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Those of us with a willing heart,
an open and creative mind,
and a philanthropic commitment
can make a tremendous difference.
--Linda King
Minneapolis Foundation donor
Each of the 700-plus charitable funds established at The Minneapolis Foundation is unique -- in purpose, inspiration, and impact. All, however, share a common thread: a desire to make a difference. Following are a few examples of charitable funds and trusts created at the Minneapolis Foundation by Minnesotans just like you.
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A Living Tribute to Sisters Lost to Breast Cancer |
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Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation
stirs the spirit of a community
When Barbara Hensley lost two sisters to breast cancer, she knew she wanted to do something to serve as a lasting - and living - tribute to them. Barbara’s sisters had suffered not only from the treatments and debilitation of the disease; they also struggled to pay for their care.
Barbara established The Hope Chest for Breast Cancer™ Foundation Fund to solicit contributions from the Twin Cities community and direct them to organizations providing direct medical services and hospice care, especially to those with limited or no health insurance, as well as to organizations engaged in research and education. Additional fund proceeds will be generated through the sale of clothing, furniture, and accessory donations made to Hope Chest for Breast Cancer™ Resale Shops. The first shop opened in 2002.
“People who have been touched by breast cancer form a very special community, eager to contribute to the search for successful, compassionate, and accessible treatment for the disease,” says Barbara. “There are enough survivors – both women and men who’ve been treated successfully and the friends and families of those who weren’t – to fill the hope chest several times over.”
Visit the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer on-line at
www.HopeChestforBreastCancer.org
Top photo: founder Barbara Hensley with her sisters Patsy and Kathy in 1953. |
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Fund Gives Hope to Families of Crime Victims
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Spotlight on Crime, a Donor Advised Fund, was established in 1999 to provide cash rewards for information that helps solve violent crimes. It is a collaboration between members of the Minnesota Business Partnership and public safety officials.
The idea for the fund came when Target CEO Bob Ulrich asked law enforcement officials what business leaders could do to support their work. Officials said that the ability to offer a reward in cases where the trail has grown cold could coax witnesses to come forward, ultimately leading to arrest and conviction.
In 2002, four unsolved Minnesota cases received renewed publicity when the Spotlight on Crime Fund offered $225,000 in rewards.
A fund advisory board made up of representatives from law enforcement, business and victims' rights reviews applications for rewards. The criteria for selection include cases involving a violent crime against an innocent victim, such as homicide or abduction.
The Fund advisory board hopes to grow the Spotlight on Crime Fund to $1.5 million through donations from businesses, foundations, individuals, and other sources.
Visit www.SpotlightonCrime.org for information about the fund, the rewards, and the cases.
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Narrowing the Digital Divide in Minnesota
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The Minnesota State Network (MSNet) Fund was established as a field of interest fund in 1998 to narrow the digital divide. The Fund was formed with assets from the sale of the Minnesota Regional Network.
Having grown in assets from the initial gift, the Fund will sustain an endowment fund of $1.2 million in order to make annual grants totaling up to $50,000. The MSNet Fund supports efforts to address connectivity and e–commerce issues impacting low–income people and communities of color in Minnesota.
MSNet Fund grants support collaborative cross–sector groups aiming to provide education about digital issues and assist low–income and communities of color in:
- Understanding and influencing telecom policy.
- Understanding and accessing technology opportunities.
- Matching existing needs in low–income and digitally disadvantaged communities to the potential of technology.
- Building the know–how (community’s capacity) to support technology infrastructure.
A steering committee of experts oversees an annual request for proposals, reviews proposals submitted, and makes recommendations for funding. The group also studies how the MSNet Fund can address issues of access to technology in Minnesota.
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Business Leader Thanks the Community
through a Charitable Legacy |
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Dan Mulheran’s outlook on life is summed up pretty well by his e-mail signature: Attitude + Activity = Success. It is clearly reflected in his success with his financial services business, Town & Country Financial, Inc.
When he decided to sell his business, Dan and his wife, Carol, wanted to do something meaningful. By giving the company to a Charitable Remainder Unitrust, they were able to avoid capital gains taxes, receive a charitable tax deduction, provide income for both of their lifetimes, and also make a substantial charitable gift.
Dan explained, “for 26 years, we built the business with the help of customers from the Twin Cities. This community was the reason for our success. In recognition of that, Carol and I wanted to give some of that success back.”
Dan and Carol Mulheran named their family fund at The Minneapolis Foundation as the remainder beneficiary of the trust. Fifty percent of the remainder interest will continue to permanently support their favorite causes while the other half will be guided by The Minneapolis Foundation to respond flexibly and effectively to whatever challenges face the community in the future.
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Leaving the World a Better Place,
Honoring Loved Ones
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The establishment of a Charitable Remainder Unitrust permitted me to meet several objectives. Initially, through the creation of the trust with appreciated assets, I was able to realize significant tax savings. In retirement, the trust will provide an income stream for my husband and myself. Most importantly, by creating the Perennial Generation Fund, it is my intention to honor my female matrilineal ancestors and two other very significant women in my life - their compassion and concern for those in need, their appreciation of culture and the arts, their incredible generosity has profoundly influenced my life.
Those of us with modest means but a willing heart, an open and creative mind, and a philanthropic commitment can make a tremendous difference. With the help of The Minneapolis Foundation, my connection with these incredible women can be affirmed and carried forward - their legacy of generosity perpetuated. Finally, I want to honor my husband, Robert, whose love has sustained and nurtured me, who believes that it is our responsibility to leave the world a better place for our having passed this way. --Linda King
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China AIDS Orphan Fund |
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The China AIDS Orphan Fund provides educational support for children in central China whose families have been victimized by a catastrophic AIDS epidemic. Throughout the 1990s, peasants sold blood for extra money. Unsanitary practices spread HIV infection with incredible speed. Today, over a million people are dying of AIDS in Henan Province alone.The China AIDS Orphan Fund was established by Dr. Stephen Wang at The Minneapolis Foundation.
For more information, visit www.chinaaidsorphanfund.org.
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