Bernick Family Foundation Awards $150K in Grants

(St. Cloud)— The Bernick Family Foundation awarded $150,000 in grants to non-profits which support youth, education, well-being and fitness programs in Central Minnesota. 

Eligible organizations were required to be a 501(c)3 organization, school or governmental entity and serve one of the seven regions that Bernick’s services.

In one example, $20,000 was awarded to the Pillager Family Council for the Pillager Community Recreation and Fitness Project including skating rink and pickleball courts.

Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/CentralMN

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FULL RELEASE FROM BERNICK FAMILY FOUNDATION:

St. Cloud, Minn. – The Bernick Family Foundation announced today that $150,000 in grants was awarded to organizations and projects that go toward supporting youth, education, fitness and well-being programs within Central Minnesota. Eligible organizations were required to be a 501(c)3 organization, school or governmental entity and serve one of the seven regions that Bernick’s services.

Jason Bernick, Bernick’s Director of Corporate Affairs stated “This year’s grant recipients will truly have an impact on communities that we share a stake in and we are proud to be a part of helping make these programs and projects possible. Bernick’s is honored to uphold our family tradition of serving Customers and Community since 1916.”

The latest round of grants supported the following community projects:
$10,000 was awarded to the Smokey Timbers Foundation to help with building improvements.
$15,000 was awarded to the City of Melrose for Sauk River Park improvements.
$15,000 was awarded to the Alexandria Public Schools – Community Education for the Alexandria Area Outdoor Challenge Park.
$20,000 was awarded to the Pillager Family Council for the Pillager Community Recreation and Fitness Project including skating rink and pickleball courts.
$15,000 was awarded to the Northwood Technical College Foundation Inc. to purchase tool sets for outreach for Construction Essentials.
$15,000 was awarded to the GND Development Alliance for the completion of GND REC Skatepark.
$10,000 was awarded to Life House, Inc. for their Life House Imaginarium program.
$15,000 was awarded to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota for their CareerSTART Workforce Development Program.
$20,000 was awarded to the Sartell Lions Club for the Sartell-area Lions Regional Inclusive Playground Project.
$15,000 was awarded to Glacial Ridge Curling for their Glacial Ridge Curling Facility Capital Campaign.
KoriAnn Carter, Director of Community Impact says, “We are once again proud to partner with the Bernick Family Foundation. Their support of these seven regions improves philanthropy within Central Minnesota and beyond.”

The Bernick Family Foundation established their first fund with the Central Minnesota Community Foundation in 1989. The Bernick’s company and the Bernick family uses their funds to support organizations that reflect the family’s core values, while providing leadership in responding to emerging community needs.

Founded in 1916, Bernick’s is a fourth-generation family-owned business, providing beverage, vending and food service solutions. The Waite Park-based company has a long tradition of investing in its local communities to improve quality of life. In addition to their support through the Foundation, Bernick’s continues as a longtime philanthropic leader through direct financial and in-kind donations to over 100 causes each year.

The Central Minnesota Community Foundation (CMCF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local community. Since 1985, CMCF has grown to over $143.7 million in assets and awarded over $148 million in grants to non-profits. The CMCF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,000 funds totaling nearly $195 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/CentralMN.