Scholarship Funds Established with $20,000 in Gifts to the Northwest Minnesota Women's Fund

January 2008 - The Northwest Minnesota Women's Fund, established in 1997 through the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF), is making great strides in meeting its mission: developing resources and serving as a catalyst for improving the quality of life for women and girls.

Thanks to recent gifts of $10,000 from two donors, the Women's Fund has achieved its goal of establishing a scholarship program and will now be offering scholarships for women in the region. In addition, these donations qualified for matching funds from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation for the Women's Fund Visionary Partner campaign.

NMF President John Ostrem praised the Women's Fund leadership for its work to address the needs of women and girls in the region. "The Women's Fund is a unique and very important component of the foundation," he said. "Its advisory committee members have created a vision that is embraced by donors throughout northwest Minnesota and from outside region. This new scholarship program is another significant asset of the fund."

An anonymous gift was used as the catalyst to establish the Northwest Minnesota Women's Scholarship Fund. This restricted fund will provide funding for annual scholarships to female students who reside within the 12 counties of the Women's Fund service area who are pursuing a degree in post-secondary education at the following public higher education institutions: Bemidji State University, Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks, the University of Minnesota Crookston, and the White Earth Tribal College.  Preference will be given to students who intend to remain in the region upon graduation.  

A second gift was received from Barbara Muesing and Charles Casey. Their generous gift established a second fund that will award scholarships each year to women from the region who are attending the University of Minnesota Crookston.  

Muesing and Casey have dedicated their careers to education.  The University of Minnesota has been especially important.  Muesing's 40-year career included service with Extension, the Crookston Campus, and nine years as the executive director for the Board of Regents.  She was a founding member of the Northwest  Minnesota Foundation (Initiative Fund) Board of Directors.  Casey is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, and currently serves as Chancellor of the University of Minnesota Crookston.  

Muesing said, "I've come to understand the quote from Winston Churchill: ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,' which to me means that we have a very special obligation to lend support to things that matter to us.  Women in northwest Minnesota who succeed and prosper will help the region succeed and prosper.  Education is the key to that prosperity."

According to Florence Hedeen, Women's Fund advisory committee chair, another important goal of the Women's Fund is to encourage and equip women to reach their full potential. "This initiative is helping to realize our strategic planning goals," Hedeen said. "The generosity of our anonymous friend and the Casey Muesing family creates a world of possibilities for deserving, capable women in the region. We are extremely grateful to them and to the foundation for providing the generous matching gifts. They have helped to make our endowment goals attainable."

Donors interested in supporting these funds may do so by contacting Lisa Peterson (e-mail lisap@nwmf.org or phone 800-659-7859). Endowment contributions, received before June 30, 2008, qualify for the NMF matching gift. Visit the web site www.nwmf.org/wfund.php for more information or to make a secure, online donation using a credit card.

Scholarship application forms are available by contacting Peggy Crandall at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (218-759-2057 or 800-659-7859 or e-mail peggyc@nwmf.org). The deadline for submitting applications is May 1, 2008.