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Release: Itasca County Family YMCA set to strengthen service and meet the Grand Rapids area’s increased demand for affordable childcare, safe places for youth and positive social networks

$1.4 million Blandin Foundation grant signals the Foundation’s expanded focus on building nonprofits’ ability to meet their missions Key points: • Over the years, the Y has served as a vital community hub for thousands of Itasca area residents. • The $1.4 million Blandin Foundation grant will strengthen the Y’s ability to meet its mission …

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Blandin Foundation Trustee named a 2023 Women in Business

Blandin Foundation trustee Nadege Souvenir has been named a 2023 Women in Business award recipient. She is currently the chief operating officer of the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation, and has served on the Blandin Foundation board since 2020. Read More

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Tuleah Palmer named Bemidji State’s 2023 Distinguished Minnesotan

Bemidji State University has named Blandin Foundation CEO Tuleah Palmer the 39th recipient of its Distinguished Minnesotan Award. This award is not limited to alumni, so previous honorees have included Alan Page, Paul Wellstone and Herb Brooks. As this year’s honoree, she will give the commencement speech for 2023 graduates on May 5. Read more

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News Release: Anishinaabe Education programs build cultural understanding, identity and Native student resiliency in NE MN

$150,000 Blandin Foundation grants in Grand Rapids and Deer River signal the Foundation’s expanded focus on American Indian Education Grand Rapids, MN – As the Minnesota Indian Education Association Conference wrapped up in Prior Lake, the Blandin Foundation announced two $150,000 grants for Anishinaabe education programs in NE Minnesota. (Anishinaabe is a broad term for …

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Blandin Foundation President and CEO Tuleah Palmer Appointed to Minneapolis Federal Reserve Community Advisory Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Palmer to advocate for rural communities in economic policymaking Grand Rapids, MN – The Blandin Foundation announced today that its President and CEO, Tuleah Palmer, has been invited by Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari to join the Federal Reserve Community Advisory Board (CAB). Palmer attended her first meeting on …

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News release: Blandin Foundation grant to homeless coalition helps secure major federal funding to reduce homelessness in NE Minnesota

Today the Blandin Foundation helped announce a significant grant from the Housing and Urban Development Office (HUD) to a coalition of local homeless organizations, Northeast Continuum of Care (NE CoC), to develop new housing units and opportunities and better serve the housing needs of the region. Blandin helped the local coalition secure the $352,280 federal …

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News Release: Blandin Foundation Scholarship deadline is March 1

Largest scholarship budget in Blandin Foundation history of $1.5 million aims to build strong future rural workforce GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (Feb 17, 2023) – Applications for Blandin Foundation scholarships are being accepted until March 1, 2023. The scholarships provide Itasca area students $1,000 to $5,000 or more per student for the 2023-2024 school year. Students …

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News Release: Blandin Foundation names four new trustees

Blake, Charwood, Marinucci and Scrivner to help the Foundation improve rural Minnesota outcomes  in three priority areas  GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (February 13, 2023) – Four northern Minnesotans have been selected to join the Blandin Foundation’s board of trustees starting in January 2023. Their personal knowledge of rural communities and their professional expertise will move the …

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