Central Minnesota Community Foundation Grants Total Nearly $200,000

(KNSI) – Better than $183,000 is being put back into the community through the annual Central Minnesota Community Foundation.

The total is made up of three programs and 22 overall awards. The Central Minnesota Difference Maker grant focuses on organizations creating positive change in the region. The Central Minnesota Arts grants are concerned with the entertainment and culture scene locally. Finally, the Thomas Ritsche Youth grants are devoted to area boys and girls.

Some regional difference maker organizations include the Avivo Village in St. Cloud, the Catholic Charities Domus Transitional Housing Program, District 742 Leaf, and the Place of Hope Ministries’ family center. The focus for the grants was combatting homelessness.

In the arts category, the GREAT Theatre was granted $7,500 for its musical-in-a-week productions. The Youth Chorale is receiving $3,000 to boost its summer music camps.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota is represented in the youth category with $5,000 to expand its mentoring program. That’s a common theme as the United Way of Central Minnesota got $10,000 for the same purpose.

The full list of grants is below.

Difference Maker awards:

– Atonement Lutheran Church received $20,000 for programming that supports those who are unsheltered in the St. Cloud Area.
– Avivo received $20,000 to support the Avivo Village in St. Cloud.
– CAER Food Shelf received $10,000 to support its Emergency Financial Assistance Program.
– Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud received $20,000 for its Domus Transitional Housing Program.
– District 742 LEAF received $10,000 to support students and families in District 742.
– Place of Hope Ministries received $15,000 to support its Family Center Shelter.
– Rise Inc received $5,000 to support its Housing Gaps for People with Disabilities Program.

Entertainment awards:

– Great Northern Theatre Company received $5,500 for its 2025 Season Productions and Summer Camps.
– GREAT Theatre received $7,500 for its 2025/26 Musical-in-a-Week Residencies.
– Melrose Area Arts Council received $3,100 for its Melrose Night to Unite event.
– Paramount Center for the Arts received $5,000 for its Art Club and Empowered Stars projects with ARC MN and WACOSA.
– River City Rhythm received $5,900 for its instrument and equipment campaign.
– Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota received $3,000 for its Summer Music Camps program.

Youth grants:

– Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN received $5,000 for its Bigs on Campus – Mentoring for Safe, Empowered Futures program.
– Boys & Girls Clubs of Central MN received $5,000 for its SMART MOVES prevention programs.
– Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity received $5,000 for its Expanding Access to Construction Trades program.
– Girl Scouts of MN and WI Lakes and Pines received $10,000 for its St. Cloud Area Girl Scouts in Action program
– GREAT Theatre received $5,000 for its School of Rock program.
– Paramount Center for the Arts received $5,000 for its Your Life in Color art program.
– St. Cloud Area YMCA received $3,500 for its 2025 Adventure Camp program.
– The Yes Network received $5,000 for its Ready 2 Play program.
– United Way of Central MN received $10,000 for its Community Mentorship program.

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