. She incorporates traditional Na-tive American art forms and themes. With respect to the Native American culture and values, she reminds stu-dents that anything they do should be done in a positive and good way.

“Art is a language and can say things that words can never come close to expressing,” she said. Young-bird believes that the arts give stu-

Art above by Laura Youngbird

Spring 2010 Today’s Giving 45Spring 2010 Today’s Giving 45

To think outside the box as related to charitablegiving that promotes health, consider theimportanceofnotonlyorganizationsthathelpwithphysical health, but also those that help improvehealthofthemindandspirit.

dents the opportunity to develop a voice, generate new perspectives, make connections and find meaning. The arts develop persistence, provide challenges and enhance self-esteem. Making art, Youngbird said, exercises the brain and strengthens one’s power of observation. “Not everyone will choose to become an artist, but I have seen students discover a passion and turn their life around. You never know when a little spark will ignite a blazing fire.”

Case in point: when George (not the student’s real name) arrived at CNS, he was depressed and unmotivated; he was very much a loner. Bullied in the schools he came from, it wasn’t long before he was being bullied at CNS, too. While some of his teachers couldn’t get him to do much of anything, Youngbird, among others, recognized that despite the labels, he was actually very bright. She also noticed that he liked drawing cartoons as well as photog-raphy and filmmaking. With a little encouragement, he began to develop those skills. “We saw him flourish,” said Youngbird. “He stood straighter, he interacted with others and his self-worth began to soar.” George went on to a fine

White Scratch Art

by Jewel High Horse

46 Today’s Giving Spring 201046 Today’s Giving Spring 2010

Wood Burning with Oil Pencils

by Stephannie Lame

Colored Pencil

by Detrea Lemieux

arts high school and is now beginning a promising career in filmmaking. In fact, he was one of three students na-tionwide whose films were selected for a prestigious film festival in New York City.

“We just need to find that ‘thing’ in every kid; everyone has a gift” said Youngbird. “There’s a line from the movie ‘Capote’ that sticks with me. Tru-man Capote was comparing himself to Perry Smith, a murderer whom he wrote about in ‘In Cold Blood.’ He said ‘It’s like we grew up in the same house, but I left out the front door, and he went out the back.’ Instead of focusing on early meaningful education, we’re building more and more prisons. Unfortunately, our nation’s pris-ons are filled with gifted individuals that fell through the cracks … something’s wrong with that picture.”

Art As inspirAtionYoungbird said that what inspires her both per-sonally and professionally are beauty, justice and integrity. Certainly all those attributes can be found in art of all kinds.

“The world is a mess … war, pollution, hunger, vio-lence … it is overwhelming, and life can seem hopeless to so many of our youth,” said Youngbird. “Sadly, children are not honored in our society. In school, expectations are high, and the focus in on the test and conforming to someone else’s ‘perfect’ ideals. Learning should be fun.”

Fortunately for the students at CNS, hopelessness can turn into hope. “Inspiration is everywhere,” Youngbird said. “Art is all about thinking outside the box.”


for the elderlyThis section contributed by Lila Hauge-Stoeffel, retiredprofessor of Art Education at Minnesota State UniversityMoorheadandconsultantfordeveloping“expressiveartsforelders”programs.

We quickly admire the creative energy of a child but tend to overlook that cre-ative energy as we age. In a single generation, the view of life for older adults has changed dramatically. Today’s society is shaped by unprecedented growth in the number of people living in their “golden years,” and we know that health care can promise longer, more active lives. As a result we are looking beyond sad myths and stereotypes about aging and studying the power of the emo-tional foundation of creativity.

Hundreds of projects across the United States have been designed to enhance the quality of life for seniors through the Arts. Largely because extensive re-search has identified the multiple positive effects that participating in the cre-ative arts has for older adults. Studies of creativity and aging programs point to observable improvements in both the psychological and physical quality of life. The arts help to create eldercare friendly communities in which older adults are respected and are able to thrive and function, and the arts help to create cul-tural development through intergenerational appreciation and participation.

This was clearly evident in the Pioneer House (Fargo) Pilot project begun in 2003 with funding from the North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) and the National Endowment for the Arts. As project coordinator of that pilot proj-ect, Lila Hauge-Stoffel continues to promote programming in the Arts for the elderly in both North Dakota and Minnesota. Data collected from the Pioneer House project clearly demonstrates that boredom, loneliness and feelings of helplessness can all be lessened through participation in creative arts activities.

“We found that when engaged in artistic endeavors in which individual choices are made, the elders were less focused on their physical pain, used less medication, experienced elevated mood, showed an increase in the level of independent functioning, and participated in more activities, and showed a decrease in symptoms of depression and loneliness,” stated Hauge-Stoffel. To be creative is to draw on one’s life experiences and turn them into something

“We found that when engaged in artistic endeavors in which individual choices are made, the elders were less focused on their physical pain...” —Lila Hauge-Stoeffel, retired professor of Art Education


new. When we express ourselves though a creative pro-cess, we learn something about who we are and enhance our self-image.

Through creative expression, we share ourselves and connect with others. Creative expression allows us to al-ter our everyday experience with pain and problems and sometimes transcend them. It makes us more resilient, better able to cope with life’s adversity, and helps us age more graciously. We need to appreciate the aging process and celebrate the life experiences of the elderly in our families and society.

Through programs such as the North Dakota Council on the Arts (NDCA) Arts for Life project, this is being achieved. Area artists; painters, weavers, mosaic artists, potters, poets, musicians, storytellers and dancers are be-ing hired to work in elder care facilities, bringing creative expression into the lives of the residents. Arts for Life pro-grams have been established in the North Dakota com-munities of Langdon, McVille, Jamestown, New Town and will be developing in New Rockford. This program is growing thanks to efforts of local agencies and the NDCA, www.nd.gov/arts.

