March 2017 – Minot, N.D. – 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 at the Grand Hotel in Minot.
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 a local hospital in 1998.
“We focus on funding projects that help shape the issues and can offer long-term solutions to current and future community health needs, promote health education and access to a full range of programs and services. The community organizations have set very commendable goals that benefit our communities in important ways,” said Shelly Weppler, foundation president. “We strive to be innovative in our approach to facilitating and funding the needs identified in the communities served by the foundation.”
As a community health foundation, Weppler said St. Joseph’s Community Health Foundation’s also able to help organizations and individuals establish endowment funds to help meet emerging and changing community care needs.
The foundation has granted more than $6.2 million dollars to area organizations to benefit residents in Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, Rolette, Sheridan, Ward and Wells counties. The foundation grants funds promote and support the improvement, availability and provision of the mental, physical and spiritual and emotional needs for people residing in the 11 counties served by the foundation. Food pantries in Minot and surrounding area will share in a grant of $20,000 based on the number of people served at their centers.
St. Joseph’s Communit Health Foundation welcomes grant requests from area agencies committed to meeting the needs of residents in its service area. The foundation will also identify an area of need in north central North Dakota and fund an initiative.
This article originally published in the Minot Daily News