By GAIL SCHMIDT
NRAF Representative
Of the Waseca Area Federation
The benefits of having a community fund, such as the New Richland Area Foundation, continue as the foundation recently completed its seventh year of grant presentations.
Each year the NRAF Grants Committee of Kermit Schoenrock, Matt Harrington, Pam Goehring, Jill Schlaak and Gail Schmidt receive many applications from the NRHEG Schools and organizations within the city. The total requested this year was $24,574, which far exceeded what the NRAF has available to grant. After a long review of the applications the committee was faced with another difficult task of stretching those grant dollars available while focusing on arts and culture, education, health, human services and recreation.
The committee was pleased to present three grants at the Bingo fundraiser in Ellendale on April 30 and grants at the NR City Council meeting on May 9, for a total of $16,000. This year’s recipients were:
• NRHEG PTO - $1,500 (Prairie Fire Children’s Theater)
• NRHEG Elementary - $7,500 (Elementary School Playground Project)
• NR Area Food Shelf - $3,000 (NRHEG Elementary Back Pack Program)
• NR Public Library - $1,500 (Summer Reading Program & Lego table)
• NR Garden Club - $1,500 (railroad track clean-up)
• NR Sportsmen’s Club - $500 (St. Olaf Lake “History” Sign)
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters - $500 (Big Brother/Big Sister Program)
Since the inception of the NRAF seven years ago, there have been 25 grants presented totaling $65,196. The benefits of the foundation have, and will continue to have, a positive impact on our schools and community. It should be noted that the support from the community, the press coverage, the dedication of the grants committee, the expertise and experience brought to all of us from the Waseca Area Foundation Board, and Executive Director, Karen Buum, will always be quality ingredients in the recipe for the success and growth of the NRAF. The NRAF Grants Committee members are committed and continue to work together to keep the words “New Richland Area Foundation” in the public eye with their own volunteer work in the community.
We wish to thank all the donors through the years as we strive to grow the fund in order to meet and support the needs of our schools and community through grants. It is our hope that the community and surrounding area of New Richland will remember the NRAF as they make retirement plans, estate planning and simple donations throughout the year and years to come. There are many ways to give to the NRAF such as through a will, outright cash, outright gifts of securities, life insurance, real estate, and grain. Or you can set up a “donor-advised” fund within the NRAF. Options are limitless when it comes to increasing this fund.
Learn more about the NRAF by picking up a brochure, talking with a grants committee member and take the time to look over our display when it is set up at various events. If interested in setting up or making a contribution, a committee member can direct you to Karen Buum, Executive Director of the Waseca Area Foundation or you can call her direct at (507)-835-5990.