People love a good story. We’ll help you tell yours.See our story at ampian.com/story



Nonprofits & organizationsThefollowinglistincludesmostgroupsfeaturedinthisissueofToday’sGiving.Visitwww.todaysgiving.comtoviewmoreinformationaboutnonprofitsandotherorganizationsinyourregion.

western MinnesotaTheNorthwestMinnesotaFoundation4225 Technology Dr Nw, Bemidji, MN 56601800-659-7859 | www.nwmf.org [email protected]

UnitedWayofBemidjiAreaP.O. Box 27, Bemidji, MN 56619218-444-8929 | www.liveunitedbemidji.org [email protected]

PartnersPO Box 234, Rothsay, MN 56579218-867-1234 | www.rothsay-partners.com | [email protected]

WestCentralInitiative1000 Western Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537-4805218-739-2239 | www.wcif.org [email protected]

PelicanRapidsO.A.K.S.LAH/BNPPO Box 225, Pelican Rapids, MN 56572218-863-1515 | www.elderberry.org | [email protected]

NeighbortoNeighborLAH/BNPPO Box 141, Frazee, MN 56544218-334-3559 | www.elderberry.org [email protected]

WhiteEarthLandRecoveryProjectP.O. Box 97, Callaway, MN 56521-0097

BarnesvilleAreaHELPERS124 2nd Ave. SE, Barnesville, MN 56514218-354-7090 | www.elderberry.org [email protected]

TheALSAssociation,MinnesotaChapter333 North Washington Ave, Suite 105, Minneapolis, MN 55401612-672-0484 | www.alsa.org [email protected]

MNTeenChallenge1619 Portland Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404612-373-3366 | www.mntc.org

BushFoundation332 Minnesota Street, Suite East 900 St. Paul, MN 55101651-227-0891 | www.bushfoundation.org [email protected]

HealthEastFoundation1690 University Avenue West, Suite 250 St. Paul, MN 55104651-232-4990 | [email protected]/Home.do?orgId=1043

ElderberryInstitute475 N. Cleveland Avenue, Ste 322 St. Paul, MN 55104651-649-0315 | www.elderberry.org [email protected]

TheDwellingintheWoods14044 220th St., McGrath, MN 56350320-592-3708 | www.thedwellinginthewoods.org [email protected]

MICAH–MinnesotaInstituteofContemplation&Healing510 N Broadway, Crookston, MN 56716218-281-4853 | www.micahprays.com [email protected]

eastern south DakotaChallengeoftheDakotas317 Third Ave, Brookings, SD 57006605-692-9753 | www.teenchallengeofthedakotas.com [email protected]

BrookingsAreaUnitedWayPo Box 750, Brookings, SD 57006-0750605-692-4979 | brookingsunitedway.org

northeast north DakotaGrandForksKiwanis701-787-7878 | www.gfkiwanis.org

SalvationArmy1600 University Ave NDGrand Forks, ND 58203www.salvationarmyusa.org

FaithinActionHealthCoalition301 Mountain St. E, Cavalier, ND 58220701-265-8752 | ndfia.org/cavalier.html [email protected]

St.AloisiusMedicalCenterCommunityVolunteerCenter–FIA325 Brewster St. East, Harvey, ND 58341701-234-4700 | ndfia.org/harvey.html [email protected]

northwest north DakotaMinotAdultLiteracyVolunteers1609 4Th Ave Nw, Minot, ND 58703701-852-2614 |

DakotaBoysRanchFoundationPo Box 5007, Minot, ND 58702-5007701-839-7888 | www.dakotaranch.org

MinotLionswww.minotlions.5nclions.org

southeast north DakotaFaithinActionofCarringtonHealthCenter800 North 4th St., Carrington, ND 58421701-652-7218 | ndfia.org/carrington.html

FaithinActionofMercyHospital570 Chautauqua Blvd. Valley City, ND 58072701-845-6491 | ndfia.org/valleycity.html [email protected]


*Although we try our best to provide the most current information in Today’s Giving, from time to time our records are not accurate. Please let us know at anytime if we need to change your organization’s information.

These are our children. They could be yours.

They areEVERYONE’S CHILD.

For a copy of our new DVD “Everyone’s Child”

or for more info, call 1-800-344-0957

or visit www.dakotaranch.org.

Volunteer, donate and shop at our Thrift Stores. Help children and families ...

AND help keep our community green!

REUSE REDUCE RECYCLE

We help at-risk children and their families succeed in the name of Christ!

Scandinavian

Hjemkomst Festival

June 25-27, 2010

202 1st Ave N, Moorhead, MN

Music & Entertainment ~ Troll on Stilts ~ Kids Games & Stories ~ Kids Tour & Activities ~ Ethnic Food ~ Dancing ~ Shopping ~ 5K Run/Walk

Tickets & Information: 701-478-9150 www.NordicCultureClubs.org

ScandinavianHjemkomst

Festival

June 25–27, 2010202 1st Ave N, Moorhead,MN

Music & Entertainment • Troll on Stilts

Kids Games & Stories • Tour & Activities

Ethnic Food • Dancing • Shopping

5K Run/Walk

Tickets & Information: 701-478-9150www.NordicCultureClubs.org

Family,CareerandCommunityLeadersofAmerica,EnderlinChapter410 Bluff St., Enderlin, ND 58027701-437-2240 [email protected]

FutureFarmersofAmerica,EnderlinChapter410 Bluff St, Enderlin, ND 58027701-437-2240 | www.ffa.org [email protected]

HEARTLivingatHomeProgram221 3rd Avenue, Enderlin, ND 58027-1304701-437-2877 [email protected]

FaithinActionofLisbonAreaHealthServices905 Main Street, Lisbon, ND 58054701-683-6439 | www.ndfia.org/lisbon.html [email protected]

