The Contributor - United Way of Otter Tail County

Volume 8, Issue 1
April 2016
The Contributor
UNITED WAY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY
Fergus Falls Area YMCA Summer Learning Loss Prevention Program
INVESTING IN
LOCAL PROGRAMS
The 2016 Community Investment Panels reviewed program applications and listened to programs present
March 7th - 11th. Programs
presented in four separate
communities in Otter Tail
County. Each of the thirty
nine community volunteers
donated over 5 hours of their
personal time to ensure a
thorough review of each program.
Thirty seven local programs
requested $286,660 in funding support.
Thank you to Perham Health,
the Battle Lake Community
Center, Minnesota National
Bank in Pelican Rapids and
Otter Tail County for the use
of their meeting rooms for
our panel sessions.
The recommendations from
the Community Investment
Panels have been reviewed
Catholic Charities Foster Grandparents Program
by the Community Impact
Committee and the final funding recommendations will be
voted on during the UWOTC
Board of Directors meeting on
April 20th. Formal communications of funding or non
funding will be sent following
the April 20th board meeting.
Funding information will also
be posted on our website at
uwotc.com.
LIVE UNITED - MARY PHILLIPE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
United Way hit
the ground running in January
with a very well
attended Community Impact
Luncheon. This
banquet is such a
feel good event for all who attend. We
are so fortunate at United Way to have
hundreds of dedicated volunteers and
donors. United Way knows it is important to show our gratitude and take
the time to recognize the impact of
these generous people and businesses.
United Way was also honored to have
Melvin Carter from the Minnesota’s
Children’s Cabinet as our Key Note
Speaker. A big thank you to Wells Fargo
Bank for sponsoring this event.
At the end of January, United Way partnered
with the Friends of Friends committee to help
coordinate the 8th Annual Friends of Friends
Fighting Hunger Charity Event. It was another
sold out event at Thumper Pond. Proceeds
from this event in the amount of $75,000 have
been gifted to our seven local food shelves
and several community Children’s Hunger
Backpack programs.
Ensuring United Way is protecting our donor’s
intent and managing United Way transparency is critical to our operation. United Way of
Otter Tail County’s annual mandatory audit
was completed in February with a “Clean
Opinion” and our 2015 Financial Report can
be downloaded from our website.
Another important role United Way plays in
Otter Tail County is working to ensure our
local programs receive the funding they need
to continue their services. The Community Investment panels met in four communities in March to review program requests. Final funding announcements will
be made following our board meeting on
April 20th. Thank you to the panels, committee members and UWOTC board for
making these tough decisions. I enjoyed
listening to many of the program presentations.
There are many United Way and nonprofit events you can get involved in to
help improve our community. If you are
looking for ways to get involved with programs or events, call our office at 218736-5147 or 218-770-9406 in Perham.
You can also visit our volunteer website
at getconnected.uwotc.com.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT, DR. RANDY KEMPFER
Early literacy is a
crucial part of
getting kids
ready to be successful when
they enter
school. These
developments
begin in the first
three to four
years of life and
seem to be related to a child’s time listening to books or stories. Children that
have not had much exposure listening
to books being read aloud tend to enter
school with reduced literacy skills.
At the United Way we are trying to help improve the early literacy skills in our county
through a few great programs led by our
Women’s Leadership Council. The Imagination Library is a wonderful program that will
send an age specific book each month to an
enrolled child. Studies conducted have shown
locations that have instituted this program,
see children with increased language and
math skills when they enter school. We also
have the Buddy Book Bins located around the
county where you can find used books for
children. Another project, the Prescription for
Reading, partners with local pediatricians and
primary care providers to give books to children during their wellness exams.
These are a few of the projects in our
county we are using to help make a
difference in early literacy. If you would
like to find out more please visit our website www.uwotc.com and check out the
WLC section. We also have a couple upcoming opportunities to support the
Women’s Leadership Council and these
wonderful projects. May 5th from 5pm-9
will be our 2nd Little Black Dress Event in
Fergus Falls, and on May 20th join us in
Perham for the Shot in the Dark Golf
Event from 6pm-11pm. For more information please contact United Way or log
