Minnesota Thrive Initiative honored with the "Nancy" Award

The Northland Foundation and five other Minnesota Initiative Foundations have received the Fifth Annual “Nancy” Award for their collaboration on the Minnesota Thrive Initiative. The award is given annually by the Minnesota Early Childhood Funders Network, a network of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, to recognize extraordinary leadership in improving the well-being of young children.

“Their work is a vivid reminder that communities, professionals, and families can collaborate to make a profound difference for children,” said Denise Mayotte, Executive Director of The Sheltering Arms Foundation and chair of the Minnesota Early Childhood Funders Network steering committee.

The award was presented during the June 29th Nancy Latimer Convening for Children and Youth in St. Paul. The award and convening honor the legacy of Nancy Latimer, longtime senior program officer at The McKnight Foundation and a lifelong advocate for children and families.

“It is an honor to receive this award, but the local Thrive Action Teams deserve the credit. Duluth, Hermantown, and Proctor area professionals who share their expertise, expand awareness, and build connections to improve infant and early childhood mental health services for northeastern Minnesota families are the real heroes,” said Lynn Haglin, Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director at the Northland Foundation.