FirstLink4357 13TH AVE S STE 107L Fargo, ND 58107-0447701-293-6462 | www.myfirstlink.org [email protected]

Fargo-MoorheadRotaryFoundationPo Box 684, Fargo, ND 58107-0684www.fmamrotary.org

FargoWestRotaryClubPO Box 9237, Fargo, ND 58106-9237701-234-9931 | www.fargowestrotary.org [email protected]

YMCAOfCassAndClayCounties400 1St Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103-1901701-293-9622 | www.ymcacassclay.org

YWCACassClay3100 12Th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102-3070701-232-2547 | www.ywcacassclay.org [email protected]

UnitedWayCassClay219 7th Street South, Fargo, ND 58107-1609701-237-5050 | www.uwcc.net

People’sDiversityForum26 Roberts St N # B111 Fargo, ND 58102-5200701-364-5600 | www.peoplesdiversity.org

FMAreaFoundation502 1st Ave N, Ste 202, Fargo, ND 58102701-234-0756 | www.areafoundation.org

FaithinActionCommunityofCareVolunteers4 Langer Ave. North, Casselton, ND 58012701-347-0032 | www.ndfia.org/casselton.html | [email protected]

DakotaMedicalFoundation4152 30th Ave S Ste 102, Fargo, ND 58104-8403701-271-0263 | www.dakmed.org

PeaceOfficer/JailChaplainsAssociationP.O. Box 6444, Fargo, ND 58109701-478-5777 | www.pojca.org [email protected]

ShareHouseInc4227 9th Avenue SW Fargo, ND 58103-2018701-361-1018 | www.sharehouse.org [email protected]

CircleOfNationsSchool832 8th St N, Wahpeton, ND 58075-3642701-642-3796 | www.cns.bia.edu [email protected]

southwest north DakotaNorthDakotaTeenChallenge1406 2nd St NW, Mandan, ND 58554701-667-2131 | www.tc4hope.org [email protected]

NDCommunityFoundationPo Box 387, Bismarck, ND 58502-0387701-222-8349 | www.ndcf.net [email protected]

FutureBusinessLeadersofAmerica,NorthDakotaChapter600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 270, Bismarck, ND 58505701-328-2286 | www.nd-fbla.org [email protected]

NDAssociationofNonprofitOrganizations1605 E. Capitol Ave, Bismarck, ND 58502701-258-9101 | www.ndano.org | [email protected]

The most influential corner office in Enderlin might just be located in the Senior Citizens Center. The HEART Program (Helping Enderlin Area Residents Thrive) office is small in size but has an enormous impact on the quality of life for elders in the communities of Enderlin and Sheldon. It’s the communications hub where program director Tracy Ekeren and volunteer coordinator Debbie Taylor answer calls and organize over 100 volunteers who assist in meeting the everyday needs of seniors. It’s the epicenter of a program that has grown into a community treasure where the simple act of “neighbor helping neighbor” narrows the generation gap and helps keep the town’s most valuable resource, its elders, thriving in their own homes.

By Shannon Schweigert, Today’s Giving

Home Is Where

HEART Is


representative of the Elderberry In-stitute who became HEART’s men-tor as she guided the Enderlin group through program design and imple-mentation. Funding from the Dakota Medical Foundation and the Bush Foundation of St. Paul allowed the group to hire an executive director. HEART provided its first elder ser-vices in January of 2003. Nowadays, operating funding comes in many forms: private and corporate contri-butions, grants and an annual golf

tournament all serve to fiscally sus-tain HEART.

The program’s most requested ser-vices are for transportation: medical appointments in and around the re-gion; rides to beauty shop appoint-ments, church, the pharmacy; weekly grocery shopping. Service calls com-monly include yard work, snow re-moval from sidewalks and roofs, window cleaning and maintenance, and handyman home repairs that re-quire outside assistance. During the holidays, hanging and taking down Christmas decorations become a part of HEART’s mission. “Friendly visits” are a mainstay of the program. Many elders have family members living great distances from Enderlin. Of-ten, after not being able to reach their

Senior Citizen’s Center, Enderlin, ND, houses the offices of the HEART program.

HEART began in 2001 as the vi-sion of former Ransom County Nurse Lynnette Schmitz and Health Director Debbie Bergstrom. They had attended a health conference and learned of Block Nurse/Live at Home programs being sponsored throughout Minnesota by the El-derberry Institute of Minneapolis. Bergstrom and Schmitz recruited six community members to visit an El-derberry program in Rothsay, MN, where they met Roberta Ouse, a field

Coming to work feels like I’m improving someone else’s life. And that feels great.” —Tracy Ekeren, HEART program director


loved ones, they will phone HEART and ask that a “friendly visit” be con-ducted to check in on mom or dad.

HEART recently completed its seventh service year, logging 2,108 volunteer hours from 103 volunteers who served 72 elders. With a popu-lation of around 1,000, an extraordi-nary 10 percent of the population is engaged as a volunteer for HEART, a statistic Tracy Ekeren is quite proud of, but not surprised by. “This pro-gram is community built, owned and operated. It’s not surprising that it is so well supported and thought of,” says Ekeren of the organization she has led since 2004. Ekeren grew up in Enderlin and today lives with her husband and two children in rural Sheldon. During summer months, her family operates Ice Cream, Etc. Enderlin’s fast food drive-in. The passion she has for HEART is evi-dent when she explains her inspira-tion. “Some things happen in your life that become passions….I guess I do this on a feeling. Coming to work

feels like I’m improving someone else’s life. And that feels great.” Some of the greatest rewards for Ekeren come when she is able to help family members from great distances check in on their loved ones. “If I had to live states or hours away from my family, I’d want to know there was a program like ours to look in on them.”

