18 Central Minnesota Nonprofits Awarded Grants

(KNSI) – More than $182,000 is making its way to St. Cloud area nonprofits, thanks to three competitive grant rounds.

The money comes from The Central Minnesota Community Foundation Arts initiative, the Central Minnesota Difference Maker Grant and the Thomas Ritsche Youth Grant awarded 18 grants to local organizations.

The Central Minnesota Community Foundation Arts’ goal is to make the arts more accessible to area residents. Grant recipients include:

The Yes Network received $7,500 for its Thinking Skills That I Learned Through Art program.
WACOSA received $7,000 for its WACOSA Art-Ability Resources program.
Avon Hills Folk School received $5,500 for its Growing the Youth Hand Camp and Emerging Artists of Color apprenticeship.

The Difference Maker Grant goes to groups that show their programs encourage positive change through education and community engagement. Organizations that received funding include:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota received $30,000 for its Boys & Girls Club Youth Mental Health Services Programs.
Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity received $30,000 for its Central MN Habitat for Humanity – Aging in Place program.
Central Minnesota Sustainability Project received $10,000 for its Cultivating Understanding: Bridging Cultures through Community Gardens program.

The Thomas Ritsche Youth Grant focuses on youth-related projects and programs. Grants were awarded to:

Friends of Career Solutions received $8,695 for its CareerONE-A Vision For The Future program.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota received $5,000 for its Eastside, Roosevelt & Southside Boys & Girls Club Programming.
The Village Family Service Center received $5,000 for its Pride Teens St. Cloud program.

Since 1985, CMCF has grown to over $147.6 million in assets and awarded over $134.5 million in grants to non-profits.

Learn more by clicking here.

___