The people who volunteer to be board members, who donate money and who support the foundation in numerous other ways care deeply about the community of New Richmond.
Often, that support is provided quietly, out of the spotlight, sometimes, anonymously. They answer the call when there is a special need donating additional funds when there is a food, shelter or mental health emergency.
“Why our foundation was formed was always about how people could give back to the community that gave so much to them and their families and their businesses. Community remains at the core of who we are,” Margret Swanson, Executive Director of the New Richmond Area Community Foundation (NRACF), said.
During its last fiscal year between July 2022 and June 2023, the foundation funded 22 applications providing $46,624.00 in grants to local organizations and nonprofits.
Some of the recipients of those funds included Grace Place, Five Loaves Food Shelf, Family Means, Turning Point, SOAR School Farm and the New Richmond Senior Center.
“When they leave Grace Place, we leave the door open so they can come back and ask us for assistance if they need it,” Duana Bremer, Executive Director of Grace Place homeless shelter said.
It’s easy to look at the money, to be impressed by the philanthropy, but miss the meaning behind the giving, why it mattered.
“The students in our classrooms cannot learn if their tummies are growling,” said Rachel Sauvola, the New Richmond High School Ag Instructor speaking on behalf of the Happy Kids Backpack Program respectively speaking at the NRACF annual celebration Sept. 19, in New Richmond.
The nonprofit organizations donors support through the foundation are the tangible expression of their compassion for their community. Those dollars turn into meaningful, often essential answers to everyday fundamental needs in classrooms, clinics and shelters around the city.
The NRACF is guided fundamentally by five destiny drivers in its funding decisions: leadership; literacy; shelter; hunger; and pathways and green spaces.
Swanson noted mental health represents a growing area of focus for the foundation outside of its destiny drivers.
As one of 10 affiliates united under the umbrella of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, the NRACF received discretionary grant money dedicated to mental health needs from the Vibrant Communities endowment. The NRACF allocates its funds to the New Richmond School District’s CARE Solace program.
Here are some of the numbers associated with food and shelter needs shared Tuesday night. –
54% of the homeless population in WI is rural.
Grace Place provided shelter for 503 individuals last year.
The average stay at Grace Place is 90 days.
Grace Place accepts people 24/7 and does not turn away anyone for any reason.
It takes $1.5 million to run Grace Place annually.
It costs on average $3,000 per resident.
Last year the Happy Kids Backpack Program delivered 2,183 backpacks serving 118 different families at a cost of $13,971.17.
Last year the district’s food voucher program issued 5,607 vouchers to 57 families at a cost of $28,574.85.
The district’s snack program delivered 762.6 pounds of snacks valued at $5,402.76.
As of September 19, 2023, 135 families have signed up for the backpack program. At that rate, the program is on schedule to spend $60,750 this year.
$15 sponsors a family for one week, $50 for one month and $450 for one year.
Here is one last number.
The evening ended with a live twenty minute fundraiser during which 36 people contributed $32,100 in donations.
All of that money was promised to be distributed out to local community organizations and working within 60 days.
At the beginning of the evening. Swanson commented on the lack of front pew people referring to several empty tables at the front of the room. Based on the generosity demonstrated at the end of the evening, it’s a good bet a lot of those folks are closet front pew people.
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