At its core, HEART’s mission re-flects a community effort to sustain the ability of the elderly to remain in-dependent in their own homes lon-ger. But, it has grown into so much

more for the community. HEART staff spearheaded the funding ef-fort that led to the opening of the Enderlin Wellness Center in March, 2009. Over $112,000 in funding and in-kind contributions were raised to re-purpose and furnish, with mod-ern exercise equipment, the lower level of the Enderlin Auditorium. The auditorium had undergone a half-million dollar renovation five years earlier, but had been under-utilized until the Wellness Center moved in. The upper level stage and


Enderlin Wellness Center

dance floor is home today to Jazzer-cise classes as well as school-age and community concerts, musicals, plays and presentations. Membership has grown to 130, including a significant number of elders. Local chiropractor Dr. Maggie Peterson volunteers to do exercise orientations with elders. She notes the social benefits as well as the health that the community’s elders are enjoying. “Winter in par-ticular can be a very isolating time. The ability to exercise in a center with others is another health benefit for members.” The beautiful facility was planned with health and socializa-tion in mind right down to the ripe mango paint on the walls. “Sunshine in the middle of winter,” as Dr. Peter-son explains.

HEART volunteers range in age from teens to the elders themselves; everyone’s skills and time are wel-come. Enderlin High School’s mem-bers of Future Business Leader of America and Fu-ture Farmers of America regularly volunteer for yard work and the re-cycling program. Members of Fam-ily Career & Com-munity Leaders of America volunteer to write and mail the elders Christ-mas letters and cards as well as take the time during lunch breaks to make sure their garbage makes it to the curb on pick-up day. HEART elders volunteer too. They are often found folding newsletters and stuffing enve-

lopes for the program’s annual drive. The program has helped narrow the generation gap as youth are enter-tained with the tales of yesteryear while lending a helping hand to their elders.

Jack Armstrong left Enderlin in 1948 to join the Navy. After his ser-

vice he spent the next 30 years work-ing for Job Service North Dakota; liv-ing in Grand Forks, Fargo, Dickinson and Bismarck. When it was time for him and wife Verna to retire, they chose Jack’s hometown. “I wouldn’t have come back if I didn’t love the

The program has helped narrow the generation gap as youth

are entertained with the tales of yesteryear while lending a helping hand to their elders.

town. It’s the most caring, laid back place in America,” explains Armstrong of his decision to return. He’s a HEART volunteer who provides transportation about three times a month. He’s also used HEART’s services and is a faithful, three-times-a-week workout member of the Wellness Center. “You don’t really retire in a small town,” declares Armstrong of his busy days in Enderlin. In addition to his volunteer work with HEART, he writes the “Enderlines” a history column for the Enderlin Independent and played a ma-jor role in the renovation of the Enderlin Auditorium which houses the Enderlin Wellness Center. Jack, his wife Verna (an oil-paint artist) and their four daughters designed and painted the murals depict-ing Enderlin’s colorful history which adorn the auditorium’s walls.

Elders, volunteers and board members credit the undying commitment, positive attitude and friendly dispositions of pro-gram leaders Ekeren and Debbie Taylor as the key to the success HEART has had. All


point to Ekeren and Taylor as deserv-ing praise for the program's growth, citing their always present smiles and the personal interest they take in each individual as contributing fac-tors in the widespread use and accep-tance of HEART. Volunteers credit their work with HEART as helping to make deeper, new connections with their fellow residents.

When asked what she’d like to see for the future of her program, Ekeren unselfishly replied, “I’d like to see pro-grams like HEART in more commu-nities. I want people to understand it’s kind of cool to be a part of some-thing like this.” She advised those looking to start a senior assistance program to visit with local business-es to create awareness and get input on structure. Spread the word about volunteer opportunities and note any special skills that are needed. Con-tact local seniors to discuss the needs they have and note the opportunities when an assistance program could be utilized. Once established, constant

encouragement to use the program is needed to get the seniors accustomed to requesting assistance. Finally, with tears welling up, she shares the most important aspect of a successful se-nior assistance program. “People do this because they care, and as long as they continue to care the program will be successful.”

The important lessons from this program are many and have sprung from the success of community groups such as Barnesville Area HELPERS, Rothsay PARTNERS, Pelican Rapids OAKS, Frazee Neigh-bor to Neighbor, as well as programs in the Northern Plains Collabora-tive of Faith in Action (See, story). The need will continue to increase as we see vast numbers from the Baby Boom Generation enter their retire-ment years. It is important that we look for opportunities to embrace the helping and volunteerism spirit these programs exemplify as we honor the contributions each generation makes throughout the course of our lives.

��randfatherThank you grandfather. even though you are gone, my children too will thank you.

You taught us the quiet songs and the wisdom of the old ones.

You taught us of our people and stood tall.

We too stand tall.

Thank you, grandfather. Even though you have gone.

We will make you proud.

©2010ChristineHoper

“Grandfather”appearsinToday’sGivingcomplimentsofFargopoetChristineHoper.ChristinespentherchildhoodinsmalltownsacrossMinnesotaandNorthDakota.Foraslongasshecanremember,she’shadanotebookcloseathand.Thewordssharedherecapturemomentsintime–andwhoknows;theymightbereminiscentofthingsyoutoohaveseenandheardalongtheway.Youcanfindmoreofherpoetryatwww.northdakotarealized.comandhercurrentblogfeaturingmusingsaboutthemoonatwww.redrivergirl.com.


Faith in Action is a net-work of interfaith, vol-unteer caregiving service providers with hundreds of locations throughout the United States. Faith in Action’s Northern Plains Collaborative “Neighbors Caring for Neighbors” provides health referrals, friendly visits and trans-portation for seniors and the disabled through vol-unteer networks and is expanding its presence in North Dakota communities. The organization is committed to its mis-sion of “promoting independence among the elderly and disabled” of their communities. The coalition’s original membership was made up of programs in Valley City, Cavalier, Harvey and Casselton. The groups joined efforts in 2006 and recently expanded to add programs in Car-rington and Lisbon, as well as to adopt an existing program, Enderlin’s HEART. They expect to launch ser-vices in Oakes late 2010.