on to our the website or our Facebook
page.
UNITED WAY OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Dr. Randy Kempfer
InVision Eyecare - Fergus Falls
Lori Mattfeld
United Community Bank - Perham
Vice President: Joshua Heggem
Pemberton Law - Fergus Falls
Chris Marvel
American Federal Bank - Fergus Falls
Treasurer: Mick Siems
Mill Street Residence
Fergus Falls
Diane Thorson
Otter Tail County Public Health
Secretary: Dianne Beckmann
Retired - Underwood
Jen Hendrickson
Perham Elementary
Dennis Johnson
Retired - Fergus Falls
Barbara Axness
Pelican Valley Health Center
Cori Brown
Perham Area Boys & Girls Club
Jeff Drake
Battle Lake Public Schools
Tracy Bieger
Calvary Lutheran Church
Perham
Tom Peterson
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Fergus Falls
V O L U ME 8, IS S U E 1
Page 2
GIVE.
2016 Community Impact Luncheon
The work of United Way
happens because of the
dedication of great volunteers
and generous donors
In January, United Way recognized
the 2015 Top Volunteer, Community
Heroes and Business and Employee
giving. In 2015, United Way was fortunate to have dedicated volunteers
who provided 3,250 hours of service
to improve their community and invested over $361,000 in local programs.
United Way was also honored to have
Melvin Carter, Executive Director of
the Minnesota’s Children’s Cabinet as
our Key Note Speaker. Mr. Carter’s
message focused on the importance
of investing in Early Childhood programing and how it affects the future
2015 Top Five Corporate Gifts from left: Tino Harris - Otter Tail Power Com- of our rural communities.
pany, Brenda Knutson - Service Food Market, Chuck MacFarlane - Otter Tail
United Way would also like to recogCorporation, Rebecca Svingen & Sue Tysdal - Security State Bank Fergus
nize Wells Fargo Bank for sponsoring
Falls and Duane Mahlum - Great Plains Natural Gas
the 2016 Community Impact lunch-
Friend of Friends award $75,000 to help end hunger
Thank you to the Friends of Friends
Fighting Hunger in Otter Tail County
Committee members who commit to
many volunteer hours throughout the
year to make this annual event a success. Hundreds of families and individuals benefit from their generosity:
Committee Chair - Arne Gudmestad,
Mary Therese Alberg & Dennis Stanford,
Catherine Barner, Woody & Connie Caspers, Mike & Lori Charest, Val & Paula
Dietz, Sharon Fleischauer, Neil Gudmestad, Gary & Karalyn Harrington,
Rusty & Alicia Kawlewski, Larry & Sue
Krohn, John Leikness, Pastor Rob Nelson,
Mary Nordbeck, Kim Peterson, Mary
Phillipe, Ed & Georgia Pullen, Jason &
Tina Reed, Dave & Sue Sethre, Christi
Stoll, Karen Zell, and Mary Lou Zimmerman.
Page 3
Children’s Hunger Backpack Program
Perham
$14,000
New York Mills
$ 2,500
Henning
$ 2,000
Battle Lake
$ 3,500
Fergus Falls
$14,000
Underwood
$ 2,200
Event Auctioneers from left: Cody Aasness, Cary Aasness and Ed Pullen
Food Shelves:
Wadena
Perham
Fergus Falls
Henning
Battle Lake
Pelican Rapids
New York Mills
Parkers Prairie
$2,500
$7,900
$4,400
$4,400
$4,400
$4,400
$4,400
$4,400
United Way of Otter Tail County serves as Fiscal Host
and partner to the Friends of Friends Committee.
Attending UWOTC Board Members from left: Jen Hendrickson, Tracy Bieger, Cori Brown, Dr. Randy Kempfer,
Jeff Drake and Pastor Tom Peterson
THE CONTRIBUTOR
ADVOCATE.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING - A PROBLEM IN OTTER TAIL COUNTY?
with a lot of questions
she was willing to meet
again. During the time
until the next meeting
“Jenna” contacted the
RYA more than four
times just to have someone to talk to and has
been receiving services
since that time. When
The following story has
the RYA thinks of all the
been provided by Somemost recent trauma that
place Safe.
“Jenna” has experienced
at such a young age — it
“Jenna” was referred to
would
break
ones heart. Success will
tion occurred prior to this time;
the Regional Youth Advocate (RYA)
be
measured
in continuing to help
“Jenna” succumbed to the vulnerabilithrough child protective services
her
heal
with
support, making
ties of sexual exploitation once again
and local law enforcement to rehealthy
choices
and a listening ear.
through social media and other aveceive advocate service based on
After
6
months
of
providing services
nues to help mask the pain. When the
trauma and informed care. The imand working alongside her case manmediate needs that “Jenna” needed RYA made contact with “Jenna”, she
agers “Jenna” is now at Heartland
was reluctant at first to even look at
were clothing and some other perGirls Ranch receiving the trauma insonal toiletries. The RYA was able to the RYA. By starting with the converformed care that has been set up
sation of, “How are you doing?” it
provide these items to “Jenna”
broke the ice so to speak. “Jenna” be- through MDH funding. This has been
through the use of the Someplace
a long process for “Jenna” and hopeSafe Thrift Store and by donations of gan to share what she had been
fully she will be able to overcome
