Responding in Times of Need
Community Impact
When ECHO Food Shelf had some emergency infrastructure issues that impacted the storage of perishables—potentially preventing them from getting food to their clients—they reached out to the Mankato Area Foundation (MAF).
Supporting the Scene and Unseen
Community Impact
It doesn’t take much effort to feel the expansive presence of the arts in Mankato. Look up near the river, and you’ll see a 135-foot tall mural of children painted on silos by internationally-renowned artist Guido van Helten.
Shared Spaces, Shared Resources
Community Impact
“I’ll never forget Nancy walking me around and describing her vision of the original Shared Spaces building during the early stages of its construction and renovation,” laughed Jean Keenan, executive director of the Life-Work Planning Center, while referring to Nancy Zallek, President and CEO of Mankato Area Foundation (MAF).
From Insight to Impact
Community Impact
Now complete, the Greater Mankato Inclusivity Study (GMIS) has identified critical themes in community perceptions and experiences surrounding inclusivity and belonging in the Greater Mankato area regarding age, gender, ability, and ethnicity. It is already being used to inform, design and provide services.
In a Galaxy Far, Far Away…
Community Impact
For almost 50 years, Mankato East High School provided a unique learning environment for students and the community to experience the solar system at the Mankato Area Public Schools Planetarium. Smaller updates and upgrades allowed the current equipment to last as long as possible, but its longevity was quickly approaching a black hole.
Connecting Community
Community Impact
Mankato is just as known for its diverse and intriguing art scene as for its generous and collaborative community members. Art and community constantly fuel one another in the river valley, especially between The REACH and 410 Project.
Giving A to Z
Community Impact
“Give a child the gift of reading, and they will have a lifetime of learning.” George Peterson and his daughter, Kristin Cain, are lifelong Mankato residents who are passionate about reading. Although publishing and selling books has supported the livelihoods of four generations of Petersons, their mission is what drives them: achieving 100% literacy.
The ABC’s of Philanthropy
Fiscal Sponsorship
A simple conversation amongst friends sparked an initiative to support local teachers and the children they serve. In the fall of 2020, Shannon Sinning was visiting with friends when he and Anna Reichel stumbled upon a conversation regarding the obstacles teachers in our district faced. “I knew our teachers were struggling because of the barriers brought on by the pandemic, but I had no clue how much money out of their own pockets they used to help kids,” said Sinning.
Philanthropy in Focus
Community Impact
Just over a year ago, when Melissa Enter began her new job as a Day Service Specialist at MRCI, one of her goals was to make sure those she served felt welcomed into the world around them. In her experience, she noticed that people with disabilities would often look down—at their feet or the ground—as they had been told to stay out of people’s way throughout their lives. She joined MRCI because she knew they wanted something different than that.
Minnesota nICE
FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
It is common to hear whistles blowing and fans cheering at Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Blakeslee Stadium, the home of Maverick Football. But in the middle of January? Now that was a first. Such was the case when the puck dropped during Hockey Day Minnesota 2022 at the temporary outdoor ice rink sitting atop Blakeslee Field. Hockey players and fans from across the state gathered to watch, cheer and play during the State of Hockey’s annual celebration of their favorite sport.
Serving the Fifth Generation of Campers
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS
Located on the shores of Lake Washington in LeSueur County, Kiwanis Camp Patterson has been serving thousands of youth campers each summer for the past four generations. In fact, today, the camp serves 2,600 each season.
The Art and Science of Food Recovery
FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
On any given day, Natasha Frost is taking orders, catering events or determining new menu items for her Mankato restaurant, Wooden Spoon. But one day in the spring of 2019, plans changed after receiving a phone call from Sheri Sander-Silva, the Executive Director of Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP).
Giving Outside the Box
COMMUNITY IMPACT
When the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Mankato area, local nonprofits felt its effects immediately. Programs shut down, government funding was shifted or cut, and the uncertainty forced many nonprofits to question their future and how best to serve their constituents.
It Takes A Village
BUILDING CONNECTIONS
On any given day, it’s nearly impossible to find Mohamed Abdulkadir at home. He begins his workdays at MRCI in Mankato, where he fulfills his duties as a Refugee Employment Specialist, connecting refugees with employers and other resources in the region.
Power in Numbers
Women's Giving Circle
WE WANTED WOMEN TO FEEL THE POWER OF GIVING. “And to think it all began over a cup of coffee.” This is the tagline on the emails from Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) leaders Laura Stevens and Melanie VanRoekel, and it speaks to the power of a single conversation between two friends looking to make a difference in their community.
Quaran–Team Effort
Community Response Fund
IT’S AMAZING WHAT A SHARED SPACE CAN DO. For the Mankato Area Foundation (MAF) and Greater Mankato Area United Way (GMAUW), a shared physical space spawned a partnership that would shape the Mankato area’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
A Mankato Masterpiece
Donor Advised Funds
It’s not every day you drive by 135-foot-tall children. Unless you’re a Mankato resident, that is. The Ardent Mills grain silos in downtown Mankato, home to the newest of internationally-renowned artist Guido van Helten’s enormous original murals, feature the likenesses of elementary school students. This way-larger-than-life masterpiece is a celebration of Mankato’s past, present and future; it features local children and adults learning, playing and dancing at the Mahkato Mdewakanton Association Powwow.
Sew Important
Fiscal Sponsorship
A YEAR AGO, “PPE” MEANT NOTHING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. Today, personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for all Minnesotans in public spaces, and every day tens of thousands of Mankato area residents don reusable face masks they received for free, thanks to the work of Priscilla Roos and Get Mankato PPE. “When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the U.S., I was glued to the television, horrified, for two solid weeks. Finally, I said, ‘That’s enough. I need to do something.’ But I wasn’t sure where to start,” Roos said.
A Home for Philanthropy
Special Projects & Programs
Nancy Zallek never anticipated her job would involve endless conversations about plumbing, flooring and electrical wiring. It wasn’t really in her job description, but that’s just what happens when you build and later expand upon a successful nonprofit center. “I now know more about HVAC than I ever cared to,” Zallek said, laughing. “But it’s all for a great cause.”