Hearts and Hands at Work!

A Pillar of Preparedness
The Minneapolis area and St. Paul area chapters of the American Red Cross merged in July 2006, forming the Twin Cities Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, the eighth largest Red Cross chapter in the country. The major goal of the new chapter is to take the Red Cross in the Twin Cities to the next level—to expand its capacity to respond to large scale local disasters and make it the best-prepared community in the United States. Donations to the Red Cross can be designated for local disaster relief, such as the cleanup effort after the September tornado in Rogers, Minnesota. Some planned gifts go into a “reserves fund” and are used at the discretion of the chapter’s board of directors.

Pay It Forward
At the College of Saint Catherine in St. Paul, educating women to be ethical leaders is a large part of its mission. “Donations and planned gifts are used for all aspects of student education in an environment of social responsibility,” says Pam McNulty, director of gift planning at the college. Fulfilling the University of Minnesota’s mission of teaching, research, and outreach would not be possible without donors. In the last three years, the top fund-raising priority has been for student scholarships and fellowships, with 50 percent more students receiving scholarships and fellowships since 2003. Contributions are made through the University of Minnesota Foundation or the Minnesota Medical Foundation, and donors may designate their gifts to a specific program, campus, or college. St.Olaf College, a four-year liberal arts college in Northfield, was founded by philanthropic means in 1874 and that spirit remains in place today. Recent contributions to their Partners in Annual Giving Fund helped make the St. Olaf campus completely wireless. Amy Gage, the director of marketing and communications says, “No matter the means a person has, what’s important is building a habit of giving.”

Forging Valuable Partnerships
Dedicated to creating and sustaining local philanthropy, the St. Paul Foundation and the Minnesota Community Foundation create partnerships with community organizations to decide the best uses for funds. “With a variety of charitable funds to choose from, donors can select the fund that works best for them, making charitable giving easy and effective,” says Lisa Winkler, director of marketing and communications for both foundations. Recent partnerships include an early literacy programs for St. Paul children called “Words Work,” and the Community Sharing Fund, which helps existing community organizations aid people in crisis situations.

Making a Difference One by One
At Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities (BBBS) the focus is on enriching young people’s lives. Their one-on-one mentorship programs connect young people with adult volunteers through their community or school-based programs. Besides donating one’s time, monetary donations go a long way in supporting BBBS. “Currently there are more than 1,000 children on our waiting list. As the list grows, the need for donations grows stronger,” says Lynn Annis, vice president of marketing and public relations.

Empowered Volunteers
By serving the Twin Cities for over ninety years and focusing on building stronger communities through its volunteer programs, “Greater Twin Cities United Way is the only organization in the area that relies upon community volunteers to make all the critical decisions about how we invest in the community,” says public relations manager Marsha Pitts-Phillips. Donations to United Way provide for the community in many ways: helping adults attain basic life skills, nurturing children and their families with education and community-based programs, and providing services to seniors and people with disabilities.