through, sobbing pretty much the
church ministries. At the end of
the vulnerabilities of being sexually
whole time. The RYA listened to her
June, 2015 “Jenna” had found her
share her story and let her know that exploited. Once completing promother deceased upon arriving
she cared, would be available for her gramming and if “Jenna” returns to
home and had to try to perform
the RYA service area; the RYA has let
CPR. “Jenna” and her younger sister “just to talk” if needed (Emotional
support) as well as provide sexual ex- her know they are available for serwere placed with the biological faploitation education and support ser- vices if needed.
ther who regained custody. Altvices. Without pressuring “Jenna”
hough much of the sexual exploitaSomeplace Safe began
offering referral and advocate services for sexually
exploited youth in February of 2015. To date 21
sexually exploited youth
of Otter Tail County have
received services.
HOW LIFE SCOUT BRAYDON CONSLEY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF SEVERAL PEOPLE IN
BATTLE LAKE ON MAY 13, 2015
This is a statement by
Braydon’s golf coach,
Chad Gronner - “I was
in the clubhouse at
the golf course and
saw Chuck Ross, Chad Pederson, and
Braydon Consley run with panic toward something. I ran out to see
what was wrong and noticed the
smoke. So I ran over to see what I
could do to help and on the way saw
Braydon helping people evacuate
and I told Chad to call 9-1-1. At that
point we all started going door to
Page 4
door making sure nobody
was unaware of what was
happening. The very last
door I knocked on and
opened there was an elderly
woman that had just had
surgery that needed help.
By this time Braydon had
gone back to his golf teammates and made sure they
were ok. Braydon did a wonderful job
of keeping people calm, and not worrying about himself in this panic situation. Chad, Chuck and myself helped
the crippled lady out and
down the stairs to safety. I
was not around Braydon
much during the fire, but I
do know he acted very unselfishly.”
Based upon written statements and personal interviews with several people
involved, the Northern Lights Council advancement committee has recommended to the Boy Scouts of
America that Braydon should be
presented with the Medal of Merit.
THE CONTRIBUTOR
VOLUNTEER.
United Way and The Jean Adeline Johnson Fund of InFaith Community Foundation to
sponsor Day of Caring events in New York Mills, Parkers Prairie and Fergus Falls!
This spring,
United Way
will bring together high
school students and
community
volunteers in
Fergus Falls,
Parkers Prairie
UWOTC Volunteer &
and New York
Events Coordinator,
Mills
to rake
Christi Stoll
lawns, clean
out gardens, wash windows, plant
flower gardens, install pavers, and so
much more! This is all accomplished
through a United Way program
called Day of Caring. Over the last
two years, 451 volunteers have completed 104 outdoor projects for the
elderly, military veterans, the disabled and local non-profit organizations in Otter Tail County!
What is Day of Caring?
Day of Caring is a mobilization of volunteers to celebrate the spirit of giv-
ing through service by providing a day
of meaningful volunteer opportunities
to individuals of the community.
Why is Day of Caring so important?
Day of Caring not only provides many
community members with muchneeded volunteer assistance, but it
demonstrates volunteer efforts are
vital to the well-being of our community. It is a great team building exercise
providing the volunteers with a
firsthand look at the needs making an
impact on people’s lives. Day of Caring
also showcases our communities’ volunteer efforts and promotes the spirit
of caring throughout the year.
The following testimonial perfectly
sums up how important Day of Caring
is to individuals in our community:
“We want to thank you and all the
workers who made the Day of Caring
possible. We had 11 GOOD kids come
to our home and in about the 3 hours
they were here, they did enough work
that would have taken us 3
weeks. We thoroughly enjoyed
these kids and cannot say enough
good about them. Angie was their
leader and she worked right alongside them. We really appreciate the
help.” Bobbie Sachs, Perham MN,
May 2015
If you, or someone you know, would
like a team of volunteers to complete a project or you would like to
volunteer, please contact Christi
Stoll at 218.770.9406 or download a
project or volunteer application at
www.uwotc.com.
Day of Caring Schedule:
New York Mills: April 27th, 8:30am –
noon (seniors, veterans, disabled
and community projects)
Parkers Prairie: May 12th, 8:30 –
noon (seniors, veterans, disabled
and community projects)
Fergus Falls: June 14th, 8:30 – noon
(community projects only)
Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Visit Get Connected and register at
getconnected.uwotc.com
204 people in otter tail county are already registered
46 Volunteer Opportunities and 11 events are Listed and waiting for you to volunteer
SAVE THE DATE

