Funding partners are essential to KIDS PLUS’ AGE to age initiative and Institute trainings

Bush Foundation continues to support the momentum of AGE to age, in this region and beyond

“Bush Foundation has been a key partner in supporting AGE to age, enabling young people to combine their strengths with older adults to take on leadership roles and improve the vitality of their rural communities.”
-- Lynn Haglin, Northland Foundation Vice President/ KIDS PLUS Director

Resources from the Bush Foundation are providing instrumental assistance to sustain and build upon the momentum of the pilot phase of AGE to age, not only in the existing 10 sites but also with bringing three additional rural communities into the fold: Aitkin, International Falls, and Two Harbors. A grant of $180,000 over three years will help to underwrite expansion as well as replication efforts.

The investment by Bush Foundation will also assist in deepening the impact of the AGE to age Regional Learning Community, which serves as a vehicle for peer learning and the delivery of ongoing training and tailored technical assistance to the participating rural sites. Over the next three years, Bush Foundation support will help share promising strategies and lessons learned from AGE to age with audiences in Minnesota and across the country through presentations, trainings, and dissemination efforts.

The Northland Foundation has received a great deal of attention around the success and impact that AGE to age has already had in rural northeastern Minnesota. There is interest at the state and national levels to replicate this exciting intergenerational initiative.

 

Blandin Foundation invests in Itasca County Area site to sustain and strengthen AGE to age efforts

The Blandin Foundation has approved a grant to the Northland Foundation totaling $45,000 over three years for the AGE to age Expansion Initiative.

The financial resources from the Blandin Foundation will directly support the Itasca County Area, one of the 10 original AGE to age sites, to continue to enrich their community through the power of intergenerational friendships and collaboration. Additionally, Blandin funding will support the Regional Learning Community and Training Summit, offering opportunities for youth and older adults in both the existing and new AGE to age sites to further build their skills and connect with their counterparts from around the region.

Itasca County Area has engaged participants in a wide variety of projects that join the generations, many with a strong focus on community service and volunteerism. Among them are helping at a local food shelf and homeless shelter, visiting residents at a local nursing home, and making pottery for an empty bowl fundraiser. Other popular AGE to age activities in Itasca County are community beautification and gardening.

“The Blandin Foundation shares many of the same priorities to support community vitality, leadership, and innovative programming in our rural region,” said Tom Renier, President of the Northland Foundation, “and we are deeply appreciative of this newest commitment.”

Great River Energy, a longtime champion, sponsors KIDS PLUS Institute training events for regional audiences

A long-term funding partner, Great River Energy, is again providing funding support to the Northland Foundation’s KIDS PLUS Institute. Great River Energy's sponsorship will help Northland to bring high-quality training opportunities to northeastern Minnesota.

Through the KIDS PLUS Institute, parents, educators, child care providers, social workers, and people from many other key sectors in the region are able to attend conferences and trainings close to home, at little-to-no cost to themselves.

“Champions such as Great River Energy enable our rural communities to experience top-quality learning opportunities; gain the insights of local, statewide, and national experts; and share ideas with one another without having to travel long distances,” said Lynn Haglin, Northland Foundation Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director.