The Saint Anthony Park Community Foundation awarded $34,000 to 13 community organizations in its 2017 grant cycle. The awards include new grantees the International Institute of Minnesota and Incredible Edible garden project, a group that will plant edible teaching gardens in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood.
According to foundation executive director Jon Schumacher, the number of grant requests was more than three times the $34,000 the foundation had on hand to grant. That made this year’s decisions especially difficult and may reflect concerns in the nonprofit world that there will be less money coming from state and federal funding, he said.
The foundation’s grants committee tried to support critical community institutions, such as schools, but also encourage new initiatives, according to chair Tony Pfaff. “The International Institute has a program where they bring new Americans to our shops and businesses to introduce them to our customs and community,” Pfaff said. “We felt that was a great way to support community-building with these new neighbors.”
Other first-time recipients include the Fourth in the Park committee’s research into the possibility of a new bandstand in Langford Park and Jennings Community School’s arts programming. Como Park Senior High School, Murray Middle School and St. Anthony Park Elementary School all received grants.
Here is a list of all the grantees and their grant projects:
- Fourth in the Park, research
- Como Park Senior High School: Big Brothers and Sisters and reading programs
- Incredible Edible Group, a branch of the St. Anthony Park Garden Club, which will plant and maintain edible landscapes in public spaces, including College Park and in a raised bed near the Como Avenue fire station
- The International Institute of Minnesota, New Neighbors Program
- Jennings Community School, arts programming
- Joy of the People, landscaping around South St. Anthony Rec Center
- Keystone Community Services, Meals on Wheels
- Murray Middle School: Pilot Tutoring Program, special education, Wolfridge retreat and community meal program
- Park Bugle, enhanced reporting support
- Anthony Park Art Festival, mobile glass-blowing shop
- Anthony Park Elementary School, Wolfridge retreat and arts programming
- The Schubert Club/Music in the Park Series
- Shakespeare in St. Anthony Park, student workshops
- Anthony Park Area Seniors, general operating support
- Anthony Park District 12 Council, support for the 10-year comprehensive plan
