Happy Holidays from the

Edina Community Foundation

As we look toward a new year, we pause to reflect on all the ways we positively impacted our community in 2022. It's a perfect time to review what we achieved together.


Thank you for being a supporter of the Edina Community Foundation.

Edina Parade


The 2022 Edina Parade boasted 86 units and went off despite bad weather. The fireworks returned after a two-year pandemic break and were held on July 3rd.


Special thanks to our parade team who organized the event and to the City of Edina for its partnership. Thank you to our generous sponsors. And, of course, thank you to the veterans who led the parade and those who attended the annual veterans' dinner.


The 2023 parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4th.

Parade website

Nine Community Organizations/Nonprofits Launched under our Community Impact Program in 2022

ECF partners with Edina residents through this unique program to start and run valuable programs that directly impact our community. From arts and sports organizations to neighborhood groups and memorial funds, the Edina Community Foundation is the incubator for the Edina nonprofit community.


MARCH

EDINA PARKS AND RECREATION- CENTENNIAL LAKES PARK

This fund’s mission is to maximize Edina’s quality of life by nurturing the health and well-being of our people, community, environment, and economy.


MN WILD DEAF/HARD OF HEARING HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

This organization instills confidence and self-esteem in deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes while building life skills through the game of hockey.

 

CHOWEN PARK INITIATIVE

This organization’s mission is to provide private support for improvements by the City of Edina to light poles, traffic signs, and posts in the Chowen Park neighborhood.


APRIL

NEIGHBORGOOD

This organization’s mission is to cultivate a culture of care and connection, one block at a time.


LAKERS GOLF BOOSTERS

The fund's mission is to support the financial, organizational, and logistical efforts of the Southwest High School Golf Team, a co-ed team of approximately 35 student-athletes.


MAY

EHS CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLUB

The fund’s mission is to further understanding of Chinese culture and traditions.


OZZY'S ANIMAL RESCUE

Their mission is to find "forever homes" for all animals, educate, and give

back to the community.


JULY

MN SLED HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

The fund’s mission is to support the highest quality hockey programs for athletes with physical disabilities.


DECEMBER

TEAM VENOM

The fund’s mission is to make it possible for a local group of 12-year-old boys to participate in a summer 2023 baseball tournament in Cooperstown, NY.

Community Impact Program webpage

Congratulations to Duck #20 and owner Scott Brener who won the inaugural ECF Lucky Duck Race!

Scott is a board member and designated his $1,000 winnings to ECF.

Lucky Duck Fundraiser


Fifty 8" ducks floated/raced down Minnehaha Creek on July 13th in a new fundraiser that raised money to support the Edina Parade, the Connecting with Kids Program, the Connect Card, Edina Reads, and the Community Impact Program that supports 80+ charitable organizations in our community.


We look forward to building on it in 2023.

2022 Honorees


Lila Emerson & Claire Wegman-Krider, Edina Girls' Sports Summit Leaders


Dedeepya Guthikonda & Izzy Wagener, Edina Reads Writing Contest Organizers


Sreeyutha Ratala, Camp Venom Coding Camp Creator


Connor Killilea, Creative Fundraiser for Second Harvest Heartland


Francesca Lichtenberger & Sabeeh Mirza, Edina Human Rights and Relations Commission Members  


Atman Jahagirdar, COVIDedu.org website developer


Saketh Budideti & Kedar Simhadri, Hornet Mentor Connections Organizers

Connecting with Kids Leadership Breakfast

In a break with tradition, we recognized students only in 2022, celebrating their tenacity and grit in making a difference in our community despite the pandemic.


We recognized eleven high school students at our annual breakfast on March 11th. Good Grocer founder Kurt Vickman was the keynote speaker.


Nominations for 2023 awards open in early January. Our 2023 breakfast will be held on March 10 at the Edina Country Club.

Connecting with Kids webpage

Connect Card Serves Families


The Connect Card Program helps under-resourced children who live or attend school in Edina, giving them one-stop access to scholarship funding for extra-curricular activities so they can participate with their peers.


Read about the nine partners who accept the Connect Card on our website.

Connect Card webpage

One hundred forty-five new Connect Cards were issued in 2022.

Edina Reads webpage

Edina Reads

Edina Reads held five events in 2022.


January 27 - a discussion of Stamped - Racism, Anti-Racism, and You. Co-hosted with the League of Women Voters Edina


May 16 - Edina Reads Writing Contest Reading Event where students and adults read their submissions to event attendees


June 8 - Author Matt Goldman spoke and signed editions of his new novel, Carolina Moonset


November 7 - Celebration honoring Maureen Millea Smith and Dick Crockett who have organized 80 events since 2015


December 5 - Panel discussion with the creative team behind Nick Legeros: Sculpting a Life, published by the Foundation

Twelve "Citizens of Edina" Honored in Edina Magazine

Each month in 2022, Edina Magazine published a story focused on an Edina resident who has made our city better for his or her presence in it.


We profiled Connecting with Kids Leadership Award Winners, former Board Members, parade team members, and people who operate a nonprofit under our Community Impact Partner Program.


This collaboration began as an alternative way to "bring people together to serve, strengthen, and celebrate our community" during the pandemic.


We hope that these stories shine a light on the impact Edina residents make on our city and state.


2022 Citizens of Edina:

  • Colleen Feige
  • Stephanie Pierce
  • Arnie Bigbee
  • Jeff Ohe
  • Shelly Loberg
  • Maureen Millea Smith
  • Mark Sifferlin
  • Scott Crosbie
  • Fartun Ismail
  • Cheryl Gunness
  • Shrey Ramesh
  • Denny Schulstad


Read the 12 Articles Linked From Our Website

Shop & Celebrate Edina Events in December Capped 2022 Fundraising Efforts


We closed 2022 with five December fundraisers spearheaded by new staff member Alison Briggs.


  • National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Movie viewing at Edina's Mann Theatre on December 2


  • Faribault Mill shopping event on December 3


  • Festivus Cocktail Fundraiser with Mr. Paul's Supper Club on December 2 and December 3


  • Fashion Fundraiser with Evereve on December 8


  • Winter Wonderland Wine Tasting with Edina Liquor sponsored by Royal Credit Union on December 14

Annual Report


Our 2021 Annual Report is available digitally. Read it on our website.

Thank You


Thank you for your support of the Edina Community Foundation. Have a Happy New Year, and we look forward to connecting in 2023.

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