2009 Recipients
Northern Side Life Care Center
The North Side Life Care Center is a nonprofit pregnancy center serving low income pregnant women and pregnant women in crisis in north Minneapolis and the north-western metro area for over 30 years. The Finnegans Community Fund grant supports The Small Step Incentive Program, which provides quality prenatal care and comprehensive support services before and after birth. The funds are used towards the purchase of cribs and diapers for those in need.
To learn more, visit www.northsidelifecare.org
Old Arizona Collaborative Inc
Old Arizona Collaborative Inc is a non profit organization that provides a safe place for inner city girls and young women to experience quality arts programming that kindles artistic spirits, enhances personal growth and revitalizes the community. The Finnegans Community Fund grant supports Petals, a flower shop that will train teen-aged girls to become entrepreneurs. The funds will provide teens with basic accounting, sales and marketing skills, which will help to increase their future employment options while at the same time, providing neighbors with a local flower shop.
To learn more, visit www.oldarizona.com
Urban Boatbuilders
Urban Boatbuilders is a youth development organization that works with at-risk youth from the juvenile justice system, charter and public schools and neighborhood groups. Their mission is “positive youth development through the building and use of wooden boats” that provide life skills, work experience and mentoring to at-risk youth. The Finnegans Community Fund grant is used towards the Youth Apprentices Program which lasts for one year and takes youth through three levels of apprenticeship while earning a living wage.
To learn more, visit www.urbanboatbuilders.org
The Link
The Link is a non profit organization founded in 1991 by two former Minnesota Vikings players and former state legislator Leonard Lindquist. Created as a grassroots effort to bring opportunity and positive relationships to impoverished inner-city youth, The Link now serves more than four times the number of youth it served in 2006. Previous programs created include Project Potential to serve truant youth and Lindquist Apartments for homeless youth. The mission is to “create a healthy community network that supports youth.” The Finnegans Community Fund grant is used towards the Independent Living Skills program, which helps clients with housing and money management and work and study skills.
To learn more, visit www.thelinkmn.org
Face to Face Health and Counseling Service
Face to Face was founded in 1972 and now serves nearly 3,000 homeless and underserved youth and young adults who live at or near the poverty level and face numerous obstacles. The mission is to provide integrated mental health, medical and case management through a drop-in resource center, street services to youth and families and a transitional living program for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. The Finnegans Community Fund grant is used to support SafeZone, a drop-in center which helps 1,000 youths annually in Ramsey County with everything from food, clothing and shelter to classes on dependent living skills, job searching and interviewing.
To learn more, visit www.face2face.org
Project GEM
Project GEM, which stands for Growth, Experience and Motivation, is a nonprofit outreach education based organization that serves low income and special needs youth, ages 8 to 17, helping them to develop creative self expression using the arts. Through this development, youths also increase basic reading and writing skills and gain practical experience in choosing a career. The Finnegans Community Fund grant is used to towards an after school program to bring back the arts, which is free of charge to families who cannot afford these activities.
To learn more, visit www.projectgemmn.org
Three Rivers Community Action Inc
Three Rivers Community Action is a private non-profit corporation that collaboratively works with community partners, including Heading Home Minnesota, to serve people who are homeless and at-risk of becoming so. Their array of services includes Head Start, Energy Assistance, Meals on Wheels and homeless prevention. Their aim is to improve the lives of the poor, indigent and the people in the community. The Finnegans Community Fund grant is used to provide transitional housing, short-terms housing subsidies and financial literacy.
To learn more, visit www.threeriverscap.org
Child Care Resource and Referral
Child Care Resource and Referral manages a number of programs and services devoted to the well being of young children and their families, regardless of income levels and background. Their mission is to “ensure positive beginnings for all young children and their families.” The Finnegans Community Fund grant is used towards the Crisis Nursery program, which provides temporary, short-term care for children while families address a crisis situation, all at no cost to the families.
To learn more, visit www.c2r2.org
Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN:
The South Central MN affiliate of Habitat for Humanity (HFH) was formed in 1990. To date, the Mankato chapter has completed 48 homes for families in need. The ultimate goal of HFH in South Central MN, is to improve the lives of at risk families and children by increasing the supply of safe, decent, affordable housing.
Funds from the FINNEGANS Community Fund will be used to assist in purchasing building materials for the 7 homes to be built in 2010 in South Central Minnesota.
To learn more, visit www.hfhsouthcentral.net
Families Moving Forward:
Families Moving Forward is a faith-based organization of volunteers in Minneapolis, Minnesota that provides temporary emergency shelter, permanent affordable housing and supportive services to extremely low income families with children. Since its start in 1991, the services offered by Families Moving Forward have grown from a pure emergency service to a multi-faceted shelter, housing, resources and advocacy organization.
The FINNEGANS Community Fund grant will be used for family budget support for families in the Self Sufficient Families program. This program is a transitional housing program for families coming out of the emergency shelter that offers up to 24 months of rental subsidy, family budget support, and case management to help families make real progress toward a better life.
To learn more, visit familiesmovingforward.org
Pillsbury United Communities:
Pillsbury House Street Survival Program is a program within the Pillsbury United Communities (PUC) organization started to help homeless youth and young adults (ages 23 and under) gain the experience, knowledge and training they need to be self-sufficient, and find and make connections to community resources and services through Street Survival and its six-month internship program. PUC's work will result in homeless youth acquiring transferable job skills and connection to local social services resources including housing, food, healthcare and other basic needs. Youth will also be given the chance to give back to their communities, and develop positive, professional, adult contacts to be used as references for employment, schooling, and housing opportunities.
The FINNEGANS Community Fund grant will specifically help support the internship program of the Street Survival Program.
To learn more, visit www.puc-mn.org
Our Saviour's Housing:
In 1982, Our Saviour's Housing was established as an outreach of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Today, Our Saviour's Housing is a non-sectarian social service agency that provides emergency shelter, transitional housing and support services for over 750 homeless men, women, and families in South Minneapolis each year. The ultimate goal and mission of Our Saviour's Housing is to provide shelter, comfort, hope and community for people that are homeless along with increasing the stability and self-sufficiency of the people they help in order to stem the tide of homelessness.
Funds from the FINNEGANS Community Fund will help support the case management services of Our Saviour's Housing in order to help sustain efforts to move the homeless population into stable, independent living.
To learn more, visit www.oshousing.org
FamilyMeans:
FamilyMeans is a nonprofit organization located in Stillwater, MN with a mission to strengthen communities by helping families learn, work and nurture healthy relationships. For 46 years, FamilyMeans has provided an array of counseling, education and support to individuals and families so they can thrive during each stage of life.
Funds from the FINNEGANS Community Fund will help support the Landfall Youth Development Program. This program will provide the children and teens of Landfall, MN after school and summer activities at no cost to the families in order to help the youth succeed at home, school and in the community.
To learn more, visit www.familymeans.org