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DULUTH SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION THE 2014 ANNUAL REPORT —Mahatma Gandhi There is a power in each of us to create change. To make the place we live better. To inspire, educate, engage and include. To unleash opportunity and create possibility. To share. To give. To change lives forever. Message from the chair and the president Friends of the Community Foundation: and in their ability to succeed. CHUM’s in Dr. Robert D. Putnam’s new book, Family Coaches Program at the Steve O’Neil Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. We The Duluth Superior Area Community Apartments brings innovation to breaking were pleased to bring Dr. Putnam back to Foundation provides meaningful opportunities the cycle of homelessness for families. Kelly our Annual Celebration to inform us about for philanthropy, addresses the changing Stark, one of our many scholarship recipients, his new research. We share his concerns needs of our communities, builds permanent will be using her degree to make a difference about the troubling opportunity gap and look charitable capital and engages in community with marginalized populations. And the forward to working with donors and nonprofit leadership activities that support a vibrant and Mentor Superior program is providing organizations who are interested in tackling healthy region. These are the commitments positive adult role models for deserving this critical need. we made in our current strategic plan. children and young people. As we work toward our next strategic plan The incredible and inspiring stores that All of these stories document the compelling during the coming year, we hope to hear from appear in our 2014 Annual Report ability in each of us to make a difference. you. We would like to engage with you as we demonstrate these important commitments. And what a difference these individuals work together to make this an even better Dan and Cathy Mundt’s creation of have made through permanent, place to live for all of our kids. Thank you for the Daniel H. and Catherine L. Mundt meaningful philanthropy. creating change in our region. Scholarship Fund for Late Bloomers has provided scholarship opportunities for These stories also address the diminishing students because someone believed in them opportunities for young people as captured Claudia Scott Welty Holly C. Sampson Chair, Board of Trustees President 1 1 Changing the path of young lives by ending family homelessness Imagine you’re six years old. You don’t “To end family homelessness we collaborative projects that know when you will eat next, where you not only have to provide permanent, empower families in our region will sleep tonight, or if you will be able supportive housing,” says Lee Stuart, to overcome poverty. to make it to school tomorrow. You and executive director of Churches United “Thanks to the Community your family are homeless. All you can in Ministry (CHUM). “We must give Foundation, Family Coaches at the think about is surviving from day to each member of the family the skills Steve O’Neil Apartments are creating day. Your life has been this way for as and resources they need to move an environment of security, warmth, long as you can remember. beyond the traumatizing experience friendship and support,” says Lee. of being homeless, to a place of “They are actively listening, helping Now imagine a place specifically possibility and self-actualization.” created to end family homelessness. families dream and set goals, holding It’s the Steve O’Neil Apartments The Family Coaches Program at the them accountable for taking steps to in Duluth. It’s a safe, warm place Steve O’Neil Apartments was created achieve those goals, never giving up on designed around your well-being. You to help families stabilize their lives. them, sustaining possibility, building move in. You’re no longer homeless. The Duluth Superior Area Community community within families, between But how do you act? How do you and Foundation’s Fair Chance Fund is families and between the families and your family relate to other people? helping fund the program. The Fair the community. It is a big job with the What is possible for you now? Chance Fund challenges leaders in potential to create incredible change.” education and human services to think in fresh ways about the nature and delivery of services to low-income people, and to support innovative and 2 2 THE IMPACT OF HOMELESSNESS IS PROFOUND. IT AFFECTS THE WAY YOU THINK, FEEL, BEHAVE, RELATE AND COPE. 3 3 3 BEING A MENTOR MEANS BEING A FRIEND, A ROLE MODEL—OR EVEN A HERO. 4 4 BEING A MENTOR MEANS BEING A FRIEND, A ROLE MODEL—OR EVEN A HERO. Creating change by being a mentor You would be amazed at what spending Research by the SEARCH Institute reveals Salisa Hochstetler, Mentor Superior an afternoon at the park, baking cookies that one of the most important indicators as program coordinator is that full-time person. or going to a ball game can do for a child to whether a child will succeed in life is the According to her and board member in need of an adult role model. Having an number of positive adult role models they Melissa Brown, the Duluth Superior Area adult listen and show interest in who you have as they are growing up. The young Community Foundation’s Community are can raise your self-confidence, improve people served by Mentor Superior are Opportunity Fund is helping provide the your outlook on life and even make you between 5–17. They come from single parent much needed funding to ensure Mentor more likely to do better in school. That kind families. Most are living in poverty. Having a Superior is able to serve as many children of friendship is what Mentor Superior is positive adult outside their family who cares waiting for a mentor as possible. One of the providing for over 40 children in Superior for them is crucial for their psychological purposes of the Community Opportunity right now. development and can lead to creating options Fund is to strengthen the organizational for them that can break the cycle of poverty capacity of grantees to sustainably and “Mentor Superior is unique because it was in their family. effectively fulfill their mission. started in 2011 by a group of community leaders attending a Leadership Superior “Mentor Superior uses the same model “It is amazing what simply spending time program,” says Callie Ronstrom, the as Mentor Duluth,” says Callie. “Since its with a child can do,” says Callie. “We Duluth Area Family YMCA’s Mentor creation Mentor Superior has been kept alive couldn’t sustain this program without the Duluth director. “The group was working by a strong, active and committed board. help of the Community Foundation.” on a project to improve the community and However, in order to grow and serve more decided that starting with its young people children a full-time staff person was needed was vital.” to take care of the day-to-day operation of the program.” 5 5 Getting an education to change the world Kelly Stark has had her share of “After the fire, I realized what Community Foundation dinner for setbacks. They include a divorce community means. I had only been scholarship recipients, Kelly met that left her a single parent and a going to my church for about three some of the other students who fire that resulted in losing everything weeks when church members collected are benefiting from Community she owned. donations to completely supply my Foundation scholarships. kitchen. Friends, family and neighbors “They give opportunities to many Through it all, Kelly has found a way also came to my rescue,” says Kelly. different people,” says Kelly. “I met to keep positive and keep going. “I feel such a part of this community.” a woman who is going to become a “After my divorce I realized that I Kelly plans to use her education to science teacher. Think of how many couldn’t provide enough income for evoke positive change. little girls she can affect. I met so many my son and me to live independently,” people at the dinner from so many says Kelly. “I knew I had to get at least “I plan to use my degree to work with life situations. They were all treated a four-year degree.” populations that are marginalized,” with respect and dignity. Community says Kelly. “In our society there is Two scholarships from the Duluth Foundation donors are making a such stigma around mental health positive change in the lives of many Superior Area Community Foundation and homelessness. I want to start a designed for primary caregivers of who otherwise couldn’t afford to go conversation about the issues these back to school.” one or more children, plus a job on populations are facing. Without campus, are helping Kelly pursue a conversation there cannot be degree in psychology from The College education. Without education there of St. Scholastica. cannot be collaboration and without collaboration there cannot be change.” At an annual Duluth Superior Area 6 6 THANKS TO YOU, THE SKY IS THE 7 LIMIT. 7 Passionate about creating change for tomorrow’s children If you spend any amount of time with employee benefit plans. For 35 years, he was Dan and Cathy’s philosophy has been to attorney Dan Mundt, you’ll soon realize Chairman of the Legacy & Endowment give their children both “roots” and “wings.” he’s a man who has left very little on the Fund Committee at Glen Avon Presbyterian That philosophy has formed their passion table during his eighty-seven years.