Chair Vicki Jackson of Valley City explains the value of the collabora-tion in simple terms. “We share best practices, our unique ideas and pool our resources. There’s no need for any community to re-invent the wheel.” The original programs were funded

Faith in actionNorthernPlainsCollaborativeExpandsServicesby Shannon Schweigert, Today’s Giving

in 2002 by Robert Wood Johnson – Faith in Action grants. When the foundation redirected its priorities in 2006 for greater collaboration be-tween existing programs and fund-ing to support that cooperation, the Northern Plains Collaborative was created. Each program maintains its unique identity and is led by a com-munity board. The collaborative is governed by a board made up of rep-resentatives from each community.

ADvAntAges of A forMAl progrAMJackson notes that most North Da-kota communities serve their seniors informally much like her formal pro-gram does, and notes that it is an im-portant first step for any community wishing to adopt formal services. “Our rural communities are filled

with people wanting to help. Tap-ping into that resource is what makes a program successful.” She goes on to distinguish advantages of a for-mal versus informal structure. “Vol-unteers are supported by structure, their time is maximized and we have an orientation to prepare them for what they can expect. They feel more valued; a part of something bigger than themselves.” She also notes the advantages for the seniors served. “People in need are more comfort-able asking for help if it is part of a program. They don’t have to rely on the same friend or family member every time. Our program offers bless-ings that go both ways; those served are very appreciative and those who serve feel they get so much more back than they give.”

Cavalier

Harvey

Carrington

Valley CityEnderlin

Lisbon

Casselton



Bob Dylan’s song The Times They Are A-Changin’ resonated when it was

first released in 1964, and it’s once again an appropriate song for the times. The election of President Obama energized the country, followed by the economic downfall, followed by a very political bat-tle for healthcare reform, and a continued presence in war torn countries. A vast majority of the states across the country are struggling to maintain state programs

and services, with dramatically reduced resources. The home mortgage fiasco has created long-term issues for urban cities and states.

In the midst of all of these major shifts across the country, North Dakota’s econ-omy has remained very strong, with en-ergy and the conservative nature of its residents allowing the state to have a bud-get surplus that is the envy of the country.

Special feature by Cher Helsrud, nonprofit professional

theyAre

Peter Hutchinson, President of the Bush Foundation, speaks and writes about the Bush Foundation’s focus on investing in “courageous and ef-fective leadership.” At a meeting of Minnesota community foundations in January, Hutchinson spoke about the Bush Foundation research into courageous leadership. Hutchinson reported that when respondents to a Bush Foundation survey identi-fied courageous leaders in their community, those leaders were most often affiliated with religious organizations, closely followed by nonprofit organizations.

This is not surprising for North Dakota, where more than 5,000 non-profit organizations provide pro-grams and services. Volunteerism is the heart of the state, with rural resi-dents serving on several boards. In many rural communities basic ser-vices are provided through commu-nity owned, nonprofit grocery stores and restaurants.

We have a system that works, and has continued to work for many years, and we have not been greatly affected by the national economic crisis. That is the good news. The bad news is that the times, they are a changing.

The nonprofit sector was originally created to fill gaps left by govern-ment and business. In North Dakota, the nonprofit sector is providing an amazing amount of service for mini-mal cost. If a community wants to bring in new business, it needs to have the workforce to fill jobs. If a community wants to keep or increase

the working population, daycare is an issue. It is a circle of issues that is increasingly difficult to maintain, and that is increasingly addressed through the nonprofit sector.

IRS information, as compiled by the Urban Institute indicates that North Dakota’s 2008 nonprofit sector includes 5,893 nonprofit organiza-tions. Broken down by type, the non-profit sector includes:• 3,260 501(c)(3) organizations or

public charities• 144 501(c)(3) private foundations• 2489 other 501(c) organizations

– fraternal organizations, cham-ber of commerce and other civic organizations.

Public charities have surpassed other organizations, such as frater-nal organizations, in that past ten years. This can be attributed to a 50 percent drop in fraternal organi-zations and to the increase in the number of public charities.

There are nearly 1,000 more public charities in North Dakota today, than there were in 1998. Some of this growth can be at-tributed to the formalization of non-profit groups into tax-exempt public charities; some of it is the result of increasing need for services.

The times are changing beyond the increase in numbers; the times are changing for how public charities op-erate. While for-profit business exists to make money, nonprofit organiza-

The economy has created more events and limited the ability of

individuals to contribute.

tions exist to provide service. Unfor-tunately, no matter how much volun-teerism is applied; it does take money to operate most public charities. It is in this critical area that North Da-kota nonprofit organizations are facing change.

The primary sources of nonprofit operations are:• Individual donors• Federal and state grants and con-

tracts for service• Foundation grants• Earned income from events

The economy has affected the abil-ity of organizations to raise funds through fundraising events. There are many very small organizations whose operating budget is primarily dependent upon fundraising events. The economy has created more

events and limited the ability of indi-viduals to contribute.

A new administration is causing the federal government to change, and reduce or redirect grant support that has been ongoing. Federal grants for social services are changing; state grants or fees for services are be-ing reduced or eliminated. And of course, policies in North Dakota and all state governments are constantly subject to change.