April 27th - New York Mills Day of Caring

June 14th - Fergus Falls Day of Caring

May 5th - Little Black Dress and Black Tie Affair - Fergus Falls Bigwood Event Center

June 25th: UPS Fishing Tournament on
Clitherall Lake

May 12th - Parker's Prairie Day of Caring

Nov. 6th WLC Family BINGO

May 20th - Shot in the Dark Golf Tournament,
Perham Lakeside Golf Course

Jan. 28, 2017 Friends of Friends
Fighting Hunger
VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1
Page 5
THE WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
WORKING TO IMPACT EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY
The Otter Tail County Women’s Leadership Council has
two fun events coming up in
May to support the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library Program.
Imagination Library began
providing developmentally and age appropriate books for children in August of 2013.
650 Local children have already received
over 12,000 books in their mailbox.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Guest Vocalists,
Dennis Johnson &
Dawn Clark
Smoky Mountains Level - $500
1. Lake Region Health Care
2. Otter Tail Power Company
3. David Stock Farm Services
4. Tag Up – Rischard Marketing
“GROWING GREAT
READERS IN
OTTER TAIL COUNTY"
Little Black Dress
and Black Tie Affair
Thursday, May 5,
2016
Social Hour begins at 6pm
Bigwood Event Center
Fergus Falls
Tickets are $25 each and include
DINNER, DANCE LESSONS, LIVE &
SILENT AUCTION and PHOTO BOOTH
Music provided by RED JAZZ
West Otter Tail County WLC Members from left: Marion Kershner, Tammy Stanislawski, VJ Block and Kay
Brown.
South of the Border Theme
Perham Lakeside Golf Club
Friday, May 20th, 2016
6:00 p.m.
Dinner & Registration
8:30 p.m. - Shotgun Start
$75 Registration Fee Includes:
9 Holes of Golden Egg Golf , 3
Glow in the Dark Golf Balls,
Dinner & Tons of Fun!
VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1
Nashville Level - $300
1. Bremer Bank
2. Fergus Falls Sertoma
3. Invision Eyecare
4. Lakes Country Service Cooperative
5. Leighton Broadcasting
6. MR Signs
7. Nelson Auto Center
8. Northern Lakes Dental
9. Ottertail Coaches, Inc
10. Otter Risers Kiwanis
11. Otter Tail Telcom
12. Service Food
Market
13. Taco John’s
14. Victor Lundeen
Company
Fun for Golfers & Non Golfers


