Laura's November Message

The month of November evokes feelings of gratitude and Thanksgiving Day is the pinnacle of that sense of gratitude. Those close to me know Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday.  As I reflect on all I am thankful for, the many people involved in the growth of the Faribault Foundation is high on the list.

First of all, the board members, these dynamic community leaders really stepped up to transform the Faribault Foundation in a big way.  The work they did in the last two years resulted in an organization that is prepared to serve our donors and the community. All the policies and procedures are in place. The board identified the national standards for community foundations early on and we are methodically working toward that certification.

A key strategy for sustainability of the Foundation is our Hand Up Campaign. Donors to the Hand-Up Campaign are recognized as members of the Founders Society. So far, we have 36 members. The goal is to raise 2.5 million dollars to be split between community giving and support of the Foundation’s operations. We are grateful for these families, businesses and individuals who have donated to this forward-thinking effort.

Organizations and charitable groups within the community are beginning to see the vision of a community foundation. We are proud to support Faribault Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, No Tummies Left Behind, the CommUnity Thanksgiving Dinner, Paradise Center for the Arts Historic Building fund and the fundraising effort for Viaduct Park. Many thanks to these groups for trusting our community foundation with your funds.

Other groups have emerged to open funds within the Faribault Foundation too. A group of women came out of the 100 Women Who Care event wanting to do more. They organized their advisory committee and began to build an endowment. They have raised over $40,000 toward their goal of $200,000 and have plans to make a difference for women and girls in our community.  We are so grateful for everyone who has donated to that fund.

Another group wants to help Faribault Public Schools with the cost of student extracurricular activities.The Faribault Falcon Activity Fund has established an advisory committee and are developing a fundraising campaign to build their fund to supplement ISD 656’s activity budget at the high school level.  We deeply appreciate their enthusiasm for the support of youth in our community.

Having just passed my one-year anniversary as Executive Director of the Faribault Foundation, I am grateful too for the opportunity to do this meaningful work. Working with donors who have specific ideas about their philanthropy and people who care about the community has been extremely gratifying.

Last, I must express my sincere gratitude to Kymn Anderson for her guidance this past year. I appreciate your leadership, coaching, and that you have poured your heart and soul into Faribault over the years. You are a magnificent role model, and I am forever grateful for everything I have learned from you, and for your friendship.

I have a lot to be thankful for. I love helping the community, and I am honored to connect with local philanthropists to help them reach their giving goals. As a community foundation, we are poised and prepared and grateful for the opportunity to enhance the quality of life in Faribault. If you would like to learn more about any aspect of our work or meet to discuss your giving goals – please give me a call. To all our partners, leaders, donors, and anyone reading this, Happy Thanksgiving.