Total 3,254

610

309340

53

36244

31

45

33318367850

67

315

22

17

151

93

13

1

56

592

41

Arts, Culture and Humanities

Education

Environmental Quality, Protection, and Beautification

Animal-Related

Health

Mental Health, Crisis Intervention

Diseases, Disorders, Medical Disciplines

Medical Research

Crime, Legal Related

Employment, Job Related

Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition

Housing, Shelter

Public Safety

Recreation, Sports, Leisure, Athletics

Youth Development

Human Services - Multipurpose and Other

International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security

Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy

Community Improvement, Capacity Building

Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations

Science and Technology Research Institutes, Services

Social Science Research Institutes, Services

Public, Society Benefit - Multipurpose and Other

Religion Related, Spiritual Development

Unknown

Note: Excludes out-of-scope and approximately 900 so-called “mutual bene�t” public charities. Source: IRS Business Master File 04/2009 (with modi�cations by the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute)

NumberofPublicCharitiesinNorthDakotain2009


Foundation assets were dramati-cally reduced by the fall of the stock market and are just now beginning to return to the 2008 level. This has reduced, or eliminated the ongoing grants awarded within the area, both on the local and regional level.

Perhaps the biggest change for this region has been the change of direc-tion of the Bush Foundation. Their new strategic plan is focused on spe-cific goals, initiatives, and programs. The days of receiving traditional grants from the Bush Foundation have ended. This has had a dramatic impact on a state where there are two foundations that provide grant sup-port across the state.

While local granting entities may retain a grantmaking focus, there is a wave of change within the founda-

tion world toward efforts to eliminate problems, rather than addressing need. Arguments can be made both for and against this change; however it is the current trend on a regional and national level.

The final source of nonprofit sup-port is often the weakest, yet should be the strongest. Individuals and families donate an amazing amount of time to nonprofit organizations across North Dakota, yet the Na-tional Center for Charitable Statics shows individual contributions of money are not the strongest source of support. In our region, the primary reason that nonprofit organizations lack individual donor support is that they do not ask. There is a percep-tion that asking for contributions is somehow begging, therefore board

members and even staff of nonprofit organizations do not like to solicit donations. This is an area where change must occur.

For the North Dakota nonprofit sector to continue to provide the in-creasing number of services across the state, individual donors will be critical. An individual donor can be-come an organization’s most stable source of support, and within the current climate it will be critical to have an expanding pool of individual donors.

Nonprofit organizations are creat-ed to fill a need and board members agree to serve on nonprofit boards because they want to support efforts to meet that need. A vast majority of organizations do not have a develop-ment position; however they do have

board members. It will be increasingly

important for nonprofit organizations to de-velop plans to increase their individual donor support. This can be accomplished by the development of an an-nual giving program, it can be accomplished through a campaign, and it can be accom-plished by taking the time to remember why your organization ex-ists; it exists to provide service to people. This is not business, this is personal.“Can I assume this means our projections were off a little?

CartoonprovidedtoToday’sGivingbynational-award-winningeditorialcartoonistSteveStark.


DON’T MISS A BEAT.

MINNESOTA IS OUR BEAT.MINNESOTA IS OUR BEAT.

Cher Hersrud is currently the Advancement Officer of the FM Area Foundation and has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit and ru-ral community work. In addition to working with individual organizations, she has produced pub-lications and workshops for North Dakota non-profits and rural communities in areas of grant seeking, board development and management, and planning. Through the North Dakota Com-

munity Foundation, she founded and directed The Resource Cen-ter, a capacity-building division of the foundation initiated in 1998. Previous work experience includes seven years with the Plains Art Museum in Fargo and three years with the NDSU Development Foundation. Hersrud was also a founder of the FM Area Attrac-tions Association and the North Dakota Association of Nonprofit Organizations. She has served as a grant reviewer for local, state, and federal grants programs, and has received two Aspen Institute Nonprofit Sector Fellowships and a national Dove Fellowship from Indiana University.

Board members are charged with the duty to ensure the financial vi-ability of an organization. A board member should be aware of and proud of the service provided by an organization. That pride should turn the perception from that of begging to that of asking a friend to support a community need.

In the times of Bob Dylan’s song, Robert Kennedy said, “Our choice is not whether change will come, but whether we can guide that change in the service of our ideals and toward a social order shaped to the needs of all our people.”

The times they are changing. The one constant is the unique ability of a nonprofit organization to meet the needs of people.


Public Policy Brief: Health Care Initiatives & Nonprofit Organizations

Health care reform is on the minds of most Americans. New legislation will directly affect how we offer and re-ceive care as individuals, nonprofits and for-profit businesses. It will re-quire most of us to have health insur-ance, expand Medicaid, create state-based health benefit exchanges (for both individuals and their families as well as small businesses), and require employers to either pay penalties for not providing insurance to employ-ees that receive tax credits for health insurance through an exchange program. New regulations will also help prevent the denial of coverage because of preexisting conditions or from changing higher premiums based on health status and gender.

There are two pieces to the recently-passed U.S. health care bill. The first is the $875 billion comprehensive health bill, the Patient Protection Pa-tient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (PL 111-148), signed into law on March 23. The current bill eliminates the government-run public insurance option in favor of multi-state insurance exchanges, in-creases the Medicare payroll tax for high-income filers, and expands the accessibility of tax credits to quali-fying individuals and small busi-

nesses, including non-profits, for purchasing health insurance.

The second piece is the $940 billion Health Care Reconciliation Package (HR 4872). It makes adjust-ments to PPACA, and was formally adopted March 25 and signed into law by President Obama on March 30. This package will provide tax credits to qualifying individuals and small businesses, including nonprof-its, for purchasing health insurance. It will also keep the proposals to estab-lish health insurance exchanges for those who are uninsured. The pack-age would slightly modify the Sen-ate-proposed excise tax on high cost insurance plans. A selling point of this bill is the opportunity to reduce federal deficits by $138 billion over the first ten years. The final health care reform legislation expands the small business tax credit for business with 25 or fewer employees in order to help offer health insurance to their workforce. The bill is written to allow all 501(c) tax-exempt organizations this credit. Nonprofit hospitals will also receive standards for tax expec-tation for the first time.

