2019 Spring Grant Awards

VHACF has finalized grants to seven different nonprofit organizations in an effort to assist neighbors in need and to enhance the community.

“We are extremely pleased with the opportunity to support so many of our local organizations in this round of grant making,” stated VHACF Chair Jerry Moynagh. “There were so many applications from diverse areas that were so deserving, leading us to give grants to a near record seven groups.” 

Grants were provided for a variety of projects including to Mounds View Community Theater for its upcoming production of Man of La Mancha, an exciting play adapted from Cervantes’ Don Quixote. This production aims to include area actors and stage hands from all walks of life, giving those with the passion for theater a local outlet. 

The Matoska International School (an International Baccalaureate World School), a WBL 624 elementary school, received a grant to conduct a workshop with employees and staff around social justice and anti-bias in the classroom. “It is so critical that our children receive an education geared towards them. We felt the mission of eliminating bias in our classrooms helped meet that need and we are pleased that we could contribute to this worthy mission,” Moynagh said. 

VHACF also provided a grant to the Willow Lane Elementary School PTO to help provide scholarships for fifth graders to go on an environmental field trip at Camp Icaghowan in Amery for two days. 

Newtrax was provided a grant to expand its community senior circular transportation, which has been a success in helping seniors continue to live in and move about the community.

Rounding out the grants this session also included a grant to the White Bear Center for the Arts’ 2019 White Bear High School Visual Arts Contest and a grant for animal therapy for clients of Merrick, Inc., whose mission is empowering adults with disabilities.

Submitted by Evan Cordes, Board Member, printed in Press Publications