Building Our Community

Awarding Grants

More than $1.1 million in grants have been awarded to support arts and environmental science in the schools, senior care, long-range planning, energy sustainability efforts, positive youth development, economic development and community building events, including the only 4th of July parade in St. Paul and the Saint Anthony Park Arts Festival.

Community Events and Organizations

The Foundation has worked to help stabilize and grow capacity in the Music in the Park Series, St. Anthony Park Area Seniors, the Park Bugle, the Branch Library, the 4th of July Parade & Picnic, the Art Fest, the Community Band, the St. Anthony Park D12 Community Council, Joy of the People Soccer, Shakespeare in St. Anthony Park, and - when light rail entered the picture - community-building in the emerging Creative Enterprise Zone in South St. Anthony Park. 

Environmental Protection

As part of a 15th anniversary celebration, the Foundation awarded a three year grant to Transition Town, a local organization working to build community around a mission to lower the neighborhood’s carbon footprint. Now in its 11th year, this organization has its own newsletter, sponsors craft workshops and recently opened a co-officing and community space in the Creative Enterprise Zone.

Supporting Our Schools

A major focus throughout the Foundation’s first twenty years is the continuing viability of our public local schools. That focus is reflected in the high percentage of grants awarded to support arts, literature & music enrichment, environmental education, tutoring, and athletics in multiple school sites. We have worked closely with St. Anthony Park Elementary and Murray Middle schools to identify needs and support programming benefiting all students. 

The Foundation continues to support week-long trips by both schools to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Center on the North Shore and the Foundation was instrumental in developing and funding Murray’s Pilot Tutoring Program, Raptor Center Partnership, and e2 Environmental Inquiry class. Como Park High School has received support for special education, choir, band, and career pathways programming. The Creative Enterprise Zone is home to three alternative learning sites that have been supported by Foundation grants: Urban Boat Builders, Jennings Community School and Avalon.