ECF News & Updates • December 2021 |
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Keeping you connected to the little things that make a big difference in the Edina community.
An Edina Community Foundation publication
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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 2021. It's a perfect time to review what we achieved together.
Thank you for being a supporter of the Edina Community Foundation.
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Edina 4th of July Parade Returned After Going Virtual in 2020 |
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After a year off due to the pandemic, we were able to host an in-person parade to celebrate Independence Day. The weather was ideal, and parade attendees and participants seemed overjoyed to be able to gather together once again to celebrate our nation's birth.
Special thanks to our parade team who organized the event and to the City of Edina for its partnership. And, of course, thank you to the veterans who attended the annual veterans' dinner and those who led the parade.
The 2022 parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 4th.
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Connecting with Kids Leadership Breakfast
Moved to May in 2021
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In order to safely gather together to celebrate our 2021 winners, we moved the Leadership Breakfast to May.
Six adults and the founders of Edina Give & Go were honored as was one student leader who received a $1,000 scholarship to advance leadership skills. The student winner, Maggie Seidel, will return in 2022 to share her activity and what winning the award meant to her personal growth.
The 2022 Connecting with Kids Leadership Breakfast will be held on March 11.
Nominations are now open through the end of January. Please nominate a deserving volunteer who has worked with local youth.
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2021 AWARD WINNERS
Frannie Kuhs & Jane Tygesson, Art in the Classroom Program Directors
Shane Stumm, Edina Soccer Association coach and program director
Fartun Ismail, Founder of SAWAC, Somali American Women Action Center
Julie James, Community Volunteer
Steve Tschida, Edina High School athletic trainer
Edina Give & Go, honoring Meg Rodriguez and the other founders of the organization
Maggie Seidel, Student Leader
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Connect Card Program Continues to Support
Local Families
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There are nearly 300 children who live in Edina or attend Edina schools with an active Connect Card.
More than 40 children with a Connect Card were able to play basketball this winter through the Edina Basketball Association.
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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.
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Three Edina Residents Joined ECF Board of Directors |
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Read about the Edina Community Foundation's Board Members on our website. |
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Jeff Ohe Voted as 15th Director Emeritus |
Any Director who has served with distinction for at least two terms may qualify for election as a Director Emeritus by a majority vote of the Board of Directors upon the Director's retirement from the Board.
Jeff Ohe was voted ECF's newest Director Emeritus in June 2021.
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Twelve "Citizens of Edina" Highlighted in Edina Magazine Collaboration |
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Each month in 2021 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 non-profit 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.
2021 Citizens of Edina:
- Nick Legeros
- Wayne Kostroski
- Ukasha Dakane
- Nia Diaby
- Paul & Wendy Arneberg
- Rick Murphy
- Regina Neville
- Maxine Wallin
- Paul Mooty
- Dan Arom
- Mary Brindle
- Ryan Muhlbauer
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Edina Reads Programming Continued
Virtually and In-Person
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Edina Reads held a number of activities in 2021, including a book discussion of Caste and an event with Edina High School Senior Shreya Konkimalla who discussed her children's novel "Free Birds."
Edina Reads also innovated, launching a creative writing contest with judges Louisa Castner, Emily Fridlund, Glenn Miller, Laura Westlund, and Olivia Skjervold.
After winning submissions were announced, there was a "reading" event in May where kindergarten through adult authors read their submissions to an audience. The writing contest will return again in winter/spring 2022.
To see who won the inaugural contest, visit the Edina Reads webpage.
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Five Non-Profits Launched in 2021 through the Community Impact Program |
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Through this unique program, ECF partners with Edina residents 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.
JULY - MISS REBECCA DANCE FUND
This organization’s mission is to provide tuition assistance for low-income family members who want to study dance.
JUNE - ANTI-RACISM COLLECTIVE
The Anti-Racism Collective’s mission is to foster unlearning racism and hate through community conversations, individual growth, and systemic change in service of the community where we live.
JUNE - COMPASSIONATE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
This organization’s mission is to encourage and support flight services by individual pilots to beneficiaries of charitable organizations such as Angel Flight, Pilots for Paws, and the Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program.
JUNE - EDINA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1971
50th reunion fund for the Edina High School Class of 1971.
MARCH - LAKE CORNELIA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Their mission is to foster a sense of community in the neighborhood by keeping neighbors informed and connected.
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Spring and Summer Brought Work in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice |
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Our lending library of anti-racism books is available to the public, and ECF partnered to host a number of community events such as the April 27th Edina Reads community discussion of Caste (co-hosted with the League of Women Voters Edina) and the April 8th Just Deeds discussion (co-hosted with Edina Neighbors for Affordable Housing).
One of our newest Community Impact Partners is Terrie Rose's AR Collective which launched this summer.
In addition, former Connecting with Kids Leadership Award winner Nia Diaby interned over the summer, spearheading several diversity-related initiatives and working to make the Edina Parade event more inclusive.
Our next program is a book discussion of the youth version of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You co-hosted by Edina Reads and the League of Women Voters Edina (LWVE).
Details about the January 27th virtual event will be posted on our website and the LWVE website. |
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Edina Community Foundation's Annual Report
Is Available Online
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If you missed the release of our 2020 Annual Report, you can catch up anytime by reading the electronic version.
Learn about the activities we undertook during the extraordinary pandemic-affected 2020 calendar year.
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Thank you for your support of the Edina Community Foundation. Have a Happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2022. |
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Edina Community Foundation
Southdale Office Center
6750 France Avenue South #220
Edina, MN 55435
(952) 300-2378
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