Mankato Free Press (March 11, 2025)—Charitable giving nationwide has been down in the last few years, but nonprofits in this region say support remains strong. Ashley Eimer, vice president of philanthropy for the Mankato Area Foundation, said they saw another record last year for the amount of grants they could

Mankato Free Press (March 2, 2025)—With the help of the Mankato Area Foundation, Mary Ann Boe has a home for her Compassionate Community Center from which she will provide awareness, services and volunteer opportunities for those engaged in end-of-life experiences.

Mankato Free Press (February 25, 2025)—When most people think of food shelves, they think of canned and dry goods. That’s old school. What’s looming in the future is a walk-in freezer full of fresh food, said ECHO Food Shelf manager Deisy De Leon Esqueda. It’s all thanks to a $200,000

Mankato Free Press (February 4, 2025)—In many ways, not much has changed in Mankato's volunteer world since Paul Horrisberger helped form a nonprofit collaborative group in the early 1980s. But the same can't be said about cassette tape technology. Horrisberger, who 45 years ago was working as volunteer coordinator for

Mankato Free Press (October 27, 2024)—A remarkable series of fortunate events is playing out in Mankato again. The city of Mankato, with the help of residents, has assembled a “wish list” of amenities the city would like to add but do not have room for in its budget while keeping

Mankato Free Press (September 7, 2024)—About a year ago, Josh Madson — the black-capped, bespectacled, ebullient transplant from Fargo by way of Los Angeles—sat in a booth at the Coffee Hag in Mankato’s Old Town and wondered. Would his ambitious plan to cover this coffee shop’s walls with black-and-white portraits

Mankato, MN (August 27, 2024)—The Hockey Day Minnesota (HDM) 2022 Grow the Game Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation announced its largest grant since its inception to support the mission of growing the game of youth hockey in the Greater Mankato Area. 

Mankato Free Press (June 24, 2024)—As the CEO of the Mankato Area Foundation, part of my responsibility is to speak up, share, and support the incredible work of all the nonprofits in our community. In fact, this is one of my favorite parts of the job. 

Mankato Free Press (May 15, 2024)—The new Shared Spaces Emy Frentz builds not only on the success of the original Shared Spaces building a few blocks away, but adds the successful collaborative spirit brought forth through Twin Rivers Council for the Arts.

Mankato Free Press (November 17, 2023) — Talk about building a legacy. Harold and Alice Weed of North Mankato commissioned a sculpture called Delivering For You from Bad River Art Studio in Aberdeen, South Dakota.