Prizes for Best South of the
Border themed costume!
For more information, or to
register, contact Christi Stoll at
218-770-9406 or
[email protected].
Page 6
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS (CIP)
39 volunteers helped
make this
year’s Community Investment
Process (CIP)
a success!
United Way
of Otter Tail
United Way Executive Assistant,
County inMeghana Anderson oversees the
Imagination Library Program, Stuff vests donor
dollars from
the Bus Program and the Fergus
Falls Children's Weekend Hunger
the CommuProgram in Fergus Falls & Otter
nity Impact
Tail County
Fund
through our
CIP every 2 years. This year, thirty four
programs applied for funding through
the CIP.
The CIP is designed to provide funding
for specific programs delivered by nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate measurable results and impact on
community issues focused on education, income/ basic needs and health.
Funds provided through CIP are intended to support the direct and indirect (management & general) costs
associated with the delivery of a specific program within an organization.
Community Impact dollars are not
intended for capital expenses or an
organization’s general deficit funding.
who in turn provides the United
Way’s Board of Directors with recommended levels of investment.
Thank you to all of the programs
who applied and all the wonderful
volunteers!
Investment teams have been established to oversee community investment and community initiatives within the areas of education, income,
and health. These investment teams
are comprised of community volunteers representing a variety of expertise and backgrounds. Programs submitted by local agencies are evaluated
annually by the appropriate team
WE ARE GROWING
United Way of Otter Tail County is
Visit our website at
seeking two motivated professionals
uwotc.com for job
to join our team to make our comdescriptions and application.
munities stronger.
Full Time – 40 hours a week Resource Development Director Position will be based in our Fergus Falls, MN Office
Part Time – 30 hours a week Volunteer & Event Coordinator
Please submit application and
resume with cover letter to: Mary
Phillipe, Executive Director, United Way of Otter Tail County
[email protected]
Applications received by
April 22nd, 2016,
will be considered.
Position will be based in our Perham,
MN office.
Page 7
THE CONTRIBUTOR
O T T E R T A I L C OU N T Y
120 East Washington Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Phone: 218-736-5147
Fax: 218-736-3727
Perham Office: 218-770-9406
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.uwotc.com
BECOME OUR FAN ON FACEBOOK
@UWOTC1
Your One Contribution Helps Thousands of People in Otter Tail County
A Place to Belong
Minn-Kota Chapter American Red Cross
218-205-5035
218-736-3481
 Emergency Services
Battle Lake Community Recreation
Battle Lake School Readiness
Boy Scouts of America
Boys & Girls Club of the Perham Area
Bright Start Child Care Home Visitors
Catholic Charities
218-864-5215
218-864-5217
701-293-5011
218-346-2526
218-863-2911
 Foster Grandparent Program
Child Care Visitor Program—Fergus Falls
Children’s Services Association
Fergus Falls Adult Basic Education
Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA
320-229-4587
218-998-0544
x1529
(Contact Your
school Nurse)
218-998-0544
x1602
218-739-4489

Summer Learning Loss Program
Fergus Falls Area Habitat for Humanity

A Brush with Kindness Program 218-282-0139
Fergus Falls Meals by Wheels
218-739-3517
Frazee Neighbor to Neighbor
218-344-3559
Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons
605-854-3117
Kinship of the Perham & Fergus Falls Area 218-346-7102
Lakeland Hospice - Camp Emily
218-998-1423
Lutheran Social Services
218-233-7521
 Caregiver Support and Respite Program
New York Mills Senior Center
218-385-3565
North Country Food Bank
218-281-7356
Open Door Youth Center of Battle Lake
218-864-5004
Mahube OTWA
 Father’s Resource Program
Mahube OTWA
218-739-3011

Family Development Housing 218-847-1385
Pelican Rapids O.A.K.S.
218-863-1515
Pelican Rapids Senior Center
218-863-7671

Meals on Wheels Senior Citizens Nutrition
Richville Community Senior Citizens Center 218-367-2422
Salvation Army
218-739-9692

Feeding Program

Social Services

After School Program
Someplace Safe
218-739-2853

Outreach & Intervention
218-739-3486

Otter Tail Sexual Assault
218-739-3486
 Parenting Time Center
Underwood Preschool Program
Village Family Service Center

A New Me
218-739-3132
218-826-6101
701-451-4900