The nonprofit sector is going to

have a key role in the on-going changes of our health care sys-tem. According to research provided by the Independent Sector, nonprof-its as employers spend over $48 bil-lion for employee health care cover-age and related benefits. Nonprofits as a service industry are working with over 46 million people who do not have coverage.

The new reform will also cre-ate nonprofit organizations that do research on patient-centered outcomes, provide insurance pro-grams to administer health ben-efit exchanges and small business health programs.

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foun-dation provides an interactive web-site with full, current summaries of the new health reform law, reconcili-ation bill and other reform proposals. On their site, www.kff.org, you can compare the law and its provisions, including detailed information on Medicare and Medicaid.


Northeast North Dakota May 22

ThunderOvertheRedRiver:2010AirShowHosted by: 319th Air Refueling Wing

9:00 a.m., Grand Forks Air Force Base, Grand Forks, NDwww.grandforks.schultzairshows.com

June 4

GrandForksRelayForLifeHosted by: American Cancer Society

6:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., University Park, Grand Forks, NDwww.relayforlife.org | 701-780-5400

June 5

2010NDFishingChallengeHosted by: ND Teen Challenge

6:00 a.m., Lakewood boat ramp, Devils Lake, NDwww.ndfishingchallenge.com | 701-667-2131

June 11

DevilsLakeRelayforLifeHosted by: American Cancer Society

6:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., Roosevelt Park, Devils Lake, NDwww.relayforlife.org | 701-662-4903

June 12–13

AnnualGrandCitiesArtFestHosted by: North Valley Arts Fest

10 a.m., Downtown, Grand Forks, NDwww.novac.org | 701-772-3710

June 26

BluesontheRedMusicSeries6:00–10:00 p.m., Town Square, Grand Forks, [email protected] | 701-787-9436

Northwest North Dakota May 15

ALS(LouGehrigsDisease)WalkHosted by: ALS Association

9:00 a.m., Oak Park, Minot, NDwww.alsa.org | 701-235-2399

June 5

GlowBallGolfScrambleHosted by: Best Friends Mentoring Program

5:00 p.m., Heart River Golf Course, Dickinson, NDwww.westernwellness.org | 701-483-8615

June 11

MinotRelayforLifeHosted by: American Cancer Society

7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., Minot State University, Minot, NDwww.relayforlife.org | [email protected] | 701-838-7047

July 23

RelayforLifeofStarkCountyHosted by: American Cancer Society

7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., DHS Practice Field, Dickinson, NDwww.relayforlife.org | 701-483-0613

July 23–31

NDStateFairAll Day, ND State Fair Center, Minot, NDwww.ndstatefair.com | 701-857-7620

Southwest North Dakota May 15

MarchforBabiesHosted by: March of Dimes

9:00 a.m., BSC Bowl, Bismarck, NDwww.marchforbabies.org | 701-235-5530


May 22

MandanSummerFunonMainRecreation&SportShowMain Street, Mandan, NDwww.mandanprogress.org | 701-751-2983

June 18–20

Lewis&ClarkDaysAll Day, Washburn, NDwww.washburnnd.com | 701-462-3430

June 25–27

SamMcQuadeSr.BudweiserCharitySoftballTournamentHosted by: McQuade Distributing Co.

All Day, Bismarck–Mandan Softball Complexes, Bismarck, NDwww.mcquades.com | 701-223-6850

July 7–17

AnnieHosted by: Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre

8:30 p.m., Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts Park, Bismarck, NDwww.shst.org | 701-319-0894

July 23–31

JekyllandHyde:TheMusicalHosted by: Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre

8:30 p.m., Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts Park, Bismarck, NDwww.shst.org | 701-319-0894

Southeast North Dakota May 22

2010RunMS:FargoHosted by: National MS Society

8:00 a.m., FargoDome, Fargo, NDwww.nationalmssociety.org | 701-235-2678

May 22

FargoMarathonFargoDome, Fargo, NDwww.fargomarathon.com | [email protected] 1-888-ruN-Fargo

June 2

HeirloomQuiltAuction“EveryStitchTellsaStory…”Hosted by: Catholic Charities North Dakota6:15p.m. Fargo Country Club, Fargo, NDwww.catholiccharitiesnd.org | 701-235-4457

Dessert and Wine, Silent Auction, Live Auction.

June 4–5

SpecialOlympicsStateSummerGamesHosted by: Special Olympics North Dakota

Fargo South High School; Fargo Park District Sports Arena, Fargo, NDwww.specialolympicsnorthdakota.org [email protected] | 800-279-4201

June 9-–3

6thAnnualHEROBashHosted by: Fargo Air Museum

1609 19th Ave N, Fargo, NDwww.fmhero.org | 218-284-6111

June 19

TourdeCureHosted by: American Diabetes Association

7:30, 9:00 or 10:30 a.m., Oak Grove Park, Fargo, NDwww.tour.diabetes.org | [email protected] | 701-234-0123

Start times as follows: 75 Miles–7:30a.m., 32 Miles–9:00a.m., 16 Miles–10:30am

June 26–28

RogerMarisCelebrityBenefitGolfTournamentHosted by: Hospice of the Red River Valley, Fargo Shanley High School and the MeritCare Roger Maris Cancer Center

Edgewood Golf Course, Fargo, NDwww.rogermarisgolf.com | [email protected] | 701-364-1961

July 9–17

RedRiverValleyFairWest Fargo, NDwww.redrivervalleyfair.com | 701-282-2200

July 14–15

AnnualGardenTourHosted by: Soroptimist International of Fargo

North Fargo gardens on Wednesday South Fargo gardens on ThursdayFor questions contact Judy anderson at 701-261-3157 or Cindy Thrall at 701-361-6333

Tickets will be available starting June 15 at the following locations: all Hornbachers Stores Baker Nursery Gardens both Shotwells locations


October 19

ShareHouse–Sister’sPathFallFlingHosted by: ShareHouse, Inc.

