Funding partners and donors provide financial support to benefit the entire region

Essentia Health extends generous support to benefit children, families, and older adults for the 24th year

Essentia Health recently approved two generous grants to the Northland Foundation, continuing a longstanding relationship to, cooperatively, improve the health and quality of life in the region.

Essentia is contributing $25,000 in support of programs to benefit children, families, and older adults. For the fourth consecutive year, an additional $25,000 is earmarked for the Thrive Initiative. This funding enables the Duluth-Proctor-Hermantown Thrive coalition to continue its groundbreaking efforts to increase knowledge, coordination among service providers, and access to education, prevention, and intervention to meet the mental health needs of families with young children.

“Essentia Health is one of the Northland Foundation’s longest term funding partners,” stated Tom Renier, President of the Northland Foundation. “Their tremendous support year-after-year has had untold positive impact on northeastern Minnesota communities.”

Delta Dental of Minnesota awards $20,000 to support oral health and nutrition in our rural region

Oral health is a key to overall physical wellbeing. All too often, young children are not familiar with good oral health practices and may not have access to dental care. Barriers to rural and low-income families create health care disparities that not only impact children's health but also school attendance and learning. It is difficult to focus in class with a toothache.

Thanks to a $20,000 grant from Delta Dental of Minnesota, the Early Childhood Initiative coalitions in rural northeastern Minnesota are addressing this important aspect of healthy development. The grant will help expand oral health and nutrition training sessions with parents and early care and education providers, as well as gather information about the oral health needs of young children in rural areas.

“Research tells us that oral care is critical to good physical health and development,” stated Lynn Haglin, the Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director at the Northland Foundation. “and our rural Early Childhood communities are eager to continue this important outreach effort in partnership with Delta Dental of Minnesota.”

 

Two Harbors AGE to age receives Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation grant for intergenerational activities

The Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to support the AGE to age Enhancement Initiative in Two Harbors. The funding will offer critical support to Two Harbors’ vibrant AGE to age efforts, which joins older adults with young people to form friendships, learn from each other, and improve the community. Some of their projects to date have included teens teaching computer and social media skills to seniors, community beautification and walking path development, and much more.

“The Two Harbors area has embraced AGE to age and is creating exciting new activities and projects. We are grateful to the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation for recognizing the wonderful things happening in Two Harbors and supporting continued growth,” said Lynn Haglin, Northland Foundation Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director.

Founded in 1975, the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation seeks to enhance educational opportunities and to significantly improve the quality of life in the North Shore communities of Cook, Lake and southern St. Louis County through competitive grant making.