2021 Pride Grants Awarded

The Faribault Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 Community Pride Grants.

Digging a little deeper this year the grant committee approved a few extra grants with regret that funds were not available for all the worthy applicants.

Faribault Aquatic Center was awarded $500.00 to purchase life jackets for youth patrons. This allows young people to acclimate to the water and enjoy the aquatic center fun with their friends. All are encouraged to take swimming lessons too.

The Blue Collar BBQ Family Stage was awarded $500.00 to assist in the cost of offering a free stage of family entertainment at the 12th annual event on August 14, 2021.

Again this year the Foundation is supporting the Concerts in the Park. This popular event takes place every Thursday evening at Central Park from June 10 – August 19. This free weekly entertainment reaches all ages and serves as a gathering place for many in the community. The 134 history is something Faribault can be very proud of indeed.

The Paradise Center for the Arts will receive $500.00 to support a new event featuring free performances by a group called Mixed Precipitation presenting a new age opera. There will be multiple performances around the community reaching as many of our residents as possible.

Warm Our Community is a project that assists families in need by providing winter weather gear at no charge. Good condition used coats and snow pants and boots are accepted, and monetary donations fund the purchase of new items to supplement the donations. The Faribault Rotary Club leads this effort and used many local volunteers. The Foundation is awarding $300.00 to this effort.

Residents of Ruth’s House will be assisted this year with their transportation needs for trips to the doctor, to job interviews and other needed travel. Often residents have no means of transportation other than the bus and taxi service. This $300.00 grant will purchase bus tokens and taxi vouchers for their use.

Selection was made based on impact, need and alignment with the mission of the Faribault Foundation. The Mission of the Faribault Foundation is to promote philanthropy to enhance the quality of life in Faribault.

Key values of the Faribault Foundation:

Community Betterment

The Foundation seeks initiatives that look to the future by helping develop assets for the community by capacity building and by supporting beautification and recreation projects.

Youth & Families

The Foundation seeks to support programs that help youth and families grow, learn, and become better citizens by targeting needs in areas such as: hunger, housing, poverty, education, recreation, art and culture, healthy lifestyles, and civic engagement.

Cultural Diversity

The Foundation seeks initiatives that will foster equal opportunity, open dialogue, mutual respect, and cross-cultural collaboration in our community.

Kevin O'Brien, Director of the Faribault Aquatic Center, (Far right) receiving the Pride Grant from Foundation Board Members, Donna Crowl, Pat Gustafson, Pat Rice and Christine Shaffer-Brown.

Peter Van Sluis, (Far right) receiving the Pride Grant from Foundation Board Members, Donna Crowl, Christine Shaffer-Brown, Pat Rice and Pat Gustafson.

Brad Phenow, City of Faribault Parks Department (Far right) receiving the Pride Grant from Foundation Board Members, Donna Crowl, Christine Shaffer-Brown, Pat Rice and Pat Gustafson.

Julie Fakler, Paradise Center for the Arts and her pal Charlie(Far right) receiving the Pride Grant from Foundation Board Members, Pat Rice and Christine Shaffer-Brown, and Pat Gustafson.

Faribault Rotarians receiving the Pride Grant from Foundation Board Members (Left to Right) Pat Rice, Christine Shaffer-Brown, Pat Gustafson, with Rotarians, Keith Kramer - Warm our Community Chair, Brenda DeMars - Rotary President, Laura Bock- Rotary Community Service Organizer.

Suzanne Fox, DIrector or Ruth's House (Far right) receiving the Pride Grant from Foundation Board Members, Pat Rice, Christine Shaffer-Brown and Pat Gustafson.