5:30–9:30 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Ballroom, Fargo, NDwww.sharehouse.org | 701-478-9530

Western Minnesota May 20

LakesAreaStart!HeartWalkHosted by: American Heart Association

5:00 p.m., Detroit Lakes Pavilion, Detroit Lakes, MNwww.americanheart.org | [email protected] 701-252-5122

Walkers can organize teams at the companies where they work or with family and friends. Walkers ask others to support their walk effort by sponsoring them with a donation to the American Heart Association. Fee: Free event. Participants are encouraged to

June 4–5

10thAnnualStreetFaireattheLakesHosted by: Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce

All Day, Downtown, Detroit Lakes, MNwww.dlstreetfaire.com | 800-542-3992

June 12

RonaldMcDonaldHouseRideHosted by: Ronald McDonald House

12:00 p.m., VFW, New York Mills, MNwww.rmhride.com | [email protected] |

Ride leaves at noon from the VFW in New York Mills--registration at VFW before noon.

June 26

2010JoshuaHornStridesforBabiesWalkHosted by: CJ Foundation

9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Bemidji Hampton Inn, Bemidji, MNwww.cjsids.org

July 2–4

10thAnnual4thofJulyBeachBashAll Day, Detroit Lakes, MNwww.lakesidetavern.com | 218-847-1891

July 9

RelayforLifeofDouglasCountyHosted by: American Cancer Society

6:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m., Citizen’s Field, Alexandria, MNwww.relayforlife.org | 320-763-6729

Eastern South Dakota May 22

RunforTheirLives!SIDSAwarenessRunHosted by: Lach’s Legacy

8:00 a.m., Sertoma Park/Sioux Falls Bike Trail, Souix Falls, SDwww.allsportcentral.com | 605-254-4967

All proceeds will benefit Lach’s Legacy, a program of the CJ Foundation for SIDS, to support bereaved families and to promote SIDS education, awareness, and research.

May 29

PawsforaCausePokerRunHosted by: Souix Falls Area Humane Society

11:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m., J&L Harley-Davidson, Souix Falls, SDwww.sfhumanesociety.com | 605-338-4441

June 4

RelayforLifeHosted by: American Cancer Society

5:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m., Holum Expo Building, Aberdeen, SDwww.relayforlife.org | 605-882-2957

June 5

BikesandBabesHosted by: J&L Harley-Davidson

11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., J&L Harley-Davidson, Souix Falls, SDwww.jl-harley.com | 605-334-2721

Rally for Miracles to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.

June 25

RelayforLifeHosted by: American Cancer Society

6:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m., Codington County Extension Complex, Watertown, SDwww.relayforlife.org

July 15–17

JazzFestHosted by: Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society

Yankton Trail Park, Souix Falls, SDwww.jazzfestsiouxfalls.com | 605-335-6101


Each issue of Today’s Giving will

include “Faces of Giving” to rec-

ognize and thank some of those

across our region whose actions serve

as both leadership and inspiration for

thoughtful, meaningful contributions

that improve the lives of others. Do you

know of someone who fits the profile?

If so, please send recommendations

to [email protected] or mail to

Faces of Giving, 1407 1st Ave North,

Fargo, ND 58104.

An estimated 20 million women

are fighting cancer in the US.

The Cleaning for A Reason Foundation,

started by Debbie Sardon, Lew-

isville, Texas, understands that

fight is hard enough. They step in to

provide free professional housecleaning, and maid servic-

es to improve the lives of women undergoing treatment.

To do this, they partner with local cleaning services which

donate one free cleaning a month, for four months. There

are partners in Minnesota and South Dakota, but the need

for partners is currently greater than the requests for ser-

vice. Major sponsors include Hoover and All-State Insur-

ance. See www.cleaningforareason.org for volunteer and

contribution opportunities.

“Providing comfort to new Americans” is how

David Ideele describes his work as

executive director of the People’s Diversity

Forum in Fargo. Working as a volunteer le-

gal liaison for the past seven years, Ideele has

helped members of Fargo’s various immigrant

communities understand the complexities of our

laws and legal system. He works directly with local law en-

forcement to improve relations between police and immigrant communi-

ties. Ideele recently expanded his services by offering guidance on child cus-

tody, separation and other civil issues. A native of Nigeria, Ideele feels compelled

to help others transition smoothly into their new lives in America.

Morgan Turner, 16, of Ashby,

MN and a senior at Twin Oaks School,

organized a weeklong summer camp

for 60 underprivileged children living

on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in

northern Minnesota. Morgan learned

from a neighbor about the poverty on the

reservation and the plight of Native American children living

there. “I have a passion for children, and it grieved me to know

that many children were unable to attend a camp due to im-

poverished circumstances,” she said. It took recruiting 19 vol-

unteers to serve as counselors, cooks, and helpers. In addition

she collected food, clothing, artists and crafts supplies then set

up training sessions, created schedules, planned meals, devel-

oped programming, and oversaw that operation of the camp.

She received a Prudential Spirit of Community Award for her

great work.

Jean Neshiem of Fargo recently made a special

gift that would have made her late husband Jim proud.

“My husband Jim was a wheeler-dealer. I thought

of him when I spotted the blankets on sale.” The

blankets were down-filled, on sale at a local de-

partment store, and reminded Jean of the quilts

she grew to love as a child. She negotiated with a

manager and whittled the price down to $5 a piece, then

bought the last 50 the store had. She immediately shared them with her

friends at the Salvation Army. “I figured they were warm, washable, and

the Salvation Army could distribute them to those who would appreci-

ate them,” says Jean of her gift. Neshiem also assists every Monday

with breakfast duties at Fargo’s Salvation Army.


www.todaysgiving.com

Today's Giving, Issue 2

Documents

Transcript of Today's Giving, Issue 2