Bernick Family Foundation Opens Grant Round

St. Cloud, Minn. – Organizations that support youth in building their career skills or support activities that address active lifestyles and well-being, are encouraged to apply for a Bernick Family Foundation grant.

Applications are now being accepted through August 31, 2022. The Bernick Family Foundation supports two key focus areas through their grant round; youth and education which includes activities to help prepare students for future success in education and the workplace, as well as encouraging activities that promote active lifestyles and well-being.

The Bernick Family Foundation will accept applications for grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 in its focus areas. Applicants must be 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations, schools or government entities serving communities where Bernick’s operates. This includes Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Waite Park, and Willmar, Minnesota and Dresser, Wisconsin, and the surrounding areas.

Complete grant guidelines and electronic applications are available online by visiting: communitygiving.org/grants

Last year, ten programs received grants from the Bernick Family Foundation:

• $10,000 to Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central MN for their Sports Buddies program.
• $10,000 to Ski Gull Inc. for their Passport to Nature program.
• $6,770 to the City of Bemidji Parks and Recreation to purchase ice skates.
• $40,000 to the Dassel-Cokato School District for their Community Recreation Center.
• $15,000 to Fairview Township for their Fairview Trail project.
• $27,230 to Waite Park Babe Ruth, Inc. for their Babe Ruth Complex improvements of the score board and batting cages.
• $5,000 to the Spooner Area School District for their Cross-Country Skiing for Success program.
• $6,000 to BIO Girls, Inc. for their BIO Girls – 2022 program.
• $25,000 to the Chester Bowl Improvement Club for their Growing Up Chester, Capital Campaign.
• $5,000 to PACT for Families Collaborative for their Promoting Family Health and Wellness for Soccer Events, Scholarships and Cinco de Mayo programs.

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 $147.6 million in assets and awarded over $134.5 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 900 funds totaling nearly $201 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/CentralMN.