One of the more surprising aspects of that transaction so many years ago, and no doubt a positive one, is how much good the philanthropic mechanism set up as part of the deal has helped the community. That was made evident once again last week when the St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation awarded $400,000 in grants, pledges and match grants to area organizations during its 18th annual Regional Grant Award Luncheon.
The foundation based in Minot is an independent public charity foundation set up with proceeds donated by the Sisters of St. Francis from the sale of the hospital in 1998. This year food pantries in Minot and the surrounding area will share in a grant of $20,000 from the foundation, just a small portion of the annual distribution announced.
Over the years the foundation has granted more than $6.2 million to area organizations to benefit residents in Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Sheridan, Ward and Wells counties. That is a tremendously generous gift to the greater Minot community. It not only does much good – putting food in hungry stomachs, how basic and down to earth can you get – but serves as a reminder. The foundation itself reminds us of the many generations of healthcare professionals who gave so much of themselves since the early 1900s when the Sisters purchased the hospital from Ward County and proceeded to build it up.
To those St. Joseph’s employees who are still around, and to those who have moved on or passed, we say thanks to you and give thanks for you and your shared talents.
This article originally published in the Minot Daily News.