Otto Bremer Foundation awards more than $200,000 locally

Five grants totaling more than $200,000 were awarded in the International Falls area by the Otto Bremer Foundation recently.

All the money is intended to benefit youth and their families.

Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency will receive $24,184 to extend the Free At Last program to young men and women ages 16-21 who have mental health and chemical dependency issues or who face academic failure or homelessness. 

Previously, the program, which has annually served 10-12 participants in Koochiching County, required the child be out of home  — homeless or in foster care — to qualify.

The new Otto Bremer Foundation dollars will expand this definition to allow for earlier intervention. “Free At Last has been highly successful in helping develop job skills and self esteem in the participant, and in reducing overall costs to the community,” AEOA Executive Director Harlan Tardy said.

Citizens for Backus will receive $124,438 to continue and expand after school programs.

Positive, social activities in a safe environment are a key component to involving youth in communities and reducing the juvenile crime and victimization which peak from 2-8 p.m. according to Jan Derdowski, regional Extension educator who worked with Backus Community Center Executive Director Ward Merrill in seeking the grant.

New scholarship money to support children who have been unable to use services in the past was also included.

Northland Foundation will bring AGE to age to our community with a portion of the $190,000 awarded in July. Launched in 2008, this initiative enables elders, adults, and youth to explore how their generations are alike and how they are different and to strengthen relationships among all ages. It is modeled after the successful Kids Plus program. Each site develops its own strategic action plan that joins the generations in projects to improve their communities over a three-year period. 

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota was granted $15,000 to support two programs in Koochiching County.

“We at the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota are thrilled to receive this grant,” said Julie Ehrman, board member and Koochiching County advisory board chairwoman. “Support for Imagination Library will make it possible for parents of each new child enrolled to receive a welcome letter, bookmark and quarterly newsletter. It will also help us expand the early literacy program to reach more children ages 0-5. Currently, 277 children are actively enrolled, receiving free books monthly. This grant will also support Smiles Across Minnesota, funding a mobile dental unit that comes to Koochiching County schools to provide teeth cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants and restorative care to under insured or uninsured children. More than 360 children were served in Koochiching County last year through this program and the support from Otto Bremer Foundation will allow us to expand.”  

Ehrman also noted that Elizabeth Johnson has been hired as development and communications manager at United Way, specifically to serve Koochiching County efforts.

The city of International Falls will use its $34,710 grant to remodel the City Beach bathhouse.

Work will begin following the close of the summer swimming season.

“We are so pleased to be a part of the circle that enables these grants to be made in our community,” said Mike Turenne, Bremer president and CEO, International Falls. “When you bank at Bremer, a significant portion of profits are returned to communities through the Otto Bremer Foundation, our owner. As a volunteer myself, I understand the financial needs of nonprofits and am sure these dollars will be well-used.”